Author: outbackusa (Page 2 of 2)

The Lincoln Highway

May 22, 2019 / outbackusa / 0 Comments

While following the Union Pacific, Steam Locomotives #844 and #4014 “Big Boy”, on their way back from “The Great Race to Ogden”, I found myself on a path of incredible history, known as The Lincoln Highway.

Wikipedia excerpt:

“The Lincoln Highway was one of the earliest transcontinental highways for automobiles across the United States of America. Conceived in 1912 by Indiana entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, and formally dedicated October 31, 1913, the Lincoln Highway ran coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City west to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, originally through 13 states: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California.”

My goal was to catch the train in Granger, Wyoming which is due north of Interstate 80 west of Green River, Wyoming. About 20 miles from my exit off of the Interstate, I spied a county road #233 that was a definite shortcut. I took the next exit, county road #237 and was soon on what was a nice packed dirt and dried mud road when I crossed a very old, steel and iron truss bridge over the Blacks Fork river. The bridge looked like it was a 100+ years old but built sturdy and still in good condition.

Click HERE to see this photo in the OutbackUSA Gallery

I set out down this road, passing numerous telecom cable signs, repeater huts, ranches, and oil rigs. It became clear to me that I was on a special road. I knew the Lincoln Highway was over-ridden and bypassed by the Interstate in this locale. My quick web search showed I was smack dab on a piece of history. Under my wheels was the original, 1913 era Lincoln Highway, the Mormon Immigrant, Wagon Trail, the same for the California and Oregon Trail of the same purpose. It was also the path of the Pony Express, very near the first Transcontinental Railroad, the first Transcontinental Telegraph Route and later, the first Bell System, Transcontinental, Long Distance Telephone Route.

WOW! on this very same piece of earth lay fiber optic cables near my feet moving terabytes of data. The same route where just 160 years ago – wiry young men rode galloping horses carrying a few hundred postal letters to the west coast and back. That’s “some contrast”. Yes!

I was experiencing true, intense American History, in the middle of nowhere – The OutbackUSA!

I am now a “Rookie, Lincoln Highway Fan”. I could type more about this experience but, it would be best to experience and learn much more before I do. With that, I leave you some images along the way. There will be much more to come.

Update: 10/20/2020 – Follow this LINK to the Lincoln Highway Association and this LINK to the interactive map of all Lincoln Highway routes.

Click HERE to see this photo in the OutbackUSA Gallery – If this door could speak!

The Great Race to Ogden

May 16, 2019 / outbackusa / 0 Comments

#844 and #4014 Ascending the grade out of Echo Canyon, Utah — Looking far down the canyon through the morning sun and mild heatwaves to catch the historic train ascend a grade it has known as part, since inception.

There are a few times in your life when you have the opportunity to see a “one time event”.

“The Great Race to Ogden” was just that, an event celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Great Race to Promontory with assets you have never seen before in a combination, you will never see again. Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike ceremony at Promontory Point, Utah – two restored Steam Locomotives of the Union Pacific Railroad and their very talented crews and support staff, made the journey from Cheyenne, Wyoming to Ogden, Utah to be the highlight of the celebration.

The 844 and newly restored 4014 “Big Boy” Steam Locomotives were the centerpieces of this event. Both are meticulously restored and cared for by the dedicated staff of the Union Pacific Steam Shop located in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

One their way home, I was able to catch and capture these beautiful machines beginning at Castle Rock, Utah – following to Rock Springs, Wyoming. I witnessed them pulling the grade in Echo Canyon, Utah and cruising past at speed at Leroy, Wyoming. I was also able to get up close for some very inspiring photos at Evanston, Wyoming.

I will have a full gallery available soon, that will include a few photos that I dare to say are “artwork”. Yes, I was lucky to catch the right light and the right setting to take a few magical photos. I know a few will be framed on my workshop wall. Maybe on your wall too?

I was also able to explore the southwest corner of Wyoming too include very remote sections of the original Lincoln Highway and a few towns that simply speak of deep American history in every inch.

I have a lot of photos to edit and a lot to talk about of this very Epic Trip. For now, I leave you with a 360 degree virtual reality of this awesome train passing by at Leroy, Wyoming. Pan to the right to follow the train as if you were standing near the roadbed. Stop the video at anytime to see the detail of the train, the crew and the railfans.

Future installments will include my introduction to the Historic, Lincoln Highway and a few backcountry towns that caught my eye: Granger, Wyoming – Helper, Utah and Baker, Nevada.

Stay tuned!

Just like you were there!

If the above video is not displayed in true, 360 degree format, please go to YouTube directly via this link. 2019 Union Pacific “Big Boy” and 844 Steam Locomotives

South Park City Museum

October 15, 2018 / outbackusa

We didn’t find Jimmy or Cartman in our visit to Fairplay, Colorado but, we did tour the South Park City Museum – one of the best period correct displays of the Frontier Mining era of Old West.

Please enjoy the extensive photo gallery found HERE.

South Park City is an open-air museum located at the west end of Front Street in the town of Fairplay in Park County, Colorado. The museum is a historic reconstruction of a mining town from the days of the Colorado Gold Rush and the later Colorado Silver Boom in South Park in the late 1850s through the 1880s.

