Sunday, May 31, 2009

Ashfall Fossil Bed State Park, Royal Nebraska


Ashfall Fossil Bed State Park
Hundreds of skeletons of prehistoric animals have been found in a volcanic ash bed buried beneath the rolling farmlands of northeastern Nebraska. Some of the best-preserved fossil rhinos, horses, camels, and birds known anywhere have been, and are being, excavated by museum crews working in the Ashfall Fossil Beds in northern Antelope County. Unlike most fossil deposits, which consist of scattered bones accumulated over extended periods of time, the ash bed contains mostly articulated remains with bones still joined together in the proper order. Quick burial in volcanic ash accounts for the three-dimensional preservation of the skeletons of species that became extinct millions of years before they could have been seen by humans. These remarkably lifelike skeletons, some of which contain unborn young and stomach contents, give paleontologists an opportunity to reconstruct the life appearance and habits of these ancient species with an accuracy never before attainable.














Saturday, May 30, 2009

Ponca State Park, Ponca Nebraska


There are miles and miles of fields here for farming and the trucks and trackers to go with it.





We made it to Ponca State Park, it’s located on the Missouri River and is part of the Lewis & Clark Trail.


This is the Missouri River looking into South Dakota & Iowa






Here we are at the Towers of Time




The kids are enjoying some of the archery and nature classes.




This is the town of Ponca, population 1062. Nice people here, oddly enough this is rush hour.




This is where we got out groceries and did our laundry


One thing we’ve learned from the campgrounds that don’t have water hookups at your site is that it all comes down to who has the longest hose!


It’s a ruff life out here on the road, all the campfires, grilling out, beautiful scenery. :)
Life Is Good……



Here’s our campsite

Friday, May 29, 2009

Big Lake State Park, Craig Missouri


We made it to Missouri today.


We did a lot of driving today, the road seems to go on forever here.


A very narrow bridge on the way to the campground.





Big Lake State Park is located on Missouri’s largest oxbow lake. It’s located between Kansas City and Omaha, it was great stop for us to get some rest.






Thursday, May 28, 2009

Hazlet State Park Illinois and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.


Here we are in Gretchen Wilson land. She is from the town of Pocahontas and our camp is nearby.


After all the driving excitement Jordi has decided to start using the car seat.


The fire keepers


Jordyn’s looking for a prince?


The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial aka the Gateway Arch




Here’s looking up at the windows we’ll be looking down from later.


Here are the little pods that you ride in to get to the top.



Here we are looking 630 feet down to the Mississippi River




Here is the Eads Bridge going to Illinois.