Larry A. Smail's Blog

   Westward Ho the Wagons was a 1956 film  depicting pioneers heading west during the difficult and dangerous times after the Civil war.  Laurie and I heard the words “Go West Young Man”. These were words accredited to Horace Greeley after that great war.

Hundreds of windmills are located in the flatter states.

We began our western journey on August 11 during the wee hours of the morning. The western migration had begun with many planned destinations in store for us weary pilgrims. The wagon axles were greased and the horses strong!

  The areas we were to visit included such, well-known, places as Jackson Hole; the Grand Tetons; Yellowstone; the Black Hills; the Badlands and many other interesting and enjoyable events. We saw a rodeo in Cody, Wyoming; a wild horse area; museums and much of western America’s varied and diversified lands.                                             

(I will be including many entries of this trip over time with many photos since I have taken , at last, count 1049 photos. They will be titled and numbered. This, of course is number 1.)                  

A hard and difficult way of life!

Early pioneers with Conestoga wagon.

The reason for this excursion came about after much discussion. We are seeing much uncertainties with the health bill that was passed. We, too, are uncertain of our health insurance’s status in the years to come. We have, already, since increases and changes with Laurie’s plan. We decided “the heck with it” and elected to move out!

The travel through the states of Ohio and Indiana into Illinois were the “Agricultural flatlands” of the first day. Of course, this terrain is not what I am used to seeing. The contrast is stark from my beloved Pennsylvania hills and hollows. Yet, despite this variance they land is still beautiful.

      We settled in the first evening at Peru, Illinois. The following morning we visited “Boy’s Town” in Omaha, Nebraska. We toured the magnificent church and Father Edward Flanagan’s home and other sites. Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney starred in a film of the same name in 1938. The home was started by the father to aid delinquent and underprivileged boys. The intent was to correct these boys and make them into productive citizens. The web site is: www.boystown.org

The trail continued throughout Nebraska. All I can say about Nebraska is CORN AND MORE CORN! Corn, and other crops, could be viewed for as far as the eye can see. Hundreds of acres of agricultural crops!  One can realize why the mid-west states are called the “Breadbasket of America.”                                                                                                          

Great Platte River Archway

Mountain man searching for a woman.

We, also, stopped at the award-winning, Great Platte River Archway Monument. This construction completely covers Interstate 80 and has many exhibits of history of the early pioneer days through the more modern era. This is in regards to Highway 30 or the Lincoln Highway. This year is the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln Highway. This road travels through most of Pennsylvania too.

Other items of interest here were a stream filled with hungry carp and a ground-covered abode of Native Americans from time’s past.                

We settled in for the night  in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Horse with wings found on entrances of the archway.