Cross Country Posting #6  US 80 Rules

Flashback. We’re exploring the tiny medieval hill towns of Tuscany (not Hiltons). A strange man wraps his arm around Goldie’s shoulder and kisses her in a little ceramics shop. It’s Barry’s cousins Gary and Colleen from LA. What a bizarre coincidence that our paths should cross in such an off-the-beaten track place.

What does this have to do with our cross country trip?

Join us in the moment.....somewhere farm-fragrant on Route 80 in Nebraska .

Barry: On impulse, I call my children in Seattle from the car phone. Speaking to my son-in-law Dino, he tells me that his father has just retired and his parents have recently departed from their home in Minneapolis on a cross-country adventure in their luxurious converted bus.

Goldie: Was focused on writing a story and didn’t hear much of Barry’s call. But about fifteen minutes later I do notice one of those rock-star type buses up ahead and say "Hey, that’s probably like the bus Dino’s dad owns."

Barrry: Overtaking the bus, I notice it has a Minnesota license. I slow down to get a closer look at the driver, but can’t really see in.

Goldie: Brainstorm. I call Dino back in Seattle and ask "what does your father’s bus look like?"

The bus beside us matched the exact description, I asked for his dad’s cell phone number.

Barry: Dianna, Dino’s mom, answers the phone and I ask "Where are you? Are you on US 80?" She consults with George and says we are near N. Platt, Nebraska. Goldie shrieks and I tell Dianne we are the gray mini van right on the road in front of them. We pull off for an incredible reunion. Their bus is gorgeous - mirrors on the ceiling, immaculate fresh flowers on the kitchen table. We share pictures, Greek coffee, and travel stories.

Goldie: Returning to our van, Vinnie the Minni, which resembles a filled dust buster with over a hundred thousand miles on it, we zoom off amazed at God’s mysterious ways of unifying the field of family.

Barry: I was relieved that they did not come over to check out our humble digs.

Barry: What’s between here and Denver," I ask a traveler at the rest stop. "Nothing," he replies, "It gets interesting after Denver. Fifty miles further we pull off the highway and stop in the little town of Gotenberg, named after Guttenberg Germany but more recently become the sister city of Goetenberg, Sweden.

Goldie: We see an original pony express station, the ads for riders stipulate "small, thin and orphans preferred." Further along we find a "sod" house museum. Built and operated by a man who wanted meaningful work for his retirement, he replicated the original home built of sod by his parents in the 1930's. We learned that Nebraska was originally a tree-less state, formed primarily of sand deposited by the glaciers. All the trees we see were planted to stop the dust-bowl effect. Recent grassland fires of 54,000 acres threaten a regional dust-bowl effect and economic hardship.

Goldie: We asked for a small town he could think of between here and Denver where we might find lodging and local fare.....we are on our way to discover Julesberg, Colorado.