Mit,

The Sand Hill region, home to the eponymous cranes, is a fascinating area of fixed dunes covered with grass and punctuated by little ponds in the low spots between the dunes. It's a unique, barren but fascinating area.
And as for the Platte itself, it's a typical Western river: about a quarter mile wide and six inches deep. Or, as the locals say: "Too thick to drink, too thin to plow."

Many thanks for your post.

Techlady