Day 36, Wednesday July 13, 2022 At Ogallala NE

 Day 36, Wednesday July 13, 2022 At Ogallala NE

It was going to be another hot one and we started resonably early to get to the other side of Lake McConaughy before the heat got unbearable. It was schedued to hit 100 F today  (and it did). The trip over the dam was unevetful (the only way to the other side) (see later in post). They were still out there sweating, taking big pieces of the road on the bridge out and replacing it with concrete which seemed to be done very well and very smoothly. 

We arrived at the first of many canpground entrances that surround the lake. Camping was both on the rises overlooking the lake or  at this time, as the lake level  was so low, many were camped down  at the  lakeshore, "elbow to elbow". (see.)  Ruth and I did not find many birds today. Not only were there  NONE on the lake, but along the shores where there would normally be dozens, there were none. Again, three things created that, 1. The low lake levels eliminate the food source in the marshes., 2. It was a very hot day and birds get to cool, shady spots as much as possible, that is why bird watching between noon and 5 PM usually is less productive. and 3.  It was past the breeding season when the young are mostly on their own, the males have left, and the females may still be around, but scattered.

Another look at Lake Ogallala from the dam road.

The camping along the lowered shoreline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Some of the campgrounds were just numbered by a "Beach area # 4, Beach area #5, etc". Others were more specific as... Thunder Bay Camping , Arthur Bay, Sandy Beach, Otter Creek, and the one we liked the best, as it has water and elctricity and sat high above the Lake was "Cedar View Park". Plenty of l trees, good pads, and amazingy a "Handcapped pad identified as such that was concrete and with Water and Electricity hook ups.

Easily seen are the lowered lake levels and new Beach.

Used to pull stuck trailers up from the sand. (Two of them)

Our lunch spot at Cedar View Park area.

 

We did identify a Northern Flicker, Swainson's Hawk, Baltimore Oriole, Yellow Headed Blackbird, and some Purple Finches, but the total for the day was just 19 birds.

 Lake McConaughy has 37,000 acres or surface, is 22 mileslong and 4 miles wide. It was built in 1936 and 1941  and is the 2nd largest hydraulically filled lake in the world. It is reinforced by 180,000 "jackstone" (rebar reenforce concrete pillars) that weigh 800 pounds apiece.

 On the return trip we went completely around the lake which meant a 30 mile return from the north end of the lake. We did take a rural road where a farmer was cutting (combining) winter wheat,  and now he is in the blog.  Much of straw in the air from that one.

Ruts of the Oregon Trail at Ash Hollow Park

Harvesting the winter wheat just off the highway.

When you go into the rural area, the RR always is there first.

 

On the return we spotted Ash Hollow Historical Park. A place where three of the Pioneer trails cross near  on their journeys west. The Oregon Trail, The Californoa Trailand the Mormon Trail all cross here. Although these trails varied some they generally followed the Platte and North lLatte Rivers until the mountains of Wyoming. The ruts still are visible in many places near here. 

Ogallala itself was first Ogala Natives, then trapprs and finally athe people of the Oregon Trail.  In the 1860's there was  nothing but a section house and water tank for the railroad.  Then, in the spring of 1868 appeared three men to set the destiny of Ogallala.  These men were the Longergan brothers and Louis Aufdengarten.  The Lonergan brothers came to do construction work for the Union Pacific Railroad, but they found the plains to their liking, subsequently then became interested in Ogallala. From there it grew as a more permanent settlement and today has a popuatiojn of 4,500 people.

We were early coming back as we did want to get out of the heat so stopped across the street from the Cpg., at the Dairy Queen (DQ)  where Ruth got her usual (Heath Bar Blizzard) and I got my favorite  mocha Frappe.  We filled up the truck with gasoline for tomorrow's run to Grand Island, Nebraska, at $4.89/ gallon, as the price went up 15cents

The campground is quite devoid of campers. We settled on one of our favories for supper...Taco Salad, and that seemed enough on our hottest day.

Yes tomorrow we head for Grand Island, NE, some 175 miles continuing along the Platte River in a SE direction.