Day 6 - Sun Aug 8 2021 - Loveland Walmart to Lake McConaughy, NE

 Loveland Walmart was a relaxed morning, Toby did some computer stuff, Jane chatting to Emma back in the UK. Then off we set for the drive to Lake McConaughy, NE - an old haunt where my drivers used to windsurf some 30 years ago. 

On the way we did The Stinky - I was of course able to assist and provide the needed guidance, direction and steady hand expected. 

‘Big Mac’, as its known, is the largest lake in Nebraska, about 5 miles wide and 12 long, with big white sandy beaches. Its also really hot! We squeaked in at 17:00 and it was still 99F - luckily we got shade under a tree: 

 

There are over 10 separate campgrounds in the park, each hosting maybe 60 - 100 sites - not like 3 decades ago, apparently, when this was just a wild untamed area with dirt roads and rattlesnakes!). But we got a lovely quiet area all to ourselves. I wonder why? Who cares - off for a swim: 

The water was nice and warm, the white sand really really soft, almost like sugar. Very pretty. 

After a quick meal it was time for bed. It was a hot night, up in the high 80s, but there was a wonderful breeze in the trees and through the van, so it was bearable - until about midnight when we discovered, to our collective dismay and sleeplessness, that we were some 400 yards from a major train track, and these freight trains had somewhere between 140 and 300 cars, lasting as long as 6 minutes as they went by. AARRGGH. The tranquility of the place was well and truly shattered as, by the morning, so too were we. What a shame - a beautiful spot, unless you want to sleep as well!