Well we have been in wilderness for 4 days. I mean WILDERNESS!!!! Yellowstone is absolutely beautiful. Every turn is a completely different experience. Plains where the buffalo roam, mountains topped with snow, mud boiling, steam bursting from the earth, geysers, sulfur smell, rapids, lakes, rivers and of coarse animals.
For animals we saw, bears and cubs, elk, ducks, fish, coyote, buffalo (lots of them), and deer. Never saw a moose or a horned sheep which are there as well. The park is over 2 million acres so there is a lot of space to roam.
This place is a geologists dream. Some parts are from volcanoes, some are from the ice age, and so much more I can't even tell you cause it's over my head.
Mike did some fishing. He bought a 3 day license. No luck. First you couldn't fish in the Yellowstone river that fed into the Yellowstone lake cause the Cut Throat trout were spawning. Couldn't fish in any river that left out of the Yellowstone lake cause the cut throat trout were spawning. But you could fish in the Yellowstone lake. I guess the spawn and are too tire to eat. The do have to go over some pretty remarkable rapids. We watch them do that. Oh yes and you can't fish with a barbed hook. You have to smash the barb down. But he looked good fishing. (just ask him)
Yellowstone was great but we had no extras. No Internet, not TV and you had to pay for a shower. Everything is green green green. I did enjoy it but I don't think I'm such a primitive camper anymore.
Last night was probably the cherry on the top of the cake. We were lying in bed, it was about 12 am. When at first we heard a dog bark. Mike said, wolves. I said no; a dog. Well............. it was not a blooming dog. It was coyotes!!!! A pack, right through out campground. On the road behind us. I'll tell you even though I knew they couldn't hurt us it was one of the most frightening things I have ever heard. Whew!!!!!
We are in Great Falls, MT. Stores, Internet and antenna TV. not as beautiful but easier.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
June 23, 2008
Didn't do to much today as my cold is not better. So we found a walk-in clinic and as you can imagine it took 2 hours of our day. Have sinusitis and got some antibiotics. Mike had lost a crown a few days ago. (has the crown it just fell out) So while I was waiting for my appointment he was searching for a dentist in hopes he would glue it back in. No luck for him.
We did have some time this afternoon to go to this western village of the 1800's. These log cabins are original, some were one room homes, some were blacksmith's shops, one was a saloon, one was a store, one is a two room house that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hid from the law. These buildings were found all around the area, some in Montana. They were moved here where they wanted to start the town of Cody. Didn't happen cause the water wasn't so good in that spot. It was pretty interesting. I think I like the west!!!!! People are really nice here. I need to make one correction. This town was named after Buffalo Bill Cody, not Wild Bill Cody. He had a wild west show he took all over the world.
Ok, so tomorrow we're off to Yellowstone. I doubt if we will have Internet there, so I'll have to catch you up when we head to Canada.
Take care all.
We did have some time this afternoon to go to this western village of the 1800's. These log cabins are original, some were one room homes, some were blacksmith's shops, one was a saloon, one was a store, one is a two room house that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hid from the law. These buildings were found all around the area, some in Montana. They were moved here where they wanted to start the town of Cody. Didn't happen cause the water wasn't so good in that spot. It was pretty interesting. I think I like the west!!!!! People are really nice here. I need to make one correction. This town was named after Buffalo Bill Cody, not Wild Bill Cody. He had a wild west show he took all over the world.
Ok, so tomorrow we're off to Yellowstone. I doubt if we will have Internet there, so I'll have to catch you up when we head to Canada.
Take care all.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
June 22, 2008
Today was a really fun day but would have been better if we both didn't feel like we are getting colds. Hope it passes.
Today is Sunday, we have one more day here before we go to Yellowstone. The weather has been nice here in the 80's and 90's but will drop remarkably when we go to Yellowstone, as it is over 8000 feet above sea level. Here in Cody we are 4000 above sea level. It gets cooler at night but not bad.
Anyway we went to a Pow Wow today. They were called Plains Indians. However, there were all kinds of tribes there. They sang, danced, and spoke in there native language. Of coarse they speak English normally but I was amazed how many could still speak their native language. There was a Chief Jo Medicine......... can't remember his full name. He was 94 years old. He was considered a war time chief as he served in World War II. The costumes we quite pretty. Some were real authentic made of suede and feathers. Some were a little plastic but all very colorful. I especially like the ladies shoes. They were all beaded moccasins. They were more like a boot-moccasins as they went up the leg. Very pretty.
