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Oregon Trail

We're joining about 20 other Airstreams for our first caravan as we follow the Oregon Trail from Kansas City, Missouri to Mount Hood, Oregon. Read more
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    🇺🇸 Uinta County, United States
    Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea

    There's a MOOSE on the loose!

    6 hours ago in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Actually a momma and her baby moose(s) were strolling and snacking on the trees and shrubs just now at Fort Bridger Campground!
    As much as you wanna get closer for a cool photo - that's still a big momma moose and her big baby!Read more

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea

    Fort Bridger & Campground

    Yesterday in the United States ⋅ 🌬 23 °C

    This was another short stop. The Fort Bridger campground had nice grassy areas to park the campers and a very nice pavilion area for our full group to have a burger dinner together.

    The historic fort area had lots of restored buildings. My favorite was actually not the fort but a set of preserved roadside cabins known as the Black and Orange Garage Camp Cabins. They were built here along the original Lincoln Highway.

    Finally, this is a very dark sky area. So we stayed up late last night and created a short milky way timelapse. I actually just left the camera outside for an hour or two, set an alarm to hop out and put it away.    Read more

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea

    Driving to Fort Bridger

    June 15 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Today was another cool drive. Since we missed the planned activities yesterday we started our day with Sinks Canyon State Park. This is a neat spot where the Middle Popo Agie River disappears into a canyon wall --- only to reappear through another canyon wall about a quarter mile away!

    After the visitor's center we headed out and caught up with our friends Juan and Jovie (from yesterday's adventure). After several miles, Juan slowed down and turned onto a gravel/dirt road...... so of course I turned and followed him! I wouldn't have done that drive on a rainy day but this was a hoot driving up and over hills and around lots of curves until we stopped at a preserved gold mining location. Then we moved on down the dirt road to South Pass City! It's a tiny little tourist trap where you can walk the streets of an authentic gold mining town (we saved our admission fee). Instead, we had local root beers and picked up a few other things we really didn't need.

    After many more miles (of asphalt) we found our way to Farson, Wyoming for sandwiches at the Mercantile. Not far from there we found a marker for the four primary trails that went through here: Pony Express, Oregon, California and Mormon. If you look closely and use a bit of imagination you can still see wagon ruts leaving the marker.

    I almost forgot dinner! We've had lots of nice lunches and dinners out but tonight we were able to relax with one of our favorite low key meals: Avocado toast! A pretty perfect way to finish our day.    Read more

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea

    GRAND TETON!

    June 14 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C

    We interrupt this Airstream caravan for a day trip to Grand Teton National Park!! It was a long day with five hours on the road to get there and back but wow!

    This is our first trip “out west” and seeing the Tetons up close like that was so inspiring! The weather was perfect and Juan and Jovie were absolutely fantastic travel partners!

    As we crossed the continental divide the temps were in the 30s but thankfully the sun burned off the cloud cover and we enjoyed perfect temps for a five mile hike to Hidden Falls.

    We saw coyote, fox, buffalo, deer, antelope, prairie dogs and the puffy clouds on a brilliant blue sky was a photographer’s dream.

    I actually chose to leave the big camera behind because I wanted to travel light and not weigh down the quick trip but the iPhone does such a wonderful job on the big wide scenics!

    I can’t say enough about how much we saw in such a short visit but Wyoming is gonna be our favorite destination for many trips to come!    Read more

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea
    11

    Fremont Canyon

    June 12 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 23 °C

    We had a full day to ourselves and we both just happened to wake up about 5:30 this morning! I wanted some cool dramatic shots of the North Platte river and found Fremont Canyon about 30 miles south of our campground. I don't think the early settlers made their way this far south. They would not have been able to manage these deep canyons easily (we'll stop at their last Platte crossing on our way out of town tomorrow).

    Near the canyon the river meanders through a beautiful flat plain where we watched a man catching some trout while fly fishing.

    In that area we came across several antelope, prairie dogs and another rattle snake. Watch your step!!!    Read more

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea

    Fremont Canyon

    June 12 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    About 30 minutes south of Casper lies Fremont Canyon. The Platte River carved its way through deep canyons and create some stunning views.

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea

    Fort Laramie, Wyoming

    June 10 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 22 °C

    This is a very well curated site! Built originally as a fur trading outpost the US Army built it up to 22 buildings and staffed it with nearly 400 soldiers. Many of these buildings have been very well rebuilt or preserved with many ruins still worth touring.

    The largest building is a well appointed barracks displaying how 120 men would live together.

