
Southwest USA
Retirement Trip
September 2019
29 Days – 6,500 Miles – 19 States
7 National Parks
Several State Parks – 6,000+ Photos
1 Trillion Insects Squished by Car Windshield
From 108 Degrees to Snow
From 282 Feet Below Sea Level to 12,000+ Feet
Bison, Elk, Prairie Dogs, Lizards, Wild Horses
Elvis, Aliens, John Wayne Westerns
Walking In The Footsteps of Forrest Gump
And More!

NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA TO OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE (OMAHA), NEBRASKA

Our original plan was to take our time getting to Bellevue since we were familiar with this area. Then, we were going to spend all day tomorrow looking around Bellevue and then head back to West Virginia. Then our plans changed.
I found out they were having special music at our church next Sunday and I would not be needed. We suddenly had another week free.
So, we decided to get back on the interstate and high-tail it to Bellevue and look around this afternoon. Then, tomorrow, we would make a slight detour to Wisconsin and visit with Beth’s family for a few days. It only added about 200 miles to the trip, but saved us a 1,300-mile round trip Beth was planning in 2 weeks.
Because of security reasons, outdoor photography is not allowed on base.
However, I did take some photos off-base around our old neighborhood.







This huge grain storage facility is next to the railroad tracks. That’s a lot of corn flakes!
At Gothenburg, we got back on I-80 so we would have time to look around Bellevue today.

It opened in July, 2000, just after we left for Germany. There is a museum inside exhibiting the role of Nebraska and the Platte River in the development of America. When it first opened, around 250,000 people visited each year. By 2010, that number dropped to less than 50,000. They filed for bankruptcy in 2013 and it was taken over by the city of Kearney.
After many updates, they posted a profit for the first time in 2018.
Learn more about the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Platte_River_Road_Archway_Monument
It was time for lunch, so we off the next exit to see what was available.

When we lived in Bellevue NE, this was one of Spencer’s favorite places to eat.

We would each get tacos and then share a bucket of Potato Olès.

When we lived in Clarksburg WV (2008-2012), we would sometimes drive 2 hours to Athens, Ohio to the Taco John’s there.
They are THAT good!

(Hint: If it doesn’t say “Super Hot”, it’s not the one.)

They are a very popular truck stop chain in Nebraska, and you can spot them by the signature coffee pot sign.






Beth has always made our home beautiful with flowers. Here, you can see a few.


This is Bellevue Christian Church – Disciples of Christ. A very nice neighborhood church – very friendly and welcoming.
Shortly after we returned from Germany a few years later, Pastor Stephanie was tragically killed in a car wreck. Very sad.

It was a short-lived position as we got orders for Germany later that year.


He attended 1st and part of 2nd grade here before we left for Germany.
It was only a 10-minute walk from the house. We enjoyed that walk almost every day, whether rain, sun, or snow.
Several of his friends and classmates would join us on the walk so we had a group by the time we got to school.
Our house was in a nice location, being just a 5-10 minute walk from the school, the library, and Krispy Kreme Donuts!

I spent ALOT of hours with the Concert Band rehearsing in this room.
Now the band has been reduced to a Brass Quintet and Rock Band.
Learn more about the US Air Force Heartland of America Band: https://www.music.af.mil/Bands/US-Air-Force-Heartland-of-America-Band/

Next, we looked around the Base Exchange (I bought another T-Shirt) before heading to the hotel and supper.


After a nice dinner, we turned in for the night. Since we saw everything today, we are a day ahead again.
Tomorrow, we have about 500 miles to go to Beth’s home in Wisconsin. It’s a road we’ve traveled many times.
Hope to see you tomorrow.
Mileage Today: 294 Miles
Trip Total: 5,357 Miles
PROCEED TO DAYS 24-29 : NEBRASKA TO WISCONSIN TO HOME (OUR LAST PAGE!)