Valentine, Nebraska, Smith Falls State Park 7/20 - 7/21/2021 Travel Tour

                                               From: casarollnotes.blogspot.com                                                                                                                 Tim and Linda Bunyan

We have arrived in Valentine, Nebraska at Smith Falls State Park.  To arrive at this state park we drove 2 miles on a gravel road passing the wildlife refuge and the farmland of Nebraska to come to this hideaway oasis. 

Dinner along the river at our Campsite.

We choose our site along the river and drive onto the freshly mowed, abundant grass for our overnight stay.

The trail to the waterfall is less than a mile from our campsite.  We cross the Niobrara National Scenic River via the Verdigre Bridge, originally built in 1910, a Western Bridge and Construction Company bridge, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

The remaining intact example of state and pony trusses.  The bridge works also include truss bridge: Fair Oaks Bridge, Fair Oaks, California.

Kayakers passing by.

Smith Falls at 63' is the highest waterfall in the state of Nebraska and the centerpiece of Smith Falls State Park.

The next morning we depart driving to the town of Valentine.

  Valentine, population 3,000 was founded in 1882.  The Valentine post office was established on December 4, 1882. 

Sites of Downtown Valentine, Nebraska

Soldier Memorial

 The Sioux City and Pacific Railroad was extended to that point and train service began on April 1, 1883.  It was named for Edward K. Valentine, a Nebraska representative.

Welcome to Valentine sign all across the front of the Chamber of Commerce building.

I mail a letter to our new granddaughter: Rose Elizabeth 6/23/2021 and to my friend Sherry.  Valentine participates in a mailing program where pieces of mail flow into the local United States Post Office so that it can be stamped with a special Valentine postmark and verse.

This overnight in Nebraska has been a very special experience.  The charm and population size of 3,000 has been intriguing and a satisfying overnight into the present and a visual of past.

  The Lakota language, Valentine is known as OinaZin or Mninahaha Othunwahe, meaning: "station stopping place" or "water and waterfall city".  Indeed!

We now head north for a final meet-up with Mike and Sherry.  They are on their way to the Indiana RV Show and Grand Design Factory for some warranty work on the RV floor.  

Forward to our home town Sioux Falls, South Dakota!

These roadside photos must be shared here for between our stops there are many compelling sites to this America that we thoroughly enjoy being a witness.

At a TA Truckstop, we pulled into fuel stall next to a trucker hauling: HOGS!

Got up close for this photo; the pig grunted so loud and fears...I took a step back!

This piece of farm equipment..........has road traffic priority.  Everyone move over for this one!

The plentiful agricultural scene on this 2021 Travel Tour is reassuring and prevalent.

The miles and miles of hay ........going miles and miles.

And here is to the Road Workers keeping the road conditions hearty for a 

vibrant trucking and travel economy.

Did I say there is a lot of hay growing in this country!

Sioux Falls, South Dakota almost there!