Moving to Omaha, Nebraska?!

[Turner]

Well, if you take Kansas, and cut it in half vertically - it's that western half that I was having horrible flashbacks about when I typed all that. From the time you leave Salina, KS, and head west, until you reach a little town called Limon, CO... there is NOTHING. Nothing at all. I know. I drove it. It's like being on another planet. Heck there probably IS more civilization on the Moon, than in western Kansas.

Western Nebraska can't be all that radically different. I'm just saying... the Great Plains... there's not a whole lot out there. You can go hundreds and hundreds of miles, and see nothing but flat-as-a-board farmland. You feel like you're in the Twilight Zone.

If I ever have to drive to the East coast again, I'm going all the way down to L.A. via I-5, and then take I-10 the whole way. I know it's a lot further to drive. But screw those plains, man. It was winter when I made the trip, and I didn't see any cars or trucks anywhere. I seriously would have froze to death if my car had broken down.

I have to disagree with that.

Yeah, it's pretty empty out there, but there are a bunch of towns on I70 between Salina and Limo. Goodland, (Fort) Hays, Wakeeney, Ellis, Oakley, Colby...that's just off the top of my head. And I've never been on I70 and not seen other people.

Just out of curiosity, when did you drive this? And what route did you take?

We just drove down to Joplin, MO, from Topeka this weekend. We took the back roads (US 59, 56) most of the way, and even then there was a town about every 20 miles and people on the road....

Granted, it's not like trying to drive I880 in the Bay Area....but it's not empty.

 

[Lotus49]

It was in late October (winter had come early), I was driving from early afternoon, after sundown, and reached Limon around 2 or 3 am (keeping in mind I had just gotten an hour back, as I'd entered MTN time zone just before I left Kansas.

And regardless of whatever you guys say... I was there. I saw it. And I remember it. And I'll never drive it again without at least 2 satellite phones. And no, there were no cars. ...noTHING, and no ONE.

"Desolation"

 

[A'AbarachAmadan]

Will definately need some tips on the most reliable cell phones. A good 75MPH speed limit also. Too bad Iowa is only 70 MPH. Can't imagine going that slow over such a long drive. (Family in MI and OH.)

Maybe I can have with the Solstice I want to buy eventually. At least in the summer.

 

[general_kill]

Congratulations, you get to live in the town that the 2nd richest American was born and currently lives in. (Warren Buffet)

 

[kingjoshi]

I drove cross country thorugh Nebraska. It wasn't bad at all. Everyone makes it out to be so terrible.

I stopped off at this little lake. It was during the summer so it was hot and it felt great. It was state park or something and I took a shower there (I was sleeping in my car through the trip).

There were plenty of stops off I-80 to get refills. I even wandered around a bit just to see what's out there. But there were some gravel roads and the car didn't have the tires for it.

And when you go through the cities, it's like any other midwestern city. You got malls along some major streets. You got them by the burbs. You got fast food joints, etc.

I think there is a time difference WITHIN state though. I went to a Walmart in some city in the western part of the state and it was an hour different from Omaha. How messed up is that?

Driving through the roads weren't bad. Raised in Ohio, I was fine going 70. Living in Michigan, I got used to 80. Nebraska, I think I went 75-80. Omaha to Chicago is still a long boring drive though. Unfortunately, I drove though Wyoming and Utah during the middle of the night. Didn't see much.

 

[Ebitdadada]

Stewie: sorry you don't like it here. I've been many places around the country, and around the world, and Omaha is at least as good as most places I've been. All that's missing is mountains and oceans.

Never been to Omaha but it seems like one of those places that has a bad reputation for whatever reason but is actually pretty nice. The problem is that if you move to a place expecting it to be a hell hole you'll probably find ways to prove to yourself its a hellhole!

Best advice to the first poster who is moving there: Pretty much every place in the US has some good qualities. Try to figure out where Omaha shines (as I'm sure it shines somewhere) and focus on that.

 

[Turner]

Will definately need some tips on the most reliable cell phones. A good 75MPH speed limit also. Too bad Iowa is only 70 MPH. Can't imagine going that slow over such a long drive. (Family in MI and OH.)

Maybe I can have with the Solstice I want to buy eventually. At least in the summer.

Bah....most people down here in Kansas City do 80 anyways.

Just follow Turner's Law of Speeding. Make sure someone else is going faster than you. Unless they're out in force (and it does happen), you should be okay.

But then again, you don't always catch the biggest fish either, right?

 

[bhsup]

Unless they're out in force (and it does happen), you should be okay.

Oh yeah, it happens. Grandview triangle (Turner will know what I mean), 1994. Got me a ticket while following the flow of traffic. Cops on the side of the road waving folks over as they whizzed by and many other cops just waiting to write out the tickets.

That was my last ticket. I now go the speed limit regardless of traffic flow and just ignore the blaring horns if someone behind me doesn't like me obeying the law. If they get pushy and tailgate, I slap my brakes. They back off quickly enough.

 

[Turner]

Well, you see, there I'm smart. I avoid the Triangle.

Of course, I'm on the Kansas side, and rarely drive there.

 

[bhsup]

...I'm on the Kansas side...

You have my deepest sympathies!

may the border wars never end!

 

[Turner]

Yes yes, higher taxes. But so what? Better roads.

And I have Johnson County Tags. Which means I can do whatever I want.

Oh, and KU beat MU.

 

[bhsup]

Yes yes, higher taxes. But so what? Better roads.

Yeah, I'll give you that one. MO roads blow.

And I have Johnson County Tags. Which means I can do whatever I want.

Hmph, I actually have to concede this point as well.

Oh, and KU beat MU.

Maybe, but we're gonna burn Lawrence to the ground again this year. It's been 140+ years since the first burning and y'all are way past due for another.

 

[Turner]

As much as I'd like to continue the border wars, I think we've threadjacked enough.

But it made a point...see what craziness you're getting into A'AbarachAmadan?

 

[bhsup]

...I think we've threadjacked enough.

Heh, yeah. Sorry about that.

Hey, A'AbarachAmadan, I just thought of another plus for Omaha. You're only about 250 miles away from the world's largest ball of twine! Make a roadtrip someday and add your own couple of loops to it.

 

[Chris85]

pffft a twine ball, out in western Nebraska there's Carhenge!

 

[bhsup]

Now that is honestly something I'd detour to see. Next time I have to make a trip over to Laramie, I'll probably swing by. Looks to be just an hour north of I-80 at most.