Day 15 - North Platte to Kearney, Nebraska
Getting from point A to point B can be rather tedious and predictable in a car. This is seldom the case when traveling on a bike, and even less so when the bike is an MP3. Every day of the tour has revealed unanticipated surprises: places we’ve seen, people we’ve met and roads we’ve traveled.
Riding the MP3s, we’e been approached by more people than on any previous tour. There’s no particular demographic; older men and women have been fascinated by the three-wheeler. Some have said, "It’s got me thinking," while others muse, "Maybe I should get back into biking." "Wow", said an 85-year-old woman from Brady, NE, "I might even try that thing." Younger folks are enamored with the electro-hydraulic suspension locking system that prevents the front wheels from tilting when at a standstill. This morning, from my motel window, I saw a twentysomething Harley rider under the bike examining the front wheel mechanism.
On this tour we’ve made many more stops than usual as a result of the ease of getting on and off the bike. It’s allowed for even more discoveries than we’re accustomed to. For example, this morning — upon leaving North Platte at 8 A M— we caught a sign that read, "Golden Spike Tower". How could we resist? As a result, we wound up departing North Platte at 12 noon.
The tower officially opened just yesterday, so it’s fresh and still untouched by visitors. It’s eight stories high, enclosed & offers a 360-degree view of an enormous railroad classification yard that handles the organizing and coupling of freight trains. 3000 cars are sorted each day. The Guinness Book of World Records classifies the Bailey Yard as as the world’s largest, with more than 315 miles of track.
Exuberant Executive Director Shelly Harshaw, having fallen in love with Marchello and Sophia, gave us a personal introduction to the Golden Spike. We, in turn, familiarized Shelly with the MP3. She then went on to have us meet the visiting State Senator, Tom Hanson. By the way, Nebraska has the only unicameral government of the 50 states. How’s that for a factoid? The Senator confessed to having retired from biking because of a middle-ear problem. He expressed curiosity over the three-wheel stability of the MP3. Who knows? He may be riding up to the state capital on a three-wheeled maxi scooter one of these days. We also met Dale Jorgensen of North Platte, age 90, a former conductor on the Union Pacific run from North Platte to Cheyenne, WY. Dale spoke of the days when they had an engineer, fireman & caboose, now all replaced by technology. He wondered if the job is as much fun these days, saying, "If you don’t love your job, get another one". Dale is considering volunteer work at the Golden Spike and it’s evident that he’s not done yet!
Lunch was at Sweet & Treats in Gothenburg, NE — originally settled by Swedes — and one of the more thriving towns on this stretch of the Lincoln Highway. it’s an enterprising restaurant run by women who’ve incorporated video rentals & a tanning machine. Lunch, a movie and a tan! The ladies asked many questions about the MP3s; Bob and I were on our best behavior since the sign above us read, " House Rules–No fussin’, No fightin’, No whinin’, No back-talkin’".
We drove on to find original tourist cabins in Brady, NE, a remnant of an early Lincoln Highway bridge outside Overton and — when approaching Kearney — a housing development sign reading "1733 Estates". This is the exact midway point between San Francisco and Boston, 1733 miles each way. There must be some Red Sox fans around here since Times Square is the eastern terminus of the Lincoln Highway.
We’re sleeping in Kearney & will explore the town in the morning. There’s lots more, but Piaggio insists we get some sleep.
We’re not done yet!
Buddy
Good find on the 1733 sign. I love the old motel. Ghost towns are no longer created by departing gold miners but by banged up box stores…it is great to see these last remnants of regionalism. Hopefully, more and more people will see the value in its preservation.