Chimney Rock and Scott’s Bluff NE

​60326 After getting an oil change it Wichita, I proceeded north towards the state border with Nebraska. I stayed at another Army Corps of Engineers campground called Methodist Cove Campground in the city of Alma NE. This puts a new state sticker on my water bottle. They have showers, coin laundry and dump station. I spent the next day bike riding a nice trail into town, I found the only cache along the trail and went to the bank to get quarters for the laundry. Had to ride through a flock of sheep! 

I left the next day driving west past Chimney Rock and into Scott’s Bluff. This was a pleasant surprise. I never heard of this place before and I was surprised how such a significant landmark would be so unpopular. This was(is) the real gateway to the west. Maybe because it’s named after an unfortunate fur trapper, Hiram Scot, who died there at the base of the pass in 1828 and not for some famous politician. There is a visitor center and a driving self tour of the north side of the landmark. Layers of sandstone, volcanic rock and limestone concentrations are exposed after years of erosion, telling the geological story in the area. I found it well worth the visit and took my time enjoying the scenery. 

It was late in the afternoon when I pulled into a non hookup space at the Riverside Campground in the town of Scottsbluff NE. 

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Arkanas, Missouri, Kansas 26

 

Norfork Lake Henderson Ozarks AR

I headed west after completing the Stone River cache and drove all the way to Arkansas. I have never camped in Arkansas so I will get another sticker on my bottle. My first night in "The Natural State" I stayed for free at the Blytheville AR Welcome Center  of Highway 55, very RV friendly and I was greeted with a beautiful rainbow! 

Welcome to Arkansas

This rest stop afforded easy access to Krogers groceries without having to get back onto the freeway. So I was all prepared to continue my journey west through Jonesboro and Norfork Lake. I stayed at another Army Corps of Engineers campground, half price thanks you very much, in Henderson. I got there early, so I went exploring down to the Buffalo National River in the Ozark Mountains. What makes this river 135 mile river special is that it is one of the few undammed rivers remaining in the lower 48 states. I often wonder if it would be better if we didn't dam rivers, like the Colorado, what would they be like now, but I digress, back to the camping and geocaching adventures. 

Buffalo National River

I returned to the Henderson campground and had a nice sun downer outside the van. The dark clouds moved north leaving a clear horizon for a stunning sunset or the lake. I headed out the next morning on my way out of Arkansas for a brief visit to the "show me" state of Missouri to visit the first national monument dedicated to an African American and first to a non-president. George Washington Carver National Monument. 

George Washington Carver National Monument

Born into slavery, George Washington Carver became a renowned agricultural chemist. Fun Fact:  he found 325 uses for peanuts and created 108 uses for sweet potatoes! The Monument included virtual cache that takes you on the nature trail that was his boyhood home, ending back at the visitor center museum. It really was a beautiful park and a nice peaceful place. For some reason, it gave me a sense of hope. 

I ended my day at Damsite, yes another Army Corps of Engineers campground called Damsite in Fall River Kansas, the Sunflower State. I got settled and went for an afternoon walk around the dam listening to the Padres baseball call when I was approached by the camp host. An old couple, I swear I wrote their names down but I am not finding my note, anyway they are volunteers and stay in there big motor home. They get free camping for taking care of the yard maintenance and keep the toilets stocked and clean. They have been hosting for a few years and they get time away when they need to.  There is a magnetic cache on the bridge, but the bridge was out and I did not want the search beyond the KEEP OUT sign. 

Well that is all for this post. Keep coming back for more. If you want to get an email notification when there is a new post, just leave a comment below.  

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Poole Knob & Stone River National Battlefield

 

Stone River National Battlefield

052926 - 053026 I left the day after the Baron's game and headed back north into Tennessee and camped  at Poole Knob Campground (Army Corps. of Engineers)  My site was at the top of the knob and for the first day I was the only camper.  There was a Bald Eagle Protection Act. sign on the road in front of my site. This must mean there is a nest nearby, so I looked around and found what looked like a big nest in the tall trees between me and the next site.  I kept checking it but I did not see an eagle. Later, after returning from my geocaching hike, a pair of Bird watchers parked on the road and were looking at the nest. Sure enough we could see the big bird in the nest.  My campsite is protected by eagles! I wonder if it knows Gwaihir 

I left early the next morning so I could attempt the Wherigo at the Stone River National Battlefield before heading west to Arkansas. There was a Regular Geocache inside the visitor center, all you need to do is ask the nice ranger. This was also the starting point for GC3X6XN Wherigo cache.  😀 Found it. Even after visiting and completing the tour and finding the cache I have a hard time with understanding the magnitude of this battle and the number of lives lost. The sheer will to fight fellow Americans and cause so much destruction is unfathomable. My trip to Tennessee starts with a symbol of freedom and a grim reminder of the American sacrifice for freedom. The wherigo was very well done. Luckily there was nobody present at the final GZ, a chops of trees in a strip mall that is being used as someones shelter.  But I found the container without disturbing too much. 

TTM 81 - 2.0/2.5 - Stones River Battlefield

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Birmingham Barons

Baron's Win!

5/28/26  To celebrate Carla's Birthday, we went to baseball game. The double A, Southern League,  Birmingham Barons defeated the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 7-4 on May 28, 2026, at Regions Field, downtown Birmingham. We arrived in plenty of time to visit the team store and concessions stands well before 1st pitch. We were seated on the first row behind the dugout, which is cool because you can use the top of the dugout to hold your popcorn and drinks. 

Already behind by 3 runs, the Baron's finally got on the board in the bottom of the 3rd with a HR off the bat of Left Fielder Drake Logan. PNS 3,BIR 1. Then the Baron's tied it up in the bottom of the forth after 2 walks and 2 wild pitches put runners on 3rd and 2nd. They scored on a ground ball fielder choice and catcher Jorge Corona's 2 out RBI single to center ,PNS 3,BIR 3.  The Blue Wahoos plated a run in the top of the 6th, PNS 4,BIR 3 and it stayed a 1 run game until Baron's DH Jeral Perez RBI double in the bottom of the 8th. PNS 4,BIR 4.  No score in the 9th, we went into extra innings. The Blue Wahoos failed to cross the plate in the top of the 10th.  After a pop up out, Shortstop Jordan Sprinkle, ghost runner at 2nd, steels 3rd, 90' away from a win. Pensacola intentionally walks Pinch Hitter Colby Martin to set up the double play, but instead of a ground ball, Baron's first baseman Anthony DePino ended it with a walk-off 3 run homer, way out to left.  The Baron's dugout empties to meet their hero a home as DePino rounds the bases.  PNS 4,BIR 7! A great win for the home town crowd. 

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