Lincoln, Nebraska...Here We Come!

We climbed into our rental car about 7:30 and headed west for the Microtel Motel in Lincoln, NE.  Since our 2002 Buick LeSabre had 190,000 miles on it, we decided to rent a car.  We picked up a Black Mazda hatchback at the airport.  It is smaller than we have had in years so we will see if we would want to buy one that small when the Buick finally dies.  It was hard to get all the Christmas presents and our luggage into it, but we did.  It has averaged 30 MPG which is what the Buick averages and the Buick is much larger!  It was 481 miles here and we drove 8 1/2 hours.

It was overcast as we drove west but the clouds began to break up and it turned out to a beautiful day.

Every time we drive on I-72 we see this sign.  I have always wondered who Free Frank McWorter was.  Thanks to access to the Internet, I was able to find the answer.  He was a slave who was treated well and managed to earn and save enough money to purchase not only his freedom but also the freedom of his wife, four children, and 10  other relatives.  He came to Illinois in 1836 and brought 80 acres for $100 and founded the town of New Philadelphia near Exit 30 off I-72.  It was a thriving, integrated town until the railroad came through north of the town and eventually, the city declined.  The area where the town was is a National Historical Site.  

Sapp Brothers is a chain of gas stations located around Omaha.  There aren't as many as 50 years ago when we first saw them but a few remain.  You can always recognize the station by the "coffee pot."

We went to Golden Corral for supper and are now feeling too full to do anything but lay around and watch television. John and his family will be here tomorrow.