September 15, 2014. There's Lots of Stuff Here.

September 15, 2014.  There's Lots of Stuff Here.  On the map, Ashland is a dot between Omaha and Lincoln, NE.  The town of Ashland is populated by about 2500 people.  But, it is the closest town to Mahoney State Park, the Strategic Air and Space Museum and the Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari.  All three are just off I-80, within a half-mile of the exit. 

The state park is special.  It has miniature golf, a driving range, horse rides, paddle boats, an excellent playground, a pool, water slide, butterfly garden, camping, rental cabins, lodge, restaurant, disk golf, observation tower overlooking the Platte River, ice rink and indoor activities center.  The grounds are extremely well kept and it is next door to the Air and Space Museum.  It's southern neighbor, across I-80, is the Conservation Park.  Displayed above are a few of the scenes, activities and attractions here.

For a mere $11.00 for seniors, the Air and Space Museum is a bargain.  Someone who knows vintage military aircraft (Dan) could spend the entire day there.  The Museum's signature aircraft is the SR-71 Blackbird.  It is prominently displayed just inside the door.  It may be the most phenomenal aircraft ever built.  It cruises at three times the speed of sound.  It flew from Kansas City to Washington, DC, in 28 minutes.  When fired upon by enemy aircraft, it just outran the missile.  Dan's grandfather flew the Blackbird.  What a terrific opportunity to cap a distinguished career!  Those lucky few who piloted the SR-71 have flown an aircraft others can only dream of operating. 

The Museum displays a B-29, B-17 and a B-52 along with dozens of other legendary military planes.  There are helicopters and other rotating exhibits.  It would be worth the three-plus hour drive from home just to see these wonderful aircraft which had so much to do with keeping America free.  And, we just stumbled onto it. 

Harvey has a shimmy.  He had a shimmy last year which we thought had been repaired in Portland, Maine, for something over $400, including two new tires.  But, he decided to shimmy again yesterday.  It happens at speeds in the neighborhood of 45-50.  And when Harvey shimmies, everyone knows Harvey is shimmying.  The vibration is loud and violent  So, we'll spend the morning at the Chevy dealer in Lincoln tomorrow.  Maybe this time, they will figure it out. 

Where to after Lincoln?  We don't know.  Chadron is a possibility.  It is in the northwest corner of Nebraska and a trip there takes travelers through the sand hills of Nebraska and the Carhenge monument near Alliance, NE.  Carhenge consists of numerous cars piled one on another like the massive stones at Stonehenge.  If you haven't seen it, it isn't worth a trip to Alliance.  But, if you are in the neighborhood, it is worth the time to stop and look around.  It is at least as interesting as the World's Largest Ball of Twine, which is in either Minnesota or Kansas, I'm not sure.  I'll bet my grandsons could make an exact replica of Stonehenge using Legos and call it Legohenge.  There is very little they can't make using Legos.  It is a gift.