    I’ll include photos of many of the informational signs I captured so I can read them later.    Read more

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea

    Good morning!

    June 10 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    I used to think I didn’t sleep well because often times I wake up rather early. I think instead, I may be sleeping exceptionally well. When I awaken at 4 or 5am I am wide awake and ready to start my day… These early summer sunrises are certainly worth waking for!

    Today we’re leaving Nebraska and headed into the Cowboy State: Wyoming!    Read more

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea

    Walking the Scott's Bluff trail

    June 9 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Today we drove to the top of Scott's Bluff mountain, through 3 tunnels and parked at Scott's Bluff overlook which was pretty cool. THEN we walked DOWN the trail along switch backs all the way down. Fortunately we had a friend at the bottom who offered a ride back to our truck! That saved us a very steep 2 mile hike back to the top!

    OH! And I found my first RATTLE SNAKE in the wild!

    AND the last photo of this set is a trail which was originally created by the pioneer wagon wheels back in the 1850s!    Read more

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea
    1

    Sunrise. Almost.

    June 9 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    The light was a mixed bag today. No clear sunrise to start the day. A milky sky with no clear direction of light… but after walking a mile, driving a few miles, finally about to give up the sun made an appearance to add her special touch. The first image is just an iPhone snap but I was reminded again that patience is sometimes just as important as the lens selection.

    Scott’s Bluff, Nebraska.    Read more

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea

    Good morning from the Nebraska prairie!

    June 7 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 30 °C

    After yesterday's drive into a new timezone it was easy to wake up before the sun and what a treat it was! I grabbed a few drone shots nearby, then took a quick drive to a couple spots I noticed on the way to the park here at Ogallala State Park. It didn't take long for the sky to turn overcast so I headed back for a cup of coffee and some quick edits :)Read more

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea

    Golden Spike: Union Pacific rail yard

    June 6 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    This was actually pretty neat. The location of the "golden spike" which connected the east and west rail lines on May 10, 1869. The actual spike ain't there no more but the rail yard for Union Pacific is HUGE! I counted over 100 engines alone!

    For a few bucks you can go up the elevator to the top of an 8 floor tower for a nice high view of the train yards and watch them work.    Read more

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea

    The Upper Room

    June 5 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    This little group has been named the "renegades". I'll let your imagination fill in a reason why. Today we were directed to the Upper Room for some relaxation, spirts and plenty of laughs!

    Pubs and steak houses have been researched all the way to Oregon!

    The Renegades: Ted & Brit, Juan & Jovie, Doug & Jackie, Craig and Monica.    Read more

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea

    Pioneer village - Minden, Nebraska

    June 5 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    IT’S LARGE!
    NO.
    IT’S BIG!!
    NOPE.
    IT’S HUGE!!!!

    We spent over 3 hours strolling through WAGONS and CARS and AIRPLANES and TRACTORS and EVERYTHING that was EVER invented in the 19th and 20th centuries!

    Seriously this place had so much stuff… and it was mostly all laid out in extremenly logical order. Kitchens from pioneer times to the late 1800s through several decades of the 1900s. Offices, manufacturing, black smithing, chapples, diners and music! It’s just unimaginable how much stuff they actually have!

    After a couple hours strolling we made it to the “diner” where we had a sandwiches and chips. Just enough to keep us going. Then another hour plus strolling through trucks and motorcycles and tractors.

    WHEW! Did I mention the Minden Pioneer Village is HUGE???    Read more

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea

    Great Platte River Road Archway Monument

    June 4 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 20 °C

    This was another very nice location and one that, if we were here on our own we might have overlooked!

    The huge exibit space houses a historical experience that tells the story of Nebraska and the Platte River Valley in the development of America.

    As you pass through the exhibits, the displays of different time periods feature a prairie schooner wagon on the Oregon Trail, a buffalo stampede, the Mormon Handcart Expedition, a 49er's campsite, the Pony Express, the Transcontinental Telegraph, a stagecoach, the Transcontinental Railroad, the first transcontinental highway, the Lincoln Highway, and today's transcontinental highway, I-80. LOTS of stuff!

    The exhibit ends with a replica drive-in and 1950s-style cafe with windows providing views over the interstate. Hats off to our tour leaders! With their experience on previous caravans they have been curating a very nice series of locations.    Read more

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea

    Kearney RV Park, Kearney, Nebraska

    June 3 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 26 °C

    This was a pretty nice stop for us. Nice little lake, flat, level, concrete pads and good weather for a couple days. It was pretty centrally located for our few side trips to Minden, the arch museum and all our other various shenanigans :)

    *drone shot won't load yet.    Read more

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea

    A tour of the rig.

