Trek Eastward

Hi all,
Today began our trek eastward. We stopped one last time in historic downtown Laramie and bought coffee, rolls, and enjoyed the 19th Century architecture in the buildings. Then, got onto route 80 east bound off of Grand Avenue and began driving.
After passing Cheyenne we continued almost to the state line where we took route 215 north to a little town by the name of Albin where 102 years ago my grandfather Nordstrom started a little Baptist Church. The town is 17 miles north of Pine Bluff on a very straight road which had virtually no turns in the entire 17 miles! At last a little sign announced “Albin - population 120”. The church sits on the main road (the road through town) and has had two additions since my grandfather’s time. We were fortunate to meet a woman leaving who knew the name and gave us a tour throughout. Wanda Moore is a dental hygienist in Cheyenne – an hour away by her shortcut route. We were unfortunate to miss the lunch which they had after church. It would have been fun to meet more of the people many of whom met my mother and two aunts at the 100 year celebration two years ago. On the wall in the hallway was a picture of the first pastor and his family – so exciting to see my grandparents and family. It was interesting to see where my mother spent some of her childhood.
A rainstorm chased us out of Albin; very strong winds blowing up soil from the surrounding fields made it dark. We outran it and continued on 80 to Ogallala where we are camped next to a beautiful lake near a huge dam where an even larger lake is formed.
We met some locals who helpfully told us how to get here and were so talkative we thought we might be talking the rest of the night. Tomorrow we expect to arrive in Benedict where my cousin John Carlson lives. Such an adventure we are having.

Our campsite was lovely, just below the dam right on a lake with many trees surrounding us. After supper the wind began and then the thunder and continuous lightning. We were rocking and rolling. I went to the front seat to watch and because it felt less hazardous. Jay joined me and we stayed for half and hour until it let up. It didn’t help that I am reading The Children’s blizzard by David Laskin about the great blizzard of 1888 that happened within minutes. (not that I expected snow!)
Morning found it all quiet and Jay spotted three American White Pelicans which are quite rare and fish actually jumping out of the water in front of us. A walk around the campground and we met a couple from Half Moon Bay, CA in a huge rv which they showed us. They are on a 4 month retirement trip hoping to be in Maine for the foliage and will then go down the eastern seaboard to Florida and home along the southern borders.
On our way to Benedict we stopped at the Great Archway Museum which extends over route 80. It was recommended by the couple who helped us find the campsite. It turned out to be a multimedia walk through history of the westward movement.
Now we are in Benedict after a day of Jay trying to hold the camper on the road with gusty winds and many trucks. We just did a drive through the town of 230 people, neat houses and big grain elevators in the middle. We are right near a railroad track so I imagine we will hear a whistle tonight as we have every night on our trip. You are never far from the railroad in the west!