We went back to the camper and rested cause tonight we went to the Rodeo. It was great. Kinda smelly but once you got past that it was wonderful. Bare back bronco riders, saddle bronco riders, bull riders, lasso the steer and tie 3 legs together, women lasso the steer but no tie, kids 12 and under bronco steer riding, women's barrel racing with horses, kid barrel racing with horses (one was 4 years old!) and a very funny clown.
So that's about it for today. Glad to hear from you Annalisa. I'll try my best at your request!
Oh yes I thought I would show you how Goobie looks out the window in the night! Have to raise those blinds.
To see better pics of the slideshows - see http://picasaweb.google.com/mike.dicesaro
Today is Sunday, we have one more day here before we go to Yellowstone. The weather has been nice here in the 80's and 90's but will drop remarkably when we go to Yellowstone, as it is over 8000 feet above sea level. Here in Cody we are 4000 above sea level. It gets cooler at night but not bad.
Anyway we went to a Pow Wow today. They were called Plains Indians. However, there were all kinds of tribes there. They sang, danced, and spoke in there native language. Of coarse they speak English normally but I was amazed how many could still speak their native language. There was a Chief Jo Medicine......... can't remember his full name. He was 94 years old. He was considered a war time chief as he served in World War II. The costumes we quite pretty. Some were real authentic made of suede and feathers. Some were a little plastic but all very colorful. I especially like the ladies shoes. They were all beaded moccasins. They were more like a boot-moccasins as they went up the leg. Very pretty.
We went back to the camper and rested cause tonight we went to the Rodeo. It was great. Kinda smelly but once you got past that it was wonderful. Bare back bronco riders, saddle bronco riders, bull riders, lasso the steer and tie 3 legs together, women lasso the steer but no tie, kids 12 and under bronco steer riding, women's barrel racing with horses, kid barrel racing with horses (one was 4 years old!) and a very funny clown.
So that's about it for today. Glad to hear from you Annalisa. I'll try my best at your request!
Oh yes I thought I would show you how Goobie looks out the window in the night! Have to raise those blinds.
To see better pics of the slideshows - see http://picasaweb.google.com/mike.dicesaro
Saturday, June 21, 2008
June 21,2008
Well sorry didn't write last night, Friday, as it my beatin night. I got a good beatin too!!!! So bad I couldn't lift my arms to type. I was sent to do laundry and back for a good Friday night beatin. ............ Truth: I was real tired and we did do laundry.
Yesterday the 20Th we left Hill Town and went to Deadwood. Deadwood is still in the Black Hills but it famous for preserving it buildings from the late 1800's. It was a very notorious town in it's day. A big gold mining town. Guess a lot of gold in those there hills. Very lawless for a time from what I understand. Burned down 3 times but was rebuilt. Seems the bank burned down but the gold in it didn't. Very interesting town. In this town Wild Bill Hickok was slain in the #9 saloon. He was only 39 years old. Calamity Jane also live in this town and she died the day after Wild Bill. She was in love with him but don't think it was mutual. She is buried right beside him. From Deadwood it was only a while when we hit Wyoming. Wow what a first impression it made. Rolling hills green, just beautiful but we were still in the Black Hills. A few miles into Wyoming we stop at what is called a "vore". A vore is a sink hole!!!!! The Indians use this sink hole to send the Buffalo in. Yep corralled them to their death. They would send about 300 at a time to this hole. And, they would use every part of the buffalo. All the meat was taken out of the hole by the children, put on sleds and taken to where ever they lived, which, was not near there. They would use the hide, some was stiff and use for armour some was soft and this hide was rub with the brain and a chemical in the brain would soften the hide to like a suede. Amazing. Use the fur,use it all except some of the bones which was left in the hole. There was 20 feet of bone in this particular hole. Oh yes and this is the "pre-historic" indian, they did not have horses!
Not far from there we stopped at Devils Tower. Our camp site was at the foot of this thing. This tower is made of lava, lime stone and other sediments. It is constantly eroding.
Ok now we are today the 21st. We got up, had a very good night of sleep. Went up to the Tower, it's a national monument, to see it up close. We ended up waking around the circumference of the base. Saw some nutty climbers on one side of the face. (Look like fun Judge?)
We started driving and driving. We saw white capped mountains. We went over what was called Big Horn Mountains. They were beautiful. Snow capped. Not bad going up but coming down kinda scary. But Mike did a great job. We saw beautiful wildflowers, snow, great temperatures. It was beautiful. But let me tell you what is in-between Devils Tower and the mountains. Many many many horned antelope. There are more antelope in Wyoming than there are people. You can't go more than 10 miles without seeing one or many. But also there are miles of kind of no so pretty fields with an oil well here and there. Many more than I expected. But I didn't expect any. Not such a nice part of WY. Got over the mountains and there is a large space to the Rockies. Like a plain. Lots of farms, lots of live stock. Drove some more and got here to where we are now......Cody. Went out to dinner in Cody. Home of Wild Bill Cody. He built a hotel here which is where we had dinner. Had ribs that fell of the bone and were still as moist as a rare steak. Yum. Town of Cody is pretty big and was quite busy. Has a rodeo every night. Think we might give it try tomorrow night. We are about 50 miles from Yellowstone so we are here for about 3 days. Goobie will be happy.
