Time to load up the Prius and start our migration from the west to the east. This is a trip that will span almost 4,000 miles with all of the stops and adventures. However, this blog is only about the first 1,800 miles.

The idea was to take about three nights to get to Cincinnati in time to spend the weekend with some friends and see their new house. Its a weird travel year but we are committed to make the best of it and have a few special places we want to stop along the way. We went across The Lincoln Highway, I-80, until Lincoln Nebraska (seamed like a good town to get off the Lincoln Highway) and then cut across Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.

Leaving Utah we picked up I-80 just before entering Wyoming. We haven’t spent much time in southern Wyoming so this would was an opportunity to take in some sights.

Our first stop was the Wyoming welcome center at Evanston, Wy and Bear River State Park. Nice little stop for a quick hike and to see the Bison.

Back in the car, we headed to Green River and made a quick stop at the visitor center. We asked the attendant what was the best thing to see in the area since we had been seeing signs regarding the Flaming Gorge. She quickly smiled at us and asked have you eve seen the gorge? We said that we had passed through the area before but had not been there. “Its really special and only 150 mile three to four hour loop.” 150 miles! Three hours! We had only been driving a few hours….and have thousands to go. But, it was a beautiful morning and Reva had packed us lunch…so what the heck, we will drive longer today.

Great decision! The visitor center attendant was right! Spectacular scenery will almost no tourists.

Next point of interest along the Highway was the giant Lincoln Statue at the Highest point along I-80 between Cheyenne and Cody.

What was that sign? “Point of interest left lane?” In between the East and West lanes of I-80 there is a pull-off with a tree growing out a rock. “Lets check it out.” This is the former Oregon Trail and the original path of the transcontinental railroad…..and people have been stopping to look at this tree for almost 200 years. Its doing quite well.

First night on the road was a stop at Little America in Cheyenne, Wy. We were able to Priceline it for about $75 and they had $0.75 ice cream cones …. wine and ice cream are always high on our list of evening pleasures and we had wine already packed. Little America is a very pleasant highway stop and we had been seeing their signs for over 100 miles. There are two of them along I-80 in Wyoming, the one on the western side of the State even has its own exit.

We spent the next day driving through Nebraska. Wide open fields and the home of Buffalo Bill and various wild west shows.

Lincoln Nebraska was our stop for the night. We were able to find a Staybridge Suites with a happy hour and manager’s reception for 12,500 IGH points. My last credit card incentive provided us 130,000 IHG points so this stay was a real bargain. After a nice evening we headed back on the road and took off toward Missouri and Illinois.

That night we booked a Holiday Inn Express in Mattoon, Illinois through Priceline for around $80. Just a few miles from a little town that we had visited before and were looking forward to seeing again, Casey Illinois.

Casey Illinois is a small town with very big things in it. It is also one of the prettiest little towns that had ever visited. It was as cute and charming…and weird as ever.

After an hour or two in Casey it was time to head to Cincinnati and our former home for 25 years. Of course there was time to visit a new spot and an old favorite before dinner with your friends.

We had never heard of the Sign Museum but it sounded cool and unusual. Its not very big but it was worth stop.

Jungle Jim was always a favorite and is by far the most insane grocery store you may ever visit. They have animated animals throughout the store and a massive amount of international foods and wine.

While I was in the Cincinnati area, I decided to take in a little of my personal history. See for much of my career, I planned and oversaw the clean-up of former Department of Energy Nuclear facilities. I spent 12 years working first at Fernald Feed Materials Production Plant and then at the Miamisburg Mound facility. Both of these nuclear sites have been cleaned up and are now open to the public.

This was a quick four day, three night, trip across the country. We drove for no more than 600 miles a-day and always ended the evening in a nice hotel with a glass of wine or two to unwind and prepare for the next day. In the Covid age, its not a bad way to travel and see this wonderful country of ours. If you have the time …. skip the hassle of the airport and cruise the countryside.