July 5 & 6 2006: Gering & Scotts Bluff, Nebraska. We are in Robidoux RV-Park operated by the city of Gering N41° 48.757' W103° 40.644' phone: 308-436-2046. They have paved interior roads with concrete pull-thru pads featuring green grass overlooking Scotts Bluff the bluffs so often mentioned by travelers on the Overland Trail: 50-amps, water and sewer, $15. Joyce and I generally look for a PPA (Pass Port America) Campground but we did not find one in Gering.

We headed north out of Greeley on the 5th of July heading to Scotts Bluff, Nebraska where we plan to meet up with the old Overland Trail (Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail, California Trail). While the Overland Trail started in Independence, Missouri we are going to start following it west from Scotts Bluff, Nebraska.

The Gering, Scotts Bluff valley area along the North Platt River turns out to be extremely scenic, bucolic if you will. What was a bone dry short grass prairie just a few miles south is now a vibrant bright green farming valley with corn, sugar beets, several varieties of dried beans and alfalfa hay are occupying what appears to be the entire landscape of the broad valley.

Alfalfa is grown with irrigation from the North Platte River around Scotts Bluff

The ride along the North Platte River to and from Chimney Rock we were filled with awe at the beautiful crops that seemingly stretched forever.

The North Platte River near Scotts Bluff, Nebraska

The North Platte River is what makes all this agriculture possible. So much of the North Platte River is drawn off for irrigation. That is why it is NOT the mighty river you might have expected. I suspect that the majority of water used for irrigation in this area is drawn from an reservoir upstream. I suspect that the normal spring floods are captured in a series of reservoirs in Wyoming, all upstream from this location.

Chimney Rock, a few miles east of Scotts Bluff was a landmark for those on the Oregon Trail

After the museum we traveled east to Chimney Rock a spire of solitary grandeur, visible for miles to pioneer travelers approaching from the flat prairie to the east. Of all the curious rock formations along the trail, none drew more comment from passing pioneers than Chimney Rock.

During the mid-1800's Chimney Rock served as a landmark along the Oregon Trail, California trail (49'ers), Mormon trail and anyone headed west. Chimney Rock is located a short distance south of the North Platte River and the trail that everyone was following on their journey west.

In the early days Chimney Rock was a guide for "mountain men" the rocky Mountain trappers and traders on their seasonal travels between the Rockies and Missouri River trading posts. The first white men to see Chimney Rock may have been Robert Stuart and a small group of traders on their way back from Astoria on the Oregon Coast in 1813. It would be 14-years later, in 1827, before the first recorded use of the name occurred in Joshua Pilcher's report on his journey up the Platte Valley to the Salt Lake rendezvous of the fur trappers. After these early mentions of Chimney Rock thousands of pioneers followed each with their own recollection of the strange rock spire.

Scotts Bluff National Monument as seen from Scotts Bluff

The towns of Scotts Bluff and Gering, Nebraska as seen from Scotts Bluff National Monument

We visited Scotts Bluff National Monument where we were able to drive to the top of the bluff and overlook the towns of Scotts Bluff and Gering.

Sugar elevator in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska

Western Sugar in Scotts Bluff was the refinery processing sugar beets in the region. We saw fields of sugar beets, and farmers working the fields but none were harvesting the beets. We might get to see that another time.

Sugar beet refinery in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska

Western Sugar refinery that processes sugar beets grown in this region

We did not see any activity at the refinery when we were there. I suspect it moves into full operation in the fall and into the winter.

During the night we decided that we had not seen everything we wanted to see in the area and we needed to stay in the area for another day.

The next day we took Joyce's list of things to see and headed out to visit Robidoux Pass, Mitchell Pass and Scotts Bluff National Monument.

The two days we spent in Gering and Scotts Bluff couldn't have been any better, make sure you schedule at least two days to take in all the area has to offer.

Until next time remember how good life is.

Mike & Joyce Hendrix

Click here for more Nebraska travellogs

Until next time remember how good life is.

Mike & Joyce Hendrix

More Nebraska Adventures

Exciting Drives ** More 2006 Travel Adventures

Mike & Joyce Hendrix

Mike & Joyce Hendrix who we are

We hope you liked this page. If you do you might be interested in some of our other Travel Adventures:

Mike & Joyce Hendrix's home page

Travel Adventures by Year ** Travel Adventures by State ** Plants ** Marine-Boats ** Geology ** Exciting Drives ** Cute Signs ** RV Subjects ** Miscellaneous Subjects

We would love to hear from you......just put "info" in the place of "FAKE" in this address: FAKE@travellogs.us

Until next time remember how good life is.