We had to say goodbye to Kenny and Dee Anne, who were heading to their daughter's house in Oklahoma City and then back to El Paso, Texas. Bob and Thelma decided to move on as well and we will meet up with them again in the next day or so.
It was sad to see the Crouchers leave us as they are so much fun. Their constant laughter is a wonderful tonic for us all. Let's hope it isn't too long before we see them on the road again.
We started our day by walking back down to the Missouri River and into the Heartland of America Park, where there is a memorial to the 101st Airborne Division of the US Army. The division is known as the Screaming Eagles. Wendy remembered that the tragic memorial we had visited near Gander in Newfoundland, in September 2011, was to US servicemen from the 101st, who had died as their plane crashed after take-off.
The statue was of a fully prepared soldier about to parachute through the hatch of his plane.
There was a man tending the memorial and we talked with him about the 101st. Terry Zahn was a veteran of the 101st and he told us how much he had enjoyed a recent trip to the UK. He then, very generously, gave us both lapel pins of the 101st. Thanks a million, Terry. It was a very special moment for us.
Near to the 101st statue was another memorial to the US servicemen who had served overseas in the Second World War. It was a very moving tribute. The statue of the serviceman saying goodbye to his children, with his head bent down, reminded me of the one we had seen in Ekaterinburg, Russia, of a single soldier, head bent down from grief at the death of his fallen comrades.
We left the park and walked to the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge which crosses the Missouri River.
Following Wendy over the bridge.
Looking down from the bridge and towards the far right you can see Rick's Boatyard, where we had dinner last night.
In the middle of the bridge is the state line between Nebraska and Iowa. So, this photo will have to do for those we failed to take as we entered both states!
As we walked away from the bridge, we went past this small boating marina where a dredger was at work clearing the sand that had been swept in by last year's floods. You can see how the sand has filled the marina if you take a close look at the pontoon on the right. It has been raised completely out of the water by the sand.
By now it was lunchtime, so we went back to Rick's for a snack. As we were sitting on the terrace, this 'paddle steamer' went past. I am certain the paddles were just for show and not power.
We finished our lunch and then walked into downtown to see the very impressive Spirit of Nebraska's Wilderness and Pioneer Courage Park. These are two parks dedicated to the first pioneers and the wildlife they found when they came to Nebraska in the early 19th century. They have the most marvellous bronze sculptures of a wagon train, bison and Canada Geese.
One of the early pioneers pushing his wagon through the mud.
Another leading his ox-drawn wagon.
The modern Omaha skyline behind one of the wagon sculptures.
A pioneer on his horse waving his hat.
We then walked to the Wilderness Park, where the sculptures are of Canada Geese taking flight to escape a charging bison.
We walked back to the hotel and decided to use the car to drive around other parts of the city. First, I wanted to see where that incredible investor, Warren Buffett, works. We were told by Terry at the 101st Memorial that his office was at the top of the Kiewit building on Farnham Street, so that's where we headed.
We then toured around, with Wendy taking lots of photos of the buildings. Here is a selection taken from her photos.
One of the many striking older buildings of Omaha.
The Joslyn Art Museum
The grand entrance hall of the Joslyn
The Central High School.
The cathedral.
The wonderful art deco Omaha Union Station that now houses the Durham Art Museum
We leave Omaha early in the morning for one of the longest day's driving of the tour, well over 400 miles to Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The reason we are staying in this small town is that it is on the edge of the largest remaining area of tall grass prairie, over 39,000 acres.
The tour continues, as does the gloriously sunny weather!!
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