The museum contains thirty-five authentic relocated buildings filled with over 60,000 artifacts that depict many of the economic and social aspects of life in a gold or silver mining town in Colorado in the late 19th century. Two of the buildings, the South Park Brewery and the Summer Saloon, are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

A log structure known as “Father Dyer’s Chapel” was a hotel in Montgomery, Colorado but was dismantled, moved to Fairplay, and rebuilt as a church in 1868. It is named for John Lewis Dyer, the itinerant Methodist clergyman who preached in the area from 1861 to 1877 and is one of the sixteen founders of Colorado memorialized in the Colorado State Capitol in Denver.

The museum was opened in 1959 after two years of preparation by the South Park Historical Foundation. It is open daily from mid-May to mid-October.

2017 Solar Eclipse 360 Degree “Virtual Reality” Video

August 23, 2017 / outbackusa

After helping some friends out at the 2017, Best In The Desert, Vegas to Reno Desert Race, we ventured up from the Pony Express Trail near Silver Springs, NV to Weiser, Idaho in the Outback of the USA to witness the Solar Eclipse in Totality. Weiser is a great little town that just suffered through a horrible winter that damaged many homes and buildings. The town pulled it all together and presented a great weekend full of festivities and small town hospitality.

The video is about 9 minutes long capturing the total eclipse a bit after 3 minutes in. During the entire duration, we witnessed the changing light and felt the temperature changes. When totality occurred, the entire town let out a cheer, which you can here on the video.

Remember, this is a 360 degree video – you can pan all around and look up or down. It’s like being there. For best results, view the video on a desktop or laptop computer. The Youtube Mobile interface for the video does not always render the 360 degree, VR experience.

You may alo want to try this link directly – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44_-2hBa4fo&t

The video size is about 9 gigabytes so, you will need a fast Internet connection. Enjoy, and please feel free to share.

Update August 24th, 2017 – See this interactive map of 2017, Solar Eclipse reports.
https://zeemaps.com/map?group=2652977#

Congratulations Hal Russell!

August 2, 2017 / outbackusa / 0 Comments

A few times in your lifetime, you will meet an “Inspiration”.

At the finish line in Oregon!

Hal Russell, a retired, 68 year old from Osceola Missouri is “just that” and just finished the toughest bicycle race on the planet – the inaugural “American Trail Race” of 5100+ miles of unsupported “by yourself”, all back county travel in the Outback of the USA from North Carolina to Oregon, including some of the most dry and desolate lands and the highest mountain passes in our nation. Hal was one of 12 that started and of the 8 that finished. The trip took 63 days to complete! That’s right, 63 days in the saddle.

Hal Russell near Silverton, Colorado – July 6th 2017

My son, a close friend and I met Hal in Silverton Colorado as he was passing through on July 6th. He had just descended from Cinnamon Pass at 12640′.

Within 5 minutes of conversation, it was clear that Hal was inspiring. We invited Hal to share dinner and the inspiration really took hold – not a complaint, not a negative comment, only I will finish, that was fun, the people are great, this is an adventure and “thank you”, especially when I dug a “Choco Taco” icecream bar out of the freezer. I will never forget how his eyes lit up when he saw that! Hal also shared his time in the Vietnam War and how his cycling helps him deal with that horrible experience.

Almost out of water but still smiling! Hal Russell near Green River, Utah – July 9th 2017

A few days later, we caught up with Hal again near Green River, UT in a dry, desolate desert region far, far different than the alpine splendor of the San Juan Mountains in Colorado. Hal was low on water and 12 miles from Green River. We had plenty of water and two big PayDay candy bars, his favorite trail fuel. Hal “kept on” into Green River and of course the rest of the entire route where he experienced incredibly wild weather conditions (see below) that are beyond anything I could have imagined.

Congratulations Hal Russell! You are an incredible inspiration for this 61 year old and also for my 16 year old son. We will both be talking about you tomorrow morning as we pursue our increased fitness goals because of you! I will also make it a point to see you on the trail again next year somewhere in the mountains of Colorado. And lastly, you have planted a seed. Just maybe, maybe I could do one of the shorter races. It is a new goal. Thank you!

Reference Links

The American Trail Race – Bikepacker.com LINK
The American Trail Race – Facebook.com LINK
Hal Russell on Facebook LINK
Audio Report of WEATHER – MTB Cast LINK
MTB Cast Audio Report – Hal thanks everyone LINK

The full scoop!

Silverton Colorado, 2017 4th of July Parade Ride Along in 360

July 15, 2017 / outbackusa / 0 Comments

This came out well. We always try to participate in the Silverton 4th of July parade as it i makes for 30-45 minutes of non-stop smiles. This new 360 degree video let’s me share the experience with you. It is a very large Youtube file so, beware of that. Once loaded and after you click the “Play” arrow, you can pan the video 360 degrees to see the crowds the fun from the Silverton Fire Department and the beauty of this OutbackUSA, small town and its surroundings. Please enjoy!

For best results, view the video on a desktop or laptop computer. The Youtube Mobile interface for the video does not always render the 360 degree, VR experience.

You may also want to try this link directly – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ezfNK3Wa8g&t=