JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017 • NEBRASKALAND 55
has ever traveled was on the way to
see the Grand Duke Alexis marker in
Hayes County.
"It's two and a half miles of
no-maintenance roads. I'm going one
mile per hour, holding my feet out and
bouncing," Springgate said. "So we're
riding through baking flour-type dirt
eight inches deep. It moves like water
waves and covers us. Then, covered
up by this dirt are rocks a little smaller
than a volleyball. We made it to the
marker, and when we got back, I said,
'I've never done this before, but I am
kissing the pavement.' And we did. We
actually kissed the pavement."
But Springgate assures that the ride
to a historical marker is worth it – no
matter what.
"I was glad we got to it, though," he
said. "Nice rolling hills and farmland.
No traffic, very quiet."
Other adventures include a snapped
clutch cable, seeking shelter from a
tornado under the tables of a Gordon
Butch Springgate of Fremont has visited more than 500 historical markers across the state of Nebraska. Springgate travels during
three seasons for this passion, then organizes all that he has seen and learned in a collection of binders at his home.
Springgate and his Yamaha motorcycle are pictured near Chimney Rock in
Morrill County.
PHOTO
BY
JUSTIN
HAAG
PHOTO
COURTESY
OF
BUTCH
SPRINGGATE
