Prairies, Pizza and Beer

I decided I was going to stay in Nebraska tonight and narrowed it down between 2 small towns. I thought I would find a tourist center so I could get a Nebraska booklet, but did not find one on route 81. Then, I figured I might find a rest stop with pamphlets on I-80, but even that didn't work. There were people from Illinois at the rest stop and when I asked where they were from and they said Chicago and I said me too...I asked where they were headed and they answered in clipped words that said - we don't have the same need for conversation that you do......so, I got back on the road still letting the Nebraska wind blow me.

Get blown I did; to Stuhr which is a small town right next to Grand Isle, NE. I saw this sign for the Museum of the Prairie Pioneers and decided I should stop and check things out. I did not know if Kansas was the prairie state or Nebraska was....and to be honest, I still don't know...but think they both must be. The museum was interesting and there is even a town that is an operating late 1800s and early 1900s prairie town with people in costume and doing turn of the century activities. Although it wasn't open yet, I did walk through the town and had an appreciation for how things were then. Kind of reminded me of Greenfield Village in Michigan. As I said yesterday, you can never get far from home. In the museum was a sweeper made by Goshen Sweeping company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Looks just like the BISSELL one that I have at home. (Wonder if there is a museum some place that would want it.)

The good news is that there was a Nebraska brochure there and the woman suggested I stay in North Platte. I took the book to see if I could get a hotel, but the unexpected pleasure was that it had a list of wineries and breweries that were in the state. In a town up the road, there was the Thunderhead Brewing Company which advertised tours, tastes and pizza. And since I promised JT I would try and bring him some beer glasses home, I new I had to stop. What a good decision. I had such a great afternoon visiting with Kem, the sweet woman behind the bar who set me up with 5 good beers to try, and Lanni who was the neighbor who had a recent fall that hurt his shoulder, but did not damage his friendly spirit. I had such a good time that I did not really want to leave, but I knew I had to get on the road to keep my self commitment to get a hotel room early enough in the evening.

Yes, the trip is taking on an alcohol theme versus a healthy exercising theme - but let's be real....if you think Regina do you think hiking or drinking. I know the one is coming. Maybe tomorrow or the next day as I am heading to Cheyenne, then down to Colorado and Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park. I am sure I'll get some walking in there. Although, Fat Tire Brewery is somewhere between here and there....