Valentine was supposed to be just another waypoint in flyover country. Yet we lingered for 5 nights. As we entered the town we noticed they had a hospital – always a plus for us older people.
Our way point, Smith Falls Campground, turned out to be a pleasant spot right next to the Niobrara River. The falls were a short walk form the camping area over a bridge that crossed the river and up a very long wheelchair ramp. The falls had an unusual bell shape to it.
As we sat in our campsite we watched people floating down the river in canoes, floaties and in big tubs with chairs and bottles of wine. We definitely had to try that.
We rented some tubes from Brewers canoes and discovered it is fun but also more work than you would think. We bounced off the shore, rocks, sand, other tubers and occasionally had to drag our tubes back into the main flow.
After our tubing run it was late in the day so we figured we would catch a night at the Valentine City Park. Yep a great place to take your kids to play on the swings or to park for the night. They even had clean toilets and showers open all night all for only $5.
A couple from California, Russ and Jeanie, also stayed the night there and we talked for quite a while about their experiences as they have been RVing for many years. He also suggested I needed better locks on our bikes. He had several locks including a Kryptonite Fahgettaboudit.
It was here we also ran into that guy on the bike….