My Year of Living ‘Strangely’ – Yes, it’s time for the results of my 2021 TS Grand Tour

“In 1964, Dwight D. Eisenhower called Andrew Jackson Higgins “the man who won the war for us”. Higgins was born in Columbus, NE in 1886, and without his landing crafts the Allied strategy in World War II would have been different and winning the war more difficult.” This photo is from the Higgins memorial in Columbus, NE. (01 Higgins Boat, 6/9/21)

“George A. Wyman was the first person to cross America on a motorized vehicle. Wyman started in San Francisco, California on May 16 and arrived in New York City 50 days later on July 6, 1903. On June 14, 1903, Wyman stopped in Ogden, Iowa for repairs to his motorcycle.” (02 Wayman Waypoint, 6/9/21)

“According to this unusual monument topped with a giant boot, 25 men and one woman are buried on the hill, killed by cross fire in a range war between the cowboys and homesteaders.” NOTE – This is one of two different Boot Hills I will visit this year. This was also the first bonus I claimed on the new Honda CRF300L Rally as the bonus was located on a minimum maintenance road.  (03 Boot Hill, 6/22/21)

“The Sandhills Heritage Museum is housed in the 100 year-old Home State Bank building and is part of a campaign by the residents of Dunning to ‘Make Blaine County Great Again.'” (04 Sandhills, 6/26/21)

“This arched cantilever truss bridge over the Niobrara River is connected in the center with a single pin and is the only one of its kind in the U.S. It was built in 1932 at a cost of $55,524.” (05 Bryan Bridge, 6/29/21)

Overlooking the Niobrara River.

“The Fossil Exhibit Trail in Badlands National Park tells the story of the link between many common modern-day animals and their prehistoric ancestors, including dogs.” (06 Badlands, 6/26/21)

One of the requirements of the grand tour is that I have to have my motorcycle in the photo at every stop. But sometimes, like with this spot on a boardwalk in a national park, I can’t take the bike to the site of the bonus, so I need an alternate photo to show that I rode there. (06a Badlands 6/26/21)

“Roughlock Falls Nature Area is located in Spearfish Canyon and is considered to be one of the most beautiful locations in the Black Hills. At one time, the Homestake Mining Company owned this area, but it was never mined. The Homestake mine closed in 2002.” (07 Roughlock Falls, 06/28/21)

You couldn’t see the sign from where I parked, so here’s my bike at Roughlock Falls (07a Roughlock Falls 6/28/21)

“This dam is named for the town of Pactola, now flooded under the reservoir. The town was named by miners during the Black Hills Gold Rush which led to the Great Sioux War of 1876, during which the U.S. Army drove the Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne people from their land.” (08 E.C.W. 6/29/21)

Once again, the monument I needed to photograph couldn’t be seen from the parking lot, so here’s my Wee Strom at the site. (08a E.C.W 6/289/21)

“Visitors to downtown Rapid City are greeted by the City of Presidents, a series of life-size bronze statues of past presidents along the city’s streets and sidewalks. The project began in 2000 to honor the legacy of the American presidency. Each sculpture is privately funded and the pattern of placement is chosen to eliminate any sense of favoritism or political gain.” You can clearly tell that the sculpture is of Obama, but recognizing his daughter is a bit of a stretch. (09 Obama 6/29/21)

There’s also a statue of President G.W. Bush with his dog, Barney. W was not a very strong likeness, and it took Barney for me to be sure I had the right one. (11 GW Bush 7/1/21)
I’m presenting W slightly out of order because I want to keep the two presidents together.

For Jewel Cave National Park, I had to buy something from the gift shop featuring a bat along with a receipt. (The cave is full of bats and Team Strange has had a bat fixation for some time.) (10 Jewel Cave 6/30/21)

The sticker on my motorcycle. (10a Jewel Cave 6/30/21)

“A family reunion in 1987 led to what has become America’s best known version of Stonehenge. Carhenge was a bonus on leg one of the first Butt Lite.” It is located near Alliance, NE. (12 Carhenge 7/1/21)

My parked motorcycle at Carhenge. RVs blocked the view of the main monument from where the bike was parked. (12a Carhenge 7/1/21)

“This original Pony Express Station was built in 1854 on the Oregon Trail four miles east of Fort McPherson and was used as a fur trading post and ranch house. From 1860-61 it was used as a Pony Express station, and then as an Overland Trail Stage station. It was later moved here and is ‘dedicated to all pioneers who passed this way to win and hold the west.'” (13 Pony Express 7/18/21)

A closeup of the plaque at the Pony Express station. (13a Pony Express 7/18/21)

“On January 18, 1874, Lakota Sioux passing through this area purportedly stole food, furs and a cow from some settlers. The next morning, a dozen men went in pursuit determined to recover the property or fight. They found the Lakota camped on Pebble Creek and after they refused to surrender anything of value, a fight ensued, leaving one settler and three Lakota dead.” Near Burwell, NE.(14 Pebble Creek 7/19/21)

“Nicodemus, founded in 1877, was the first western town built by and for black settlers. In September of that year 300 settlers recruited from Kentucky arrived at the newly platted town. This site represents the only remaining all black town established at the end of Reconstruction.” Nicodemus National Historic Site is frequently on the list of 10 Least Visited National Park units. I’ve been there several times, and it is well worth a visit. (15 Nicodemus 8/7/21)

“Voted the 2nd best restroom in the US (we’d love to see #1), Bowl Plaza almost certainly will be the nicest public restroom you’ll visit on this entire rally. Lucas, Kansas, gets about 15,000 visitors a year visiting several folk art attractions so they needed a public restroom. It took four years to build and has become an attraction on its own merits.” (16 Lucas Fancy Bathroom 8/7/21)

My motorcycle outside of the Lucas, KS fancy bathroom. (16a Lucas Fancy Bathroom 8/7/21)

“This Garden of Eden is the creation of S.P. Dinsmoor. He began constructing his vision in 1907 at the age of 64. The surreal sculptures and design of the house are meant to reflect Dinsmoor’s belief in the Populist movement and his religious convictions.” This is the second site of unusual public art in Lucas, KN. (17 Lucas Garden of Eden 8/7/21)

View that shows Garden of Eden entrance sign. (17a Lucas Garden of Eden 8/7/21)

“The Massacre Canyon battle took place on August 5, 1873 about half a mile west of here. A Pawnee hunting party of around 700 was surprised by a war party of 1,500 Sioux. It was the last great battle between Great Plains tribes. In the ensuing rout, 75-100 Pawnee were killed, men and mostly women and children, making this the bloodiest attack by the Sioux on the Pawnee.” This is near Trenton, NE. (18 Massacre Canyon 9/6/21)

Close up of the sad-faced warrior. (18a Massacre Canyon 9/6/21)

“Boot Hill was Ogallala’s only cemetery from 1874-1884. Over 100 people were buried there in that period, significant because the town had a population of less than 130 permanent residents at the time. A large statue of a cowboy sitting on horse titled The Trail Boss stands on the hill in the old cemetery. It pays tribute to the courageous men who came up the Texas Trail.” This is the second Boot Hill in Nebraska included in my scavenger hunt. (19 Boot Hill Ogalla 9/6/21)

“Pilgrim Holiness Church, built in 1928, was constructed of stacked and baled hay with walls 2 ft thick. The church is stuccoed on the outside and plastered on the inside. It’s the oldest hay bale church in North America and one of only three known to exist today.” (20 Hay Bale Church 9/6/21)