RV Squid: Motorcycles, Space Capsules, and Salt

When we left Michigan's Upper Peninsula, we were on what we considered a bomb run to New Mexico. Harold's work schedule at White Sands had shifted left on the calendar. With just shy of 1800 miles to travel and some shake down issues with the new rig, we wanted to get the bulk of the distance behind us quickly. Extra time would be spent in Albuquerque, where Harold's brother and his wife live.

Even rushing it for us, we still found time for a few museums along the way. First up was the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa. Harold was almost speechless at the sheer number of motorcycles. He just kept exclaiming, "Wow!" From Evel Knievel exhibits to early bicycles, including a steam cycle, the place was filled. I think the one that made me smile most was the Hopalong Cassidy bicycle, complete with a pistol and saddlebags. Harold noted the Roadog.

Roadog

Just a portion of the vast collection

Hopalong Cassidy

The next day, we opted to stop for two nights in Hutchinson, Kansas. Hutchinson is home to the Cosmosphere and Strataca. The Cosmosphere, an affiliate of the Smithsonian, is home to the Liberty Bell 7, and an Apollo exhibit which were Harold's main reasons for wanting to visit. The museum also had a German V-2 exhibit. They didn't have a cutaway of the rocket like White Sands Missile Range Museum did, but it's still a rather unique artifact.

Liberty Bell 7

V1 and V2

The next day, we headed underground. Strataca is an underground salt museum. It is 650' underground in an older portion of a salt mine. I was amazed at the vast space that had been mined. The openness of the salt mine compared to coal mines and gold mines was extraordinary.

I was recalling news stories about underground doomsday condominiums for the ultra-rich. Although from what I've read since, those are disused missile silos, the vastness of the salt mine made it seem more real. The salt mines are being used for underground storage of films and other data.