The first half of our drive today was all Nebraska farmland for as far as you could see. The road was straight and flat for more than 200 miles. We stopped for lunch at a local place called Valentino’s Italian Buffet. The parking lot was full so we knew it must be good. It was. The best part was the price – all we could eat for just over $10. And that was a higher price than normal because it was on a weekend. Normally it’s $8.75 (with our senior discount!)

We arrived at our hotel to find had a very healthy midwestern theme. Bear skins and a full-size stuffed buffalo were in the lobby. The theme extended into our room with antlers next to the bed.

We had intended to go downtown to walk around and see the sights as we have been doing in each new town we visit. As luck would have it, we just happened to be here in Independence for their huge annual Labor Day festival. This is the 50th anniversary of “Santacaligon”, named for the nearby origins of the Santa Fe, California, and Oregon trails. The entire downtown area was consumed with this big party which included 100’s of booth’s, a carnival, and great live music.

Normally, the downtown area of Independence is dominated by the historical significance of our 33rd President, Harry Truman, who grew up here in Independence.

We had a great time here. For the third day in a row, we’ve gotten to be in a medium sized mid-western town with a lot of history and a wonderful “small-town” feel.