Pizza Hut, and a muddy wipeout on a
lonely road in Webster County.
During the latter, Springgate was
on a solo journey and searching for a
historical marker at a cemetery.
"The road was dry and arid,"
Springgate said. "I was looking up
trying to see if the cemetery was on
the next hill, and I wasn't looking at
the road. And then suddenly I hit
wet clay."
The bike went sideways, and both
Springgate and his motorcycle were
thrown into the mud.
"I couldn't lift the motorcycle, so
I was stuck," he said. He had no cell
phone reception, so he walked two
miles to the nearest farm. No one was
home.
So he walked two more miles. No
one was home there either. But just as
he turned away from the door, a pickup
pulled into the driveway – where it
immediately stopped.
"I was in all-black leather with
a do-rag and just covered in mud,"
Springgate said. "I took off my jacket
and helmet and put them in a little pile
and walked out to the pickup, which
had just stopped in the driveway. I
explained what had happened and said,
'So I kind of have a problem.' The
farmer looked me from head to toe and
said, 'Yes, you do, son.'"
The farmer and his teenage sons
got Springgate's bike unstuck with
the four-wheeler, and then even
accompanied him to see the marker.
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56 NEBRASKALAND • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017
This historical marker at Fort Robinson State Park chronicles the history of Barracks Row.
This historical marker, detailing the history of a German prisoner of war camp during
World War II, is located in Fort Robinson State Park in Dawes County.
PHOTO
BY
BOB
GRIER
PHOTO
BY
AMY
KUCERA
