An alternate plan had to be forthcoming, so Ruth and I looked over the possibiitoes and came up with a ride into Omaha (just across the river some 20 miles or so) and take a visit to the IMAX theatre that was showing "Where the Wild Things Live". In order to get onto the IMAX, a twin ticket for the Omaha Zoo must be included so we will do some of that too. Now, zoos are not Jim's favorite place to visit although he has been to many, but if it meant seeing movie, then we included it.
The morning in the trailer did give us a chance to do some sorting of the pictures we have taken, as each day some 150-200 are added to the stock. Sorting, labeling and otherwise organizing them helps later when looking for certain ones. Ruth also has kept track of every bird we have seen on every trip that we have taken for the 21 years we have been married. She updated that as well. So after lunch we headed out , this time staying on I-80 into Omaha just across the Missouri River . (Whoops I thought I saw Lewis and Clarks pirogue, for a moment there. No, it was just a barge ). The zoo and IMAX are on the first exit and first street across the bridge .
We got off at 30th St. (exit 13)
The tickets (seniors) included both venues so the priceas more than just the IMAX. $17.00 each. I do think, however, that after the day was finished, we did get our money's worth. It appears that the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo (its official name) has more than 30 individual animal outdoor exhibits, and thirteen buildings holding exhibits indoors. Some, like the Orangutan and Gorilla exhibits, have both indoor and outdoor habitats for the animals. The zoo is open every day but Christmas. It has a train that covers all of the outdoor exhibits, and many ponds with different shows featuring the animals at different times of the day. As we only spent 4 hours there, we zeroed in on the Ourangatangs and the gorillas. excellent plexiglass? separations kept the charging animals from the predtators as the young animals love see the people shriek and pullback when they come charging at them saying "THIS IS MY TERRITORY"! A few other exhibits centering on night animals were visited.
There was time also for a visit to the Desert Dome, a very large structure with glassed ceiling and many desert environments inside. I was amazed at the endless paths that they could insert inside that dome. It seemed like there was no end to the exhibits of flora and fauna as well. Some wild birds, and animals never see in North America, and a few pictures will give examples.
These guys are Kipspringers
Then before 3:00 we lined up for the IMX movie and were impressed with the story of two women who in two separate countries (Sumatra and Kenya) each cared for, all of their lives , Orangutans and Elephants, all of whom had been either abandoned in the wild or parents (mother's especially) killed for meat or hides. Each woman has developed a precise way to rehabilitate the animasl so by the time they were adults (as long as six years) they could move back into the wild . The elephants (about 25 of them) were placed in a "camp" with other older orphaned elephants who took them in as family and cultured them in the wild ways (behind a large protective secure area, until three years passed and they could join other herds as a normal elephant once again. The Orangutans were treated the same by handlers (each had one handler) who nursed (bottle fed) them, and slept with them, until they were ready to go out on their own. a beautiful story and a great contribution to rehabilitation of species we, as people of the world are destroying with poor stewardship of the land, and resources in those areas of the world. ( I think we do that here as well.)
South African Crown Cranes
All in all it was a fine day and we ended it with a short country tour to get some pictures of the fields of corn and beans. Then a trip to a new local restaurant just bult, It looks like a barn but inside is both a store and a restaurant, We got there just in time to beat the Friday evening local "country band" that was to play 1 hour later. They were queing up for that one at 5:00 PM. Seems the members of the band were all in there 70's or so, and they came in carrying their guitars, banjos and assorted instruments. o to play "country songs" that many will enjoy during the evening. We ordered our hamburger and pulled pork sandwich (excellent), conversed with two veterans of WW2 who sat with us (family style round tables). We learned much about an event held in Des Moines last month to honor the Korean Veterans who served. They had just dedicated a memorial there that day. I did ask one question of the one Navy man, and that was… was he in on the Invasion of Inchon Harbor ? He said he was on an air craft carrier down on the engine room and very seldom knew where the ship was. He was in from 1950-1955
Time for bed, and tomorrow's activities will depend on the weather as the wind is still blowing. We will visit the Loess Hills that run along the Missouri River the length of the state. Besides windblown soil of ancient times (glacial age) ,I understand there is an ice cream factory up there somewhere that makes real ice cream sodas!
Catch you tomorrow.
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