Just like the early settlers who migrated west walking 20oo-miles, there is a current migration of travelers in recreational vehicles who criss-cross the US, Canada, and Mexico. However, during the fall many RV’ers follow the migratory birds south to warmer climates after the Labor Day weekend celebrated in the US.
Although some RV’ers stay through to October and November to see the fall foliage of colors in the northern states. However, for me, the newbie full-time RV’er, my grandiose plans of traveling to Glacier National Park in early August was changed as I toured, studied, and researched the settlers who traveled the Oregon, 49’er and Mormon trails.
Migrants settlers endured the blistering summer heat, fanning off insect’s they had never seen before and yet, they continued along the trail. During their journey many suffered severe tragedies, of death, along with the hardships illness from contaminated water, and food. Nearly everyone suffered homesickness and still there were bright spots when children were born on the trail.
Those who survived the journey for a better life, lands of their own to farm, or gold to dig, while others escape religious discrimination and persecution.
For my trip, I traveled the back roads of Nebraska to Scotts Bluff and surrounding areas because the interstate is the worst way to see and understand the people and the beauty of America.
The vast openness of the Western Nebraska plains with the wind blowing continuously. I often found myself imagining walking mile, after mile, after, mile, with the ability to visually see the distant trail ahead and behind.
My imagination came to the realization as I stood in the grasslands of the Agate Fossil Monument when the wind suddenly stopped blowing, and I positioned myself to absorb the sounds of silence. I looked around at the incredible sights of craggy bluffs, and mesas in the distance and understood why the settlers continued.
During my travels, I viewed the amazing landmarks used to guide the migrant settlers journey. The buttes, mesa’s, castle, spires jutting up out of the prairie lands. The beauty they saw was in stark contrast from the small towns and cities where they began their journey.
The daily anticipation and explorers curiosity of seeing something new they had never seen before is also what drove them to continue. What is incredible is the migrants settlers had yet to gaze upon what was later to be known as the Rocky Mountains.
So, if you have an explorers curiosity, set your travle plans to explore all of what the US National Parks provide, and always take the back roads to explore the interesting people of this great land.