State motto: "If you don't like us running up the score, get a DEFENSE"

(popular Nebraska t-shirt)

Nebraska is kind of an anti-Iowa:
All those nice things about Iowa - well, Nebraska don't got em.

However there is ONE internet terminal in the Omaha public library but boy is downtown Omaha a desert...
Vacant storefronts & a coupla self-contained tower hotels and you can't really get out to the good hitchiking exits on the outskirts of town outside of rushours on the bus...
(If you have cause to go to a concert at the Omaha civic auditorium get thee to the nearby eastbound on-ramp within 45 minutes of the end of the show or you'll be stuck for the nite...)

(oh yeah, YES it's really illegal to walk on the interstate and its understanding cops are few and far between, even if they KNOW the exit you're on is a 10-car-a-day one).
You also get dicked with a little bit on the surface hiways should you have cause to use them (my advice: don't let them see you extend your thumb and they'll leave you alone 69% of the time..)

You *REALLY* don't wanna get caught w/ANY illegals there, they *ALWAYS* have lotsa room in their jails and correspondingly long sentences for the tiniest infractions...

I can't remember the streets name or number but if you're going west on I-80 always try to get to the follwing places where you won't get stuck interminably long...
1: The SAPP Bros truck stop on the east side of Omaha
2: THE TOWN OF YORK's main exit
3: Kearny (this one may take a while to get out of, saddle up and wait...)
3: Any exit you see that has a "food next exit sign" and the logo for a mexican restaurant chain called "Amigos" that, in addition to having "all you can eat psuedochili (beans)" for like 2 bucks, also uses real PLATES and silverware & of course real dr.pepper...
(these Amigos restaurants generate a lot of traffic).

Oh yeah, if you get stuck outside the "Mormon Lake State Park" exit (which also has a truck stop) there is a campground in the state park w/hot showers.
You're supposed to pay 8 dollars to park your car there overnite and are supposed not to use them but in this case I really support anarchism because the state of nebraska is SOOOOOO anal, and I happen to think "just 'cause I didn't drive here is no reason to deny a TAXPAYER a TAXPAYER FUNDED SERVICE".
(you can probly even beat this one in court should a ranger stumble upon you w/soap in your hair...)
Besides - If you don't smell bad you travel faster...

There is a junkman in Big Springs that useta hire hikers off the on-ramp to help cut iron to recycle.
However, getting him to cough up the dough was always like pulling teeth.
HE'd do it... but watch the numbers....
(I think the only reason I didn't get screwed over was cuz I got him to town one time when he had a stroke out in the field...)
It was his 2nd or 3rd stroke.

BTW this was what I saw him eat when I was there...
BKFST: HAM/bacon/eggs
LUNCH: HAM SANDWICH
DINNER: PORK CHOPS & PORK &BEANS
YES 5 HELPINGS OF PORK a DAY and 3 strokes before age 48...+ stress and I'm sure a smidgen o'guilt over his finances...

Big Springs was also the site of Jesse James either first or last train robbery, I can't remember which...
It's also home to an anatomically correct sculpture of a male buffalo made out of barbed wire...
To really complicate matters Big Springs is only 6 miles from Colorado on I-76 and you can't walk there thanx to Nebraskas anal-retentiveness...

I can't really think of anything good or bad otherwise...
But I do have a mystery question?

What's the deal with these little towns that are superimpoverished but the only brick house in town belongs to the preacher?
Nebraska's got a LOT of those...
A brilliant example of that is the 'town' of 'Dawson' (it's on the side hiway to Topeka KS - you'll see...).

AVG crossing time Iowa to Colorado I-80/76 1-2 days
Iowa to Wyoming via I-80 about a day and a half usually...
down to Topeka KS via I-29 and u.s hiways from Iowa & Missouri about 6-8 hrs
(PS) I strongly recommend starting any westbound cross Nebraska I-80 trip on the Iowa side in Council Bluffs, make a sign that says "York & points between" and you should be ok...
Start at the Council Bluffs truckstop near the Bluffs Run (ick) greyhound track.

And I forgot to mention it, but here is something IOWA has that NEBRASKA doesn't: DOLLAR PHONES AT REST AREAS!!!
(now if they just had change machines %#$% it!... ;-) )

Coolness Factor: 1 or 2 because of Mr.C's steakhouse - the eternally christmas decorated restaurant...
(The Omaha World Herald actually CENSORS the word 'dork' when it's used in the comics page..FOLKS THAT is UPTIGHT!!!).

Anyhoo, for a change of pace, Nevada...KA-ching!

Write to Legendary Rob.