Agate Fossil Beds and Fort Robinson

We headed out of Gering, stopped briefly at an RV shop in Scottsbluff, and drove to Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. When we reached the visitor center, we joined a guided ranger walk that was about to leave. Our guide was Lil, a rancher's wife. She knew her plants, and told us a little about ranching life, as well as pointing out the corkscrew fossils known as Demonelix. These fossils were the filled in dens of a land beaver, a little like a prarie dog, from 20 million years ago.

The monument was created in recognition of the bonebed found around two hills, apparently the result of animals dying in a mudhole during a "drouth". (Drouth appears to be the accepted spelling and pronunciation in Nebraska). A local rancher discovered the fossils, and his family also contributed his collection of indian artifacts; James Cook was a friend of Red Cloud, who often visited him on the ranch.

After lunch, we drove to Fort Robinson, a huge state park with a long history, including the death of Crazy Horse. Fort Robinson is in a particularly pretty area, the Pine Ridge, a mix of grasslands and pine trees.