Cyn and Glen's Big Road Trip
The original purpose of the road trip was to go to Reno, NV for the Women's National Bowling Tournament. But over 5000 miles, we managed to take in a few other sights. You'll probably see this recapped in the annual holiday newsletter, but we thought we'd post the highlights here.
GOLDEN SPIKE TOWER, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA www.VisitNorthPlatte.com
North Platte, Nebraska is one of the largest classification yards for trains in the country. Union Pacific uses this yard to separate and reconstitute trains going across the country. For example, a train coming from the west coast with a load of Toyotas for several destinations east of the Mississippi might need to pick up some Wyoming coal cars also going to points east. It is here that the cars are separated from the original train and put together for their new destinations. They do this by driving the train up a "hump", separating the cars and letting gravity roll them down to their new train. There are hundreds of tracks and somebody who stays on top of it all. This is such a popular location for train buffs that they built an 8 story viewing tower so you can watch all the action.
Looking West from the viewing tower, this is the "shop" where the engines go in for repair.
Glen on the tower, looking northeast toward one of the humps. The slowdown in the economy has also affected railroading (not so many goods being moved around) so there wasn't too much action the day we visited.
The view from our hotel room, with the "Reno Sign" and the Eldorado Hotel in the background.
Our two bowling teams, Pink and Blue, sitting on the steps of the National Bowling Stadium. It really is like a stadium - @76 lanes, with stadium style visitor seating. Reminds you of a huge college fieldhouse. Reno built this facility several years ago and got a committment from the men's and women's bowling associations that they would hold their annual tournaments here every three years. Reno is nothing like Las Vegas, it's more western and small townish, rather dumpy, with lots of street people. Scenery is beautiful, Lake Tahoe close by and the mountains.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
GOLDEN SPIKE TOWER, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA www.VisitNorthPlatte.com
North Platte, Nebraska is one of the largest classification yards for trains in the country. Union Pacific uses this yard to separate and reconstitute trains going across the country. For example, a train coming from the west coast with a load of Toyotas for several destinations east of the Mississippi might need to pick up some Wyoming coal cars also going to points east. It is here that the cars are separated from the original train and put together for their new destinations. They do this by driving the train up a "hump", separating the cars and letting gravity roll them down to their new train. There are hundreds of tracks and somebody who stays on top of it all. This is such a popular location for train buffs that they built an 8 story viewing tower so you can watch all the action.
Looking West from the viewing tower, this is the "shop" where the engines go in for repair.
Glen on the tower, looking northeast toward one of the humps. The slowdown in the economy has also affected railroading (not so many goods being moved around) so there wasn't too much action the day we visited.RENO, NEVADA
The excuse for the road trip. We had 10 women (2 bowling teams) from Traverse City who entered the tournament together. Most of them flew out, but we and another couple drove and hauled the equipment. We were in Reno for about 4 days, the bowling wasn't very successful, the gambling was good for some and not for others. We watched the Red Wings lose the Stanley Cup at a sports bar. It was surprising how may Red Wings fans there were way out west.
The view from our hotel room, with the "Reno Sign" and the Eldorado Hotel in the background.
Our two bowling teams, Pink and Blue, sitting on the steps of the National Bowling Stadium. It really is like a stadium - @76 lanes, with stadium style visitor seating. Reminds you of a huge college fieldhouse. Reno built this facility several years ago and got a committment from the men's and women's bowling associations that they would hold their annual tournaments here every three years. Reno is nothing like Las Vegas, it's more western and small townish, rather dumpy, with lots of street people. Scenery is beautiful, Lake Tahoe close by and the mountains.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
On our way home, we cut through the Grand Tetons and SW corner of Yellowstone. We missed all the big touristy things like Old Faithful, but found some gorgeous scenery. Rainy, chilly weather followed us most of the trip and we were at a high enough elevation to run into a little sleet storm. 
Everyone was jumping out of their cars to get their pictures taken by this sign at the south entrance so we did the same. The mosquitoes were fierce! Cyn is trying to bat them away.
Glen made a tobacco offering at the Snake River in Yellowstone
WALL DRUG, WALL, SOUTH DAKOTA
You can't get through I-80 without stopping at Wall., SD. We were no exception to the magnetism of all those road signs. No, those aren't our bikes, but there were plenty of them in the area.
Everyone was jumping out of their cars to get their pictures taken by this sign at the south entrance so we did the same. The mosquitoes were fierce! Cyn is trying to bat them away.
Glen made a tobacco offering at the Snake River in YellowstoneWALL DRUG, WALL, SOUTH DAKOTA
You can't get through I-80 without stopping at Wall., SD. We were no exception to the magnetism of all those road signs. No, those aren't our bikes, but there were plenty of them in the area.
THE CORN PALACE, MITCHELL, SOUTH DAKOTA
We'd driven by this before on another trip, but this time decided to explore more closely. If you don't know about this, the building has been in existence for many years. What we didn't know is that it's redecorated every year with a different theme (this year is America's Destinations - Statue of Liberty, Crazy Horse, Mount Rushmore, etc) All the decorations are done in corn and other locally grown plant materials.
View of entire building from the street. It's actually an up-to-date theater inside. The interior above the stage is also decorated in corn.
Close up of the star on the building marquee. See the different colors of corn
They were still working on the decorations when we visited. See the young men ripping up some greenery. There was another guy putting it up as fast as they could get it ready.
We're looking forward to our next trip - whatever that may be!
View of entire building from the street. It's actually an up-to-date theater inside. The interior above the stage is also decorated in corn.
Close up of the star on the building marquee. See the different colors of corn
They were still working on the decorations when we visited. See the young men ripping up some greenery. There was another guy putting it up as fast as they could get it ready.
We're looking forward to our next trip - whatever that may be!
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