A snowstorm was raging for a second day along the Colorado Front Range as I prepared to return to Missouri this morning; in fact, Interstate 70 was closed east of Denver. Checking the radar, I decided to head northeast on I-76 and left the snow behind within 20 miles of departing the Metro Area.
Once in Nebraska, I drove east on Interstate 80 where, in North Platte, the North and South Platte Rivers merge to form the Platte River. The highway parallels this river, crossing its braided channels and numerous irrigation canals. Many small lakes, ponds and wetlands are also spaced along the Platte River Valley.
Wildlife sightings on my northern detour included prairie falcons in northeast Colorado and many flocks of migrant gulls and ducks in the Platte River Valley; red-tailed hawks and a couple of bald eagles were also observed in trees near the river. Though I hoped to encounter tardy flocks of sandhill cranes, which stage on the Platte (especially in early spring), none were seen from the highway. After a night in Grand Island, I'll continue my journey to Missouri in the morning.
