Laughs, Landmarks, and Long Roads: 10 Days Together

Day 7 – Coffee, State-Hoppin’, and a Scoop of Fun! ☕🌉🍦

Today started off with—you guessed it—Dunkin. I’ve been absolutely living the dream on this trip with my morning coffee routine. Back home on our side of town? Dunkin’s aren’t managed very well. So yes, I’m enjoying every last sip while I can.

With coffee in hand, we made our way to the famous Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, affectionately called “Bob the Bridge.”

Bob is no ordinary bridge—he’s a 3,000-foot-long architectural beauty that lets you stand in two states at once! Nebraska on one side, Iowa on the other. 

 

Nebraska view from the bridge on the Nebraska side! 

Missouri River view from the bridge!

Then we walked across the bridge into Iowa… and right back into Nebraska. Michael had a blast going back and forth like a kid playing tag with state lines. 

Great spot for another pic of Mark with his sisters!

Mark & Susan

Roger was waiting for us down below and I took his picture!

So he took our picture on the bridge!

When we came back inside the Visitor Center, the men (yes, plural) made an important purchase: walking sticks. Because obviously, if you’re going to walk between states, you need the proper equipment!

Of course, it wasn’t long before things escalated into a full-blown duel, right there in the lobby. We now call it The Great Bridge Battle of ’25. No museum exhibits were harmed!. 😆

Omar the Troll:

This 4-foot-tall bronze statue is a whimsical addition, situated at the base of the bridge near the riverfront. It's intended to be a fun attraction for visitors

Monument to Labor

This large steel sculpture, created by Matthew J. Placzek, is a tribute to the hard work of those who built Omaha. It is located along Riverfront Drive, near the Missouri River.

Next up was a little detour in search of the Chef Boyardee statue and again we find roads are closed! 🤷

Ok finally around the road closures only to find out it had been removed just a few days ago (on Friday, 8/1/25). And the mystery remains: no one seems to know where it went! He has clearly worn out his welcome. 😔 I wasn’t crushed, just mildly bummed. (Okay, maybe I had a dramatic sigh.🫣)

But just so you know he really was located here! 

Lunch was at Spaghetti Works, and it absolutely hit the spot—delicious and filling, just what we needed after our state-straddling adventure.

Nelda showing off the great salad from the Salad Bar

We wandered through a few downtown shops for some window shopping. I saw plenty I liked, but believe it or not, I walked out empty-handed. (Please alert the media.)

The perfect ending to the day? A stop at Ted & Wally’s Ice Cream—a local favorite known for their handmade, small-batch ice cream and unique flavors. It was every bit as good as it sounds. No regrets. Just smiles.

Mark and Susan having “Nebraska Sweet Corn” Ice Cream 

Dutch Chocolate with Heath Mixins 😋 

Ice Cream Churns

Some of us are documenting the adventure... others are scrolling through it. 📸💻 

Stay tuned for Day 8—because if you think walking sticks and state-hopping were something... just wait. The adventure (and the laughs) continue! 🚌✨