Coming Down from the 844

We were hot and tired by this point of the day and the loss of adrenalin after the 844 left us drained. We decided we had to do our other main stops of the day before we did lunch because we knew we'd collapse once we ate. We headed off to see the Big Boy, Leo's favorite engine, that welcomes visitors on a hill off of I-80. We found the parking area and stepped out only to see this:

Oh good God...and me with a bad back and iffy knees. Ha! Leo softly encouraged, with his hand at my back, "You can do it Mom." Only for my baby. We got to the top and it was stunning. The Big Boy and another Union Pacific engine I should know...standing at right angles to one another, beautiful plaza and plantings, overlooking the highway and the city beyond. Pretty incredible, but um...HOT. I wandered around for awhile and then told the guys I would wait in the car. Sweet air conditioning. The heat and stairs and lack of food made me dizzy. Those $6 cashews from the minibar saved my life!!! 

We were fading fast but we headed to the Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs. It was more a museum about the company that the actual trains but had some wonderful stuff. 

A burger and fries seemed appropriate for our very late lunch. We headed over to Dinkers and I must say, world class onion rings....or onion strips more accurately. I skipped the bun on my burger but could not resist the onion strips. Lord they were good. We were pleased with our choice. Onto the hotel to collapse and load images and video onto the laptop. Later on, early evening, Ernie and I walked down to our new favorite place, Wilson & Washburn and had a drink but we were all too full for dinner. Instead we curled up and laid in the dark watching Storm Chasers.

A perfect day.