    June 3 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 21 °C

    That’s what the cool kids seem to call the truck and trailer :) Ours is a 28 foot long 2025 Airstream Classic pulled by a 2026 Ford F-250 SuperDuty truck.

    I took a few interior shots yesterday once we were set up in Kearney, Nebraska.

    To have a place for everything and to have everything in its place is a challenge but I think we achieved that goal. The dog kennel doubles for a coffee bar and the ice machine.

    A simple tray on the kitchen table helps contain fresh fruit and bread.

    The pantry pull out is packed with just enough of everything to keep the cook happy and the refrigerator is absolutely packed as tight as possible with the help of clear trays.

    The bathroom is just spacious enough for what you need to do and I like the separate shower.

    Fortunately we have tons of extra storage in the truck. I have eight 27 gallon bins packed with extra clothes, gallon water jugs, camera gear, tools, fire pit and so much more!

    Inside the truck I added a new mounting system for phones and the trailer’s rear view camera doesn’t obscure the forward view.

    That’s about it. You’d think we were headed alone across the Serengeti with so much stuff…. but the idea is simply to be comfortable on the road in our home away from home and I think we've achieve that goal!    Read more

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea

    Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer

    June 3 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    This was a fantastic site. It hosts a huge museum dedicated to the pioneer experience through the early 20th century. It had a different building mostly dedicated to native Americans. THEN they had a full early American settlement which included everything building and service you could imagine. AND it had early working farm displays AS WELL AS a Native American dugout and teepee.

    We stopped here not realizing how large and extensive the site was so we had to keep moving in order to get to our next camp before the registration window closed. I’ll have to do more research to leave enough time for our own side trips along the way!    Read more

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea

    Giving back

    June 2 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    After a restful night we woke up to some rainy skies but it cleared up for a bit and I decided to make a short video for the Double Nickel folks who were so helpful last night.

    A quick interview with the owner and a few short drone shots and voilà!

    Edit to add: I was very impressed with the huge storm shelter that was here at the campground. Large enough to hold everyone from all 50 campsites!    Read more

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea

    Trouble at the Double Nickel camground.

    June 1 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    UGH!!! After a pleasant drive from the homestead museum we get to our next destination in Waco, Nebraska. Parked, leveled, electric and water all set up. Then because it's a 90 degree day, I power up the two air conditioners and POOF. Nothing. Double ugh!

    After resetting and scratching my head for a bit the camp owner joined me in troubleshooting our issues. Hats off to him for sticking with me for an hour or more as we reset breakers and checked connections and tried various options. Finally, one of our neighbors offered some suggestions and POOF again we had cool air blowing!

    Jackie was able to *try* and relax with neighbors while I scrambled around for nearly two hours with this issue. Dinner was graciously shared by neighbors as they saw our issues and frustration... and that is why traveling with the caravan has huge upsides. If you need spare parts or tools or advice, there are collectively hundreds of years of traveling experience in this group!

    Fingers crossed we don't have that issue again.    Read more

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea

    Homestead National Historical Park

    June 1 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    Located near the town of Beatrice, Nebraska the Homestead National Historical Park commemorates passage of the Homestead Act of 1862, which allowed any qualified person to claim up to 160 acres of federally owned land in exchange for five years of residence and the cultivation and improvement of the property. The information and display of artifacts from that period were quite interesting.

    Also available was a 20 minute film that was exceptional in it's handling of the removal of the native Americans and taking of their lands. One of the key points that stuck with me was that France sold the Louisiana Purchase to the United States in 1803. The native American's already living here for centuries pointed out that France had no legitimate ownership of the lands and the sale of those lands was illegitimate.

    Its easy to see how Americans were sold the Manifest Destiny ideology which held that the United States was divinely ordained by God to expand its democratic institutions and civilization across the entire North American continent.

    BTW - fortunately the site wasn't very busy yesterday and we were able to get quite a few of our rigs in the parking lot!    Read more

  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea

    St. Joe and the Pony Express

    May 31 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Today was nice and relaxing.Drove a short distance to St. Joseph and checked out the Pony Express museum. I almost remember coming here when I was a kid but I think (I hope) I will remember more about the riders, the trail and all it took to coordinate nearly 80 riders, over 150 stations and over 400 horses.Read more

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