Some of my readers have been curious about our gas mileage. We are averaging about 10.5 miles per gallon. And the gas prices since South Dakota have been under $4.00 per gallon. Talk to to all tomorrow.
Yesterday the 20Th we left Hill Town and went to Deadwood. Deadwood is still in the Black Hills but it famous for preserving it buildings from the late 1800's. It was a very notorious town in it's day. A big gold mining town. Guess a lot of gold in those there hills. Very lawless for a time from what I understand. Burned down 3 times but was rebuilt. Seems the bank burned down but the gold in it didn't. Very interesting town. In this town Wild Bill Hickok was slain in the #9 saloon. He was only 39 years old. Calamity Jane also live in this town and she died the day after Wild Bill. She was in love with him but don't think it was mutual. She is buried right beside him. From Deadwood it was only a while when we hit Wyoming. Wow what a first impression it made. Rolling hills green, just beautiful but we were still in the Black Hills. A few miles into Wyoming we stop at what is called a "vore". A vore is a sink hole!!!!! The Indians use this sink hole to send the Buffalo in. Yep corralled them to their death. They would send about 300 at a time to this hole. And, they would use every part of the buffalo. All the meat was taken out of the hole by the children, put on sleds and taken to where ever they lived, which, was not near there. They would use the hide, some was stiff and use for armour some was soft and this hide was rub with the brain and a chemical in the brain would soften the hide to like a suede. Amazing. Use the fur,use it all except some of the bones which was left in the hole. There was 20 feet of bone in this particular hole. Oh yes and this is the "pre-historic" indian, they did not have horses!
Not far from there we stopped at Devils Tower. Our camp site was at the foot of this thing. This tower is made of lava, lime stone and other sediments. It is constantly eroding.
Ok now we are today the 21st. We got up, had a very good night of sleep. Went up to the Tower, it's a national monument, to see it up close. We ended up waking around the circumference of the base. Saw some nutty climbers on one side of the face. (Look like fun Judge?)
We started driving and driving. We saw white capped mountains. We went over what was called Big Horn Mountains. They were beautiful. Snow capped. Not bad going up but coming down kinda scary. But Mike did a great job. We saw beautiful wildflowers, snow, great temperatures. It was beautiful. But let me tell you what is in-between Devils Tower and the mountains. Many many many horned antelope. There are more antelope in Wyoming than there are people. You can't go more than 10 miles without seeing one or many. But also there are miles of kind of no so pretty fields with an oil well here and there. Many more than I expected. But I didn't expect any. Not such a nice part of WY. Got over the mountains and there is a large space to the Rockies. Like a plain. Lots of farms, lots of live stock. Drove some more and got here to where we are now......Cody. Went out to dinner in Cody. Home of Wild Bill Cody. He built a hotel here which is where we had dinner. Had ribs that fell of the bone and were still as moist as a rare steak. Yum. Town of Cody is pretty big and was quite busy. Has a rodeo every night. Think we might give it try tomorrow night. We are about 50 miles from Yellowstone so we are here for about 3 days. Goobie will be happy.
Some of my readers have been curious about our gas mileage. We are averaging about 10.5 miles per gallon. And the gas prices since South Dakota have been under $4.00 per gallon. Talk to to all tomorrow.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
June 19,2008
We had a rip snortin storm here last night about 2:30 am. It lasted a good hour. They have some violent thunder and lighting storms here. It was so bad Goobie got under the covers and hid. But when we got up this morning the weather man said it would be in the 80's. It was nice in the morning so off we went.
Well as I told you yesterday we were going to the museum to see the works or Borglum. We we went back to Rushmore ; they had a free museum. (need I say more) It was interesting. We actually met a guy who worked on the carvings. He was very old but amazing. The carving at Rushmore took 14 years to complete. I definitely think everyone who can, should visit this place. But on our way, we saw SNOW on the side of the road, at least it looked like it. We stopped, it was hail from the storm last night. Oh yea, forgot to tell you it hailed last night too. Very noise!!!
After we went to Keystone as we found out there was an old part of town. There we went through the oldest general store, The town doctors office, the ice house, and the school house. All in the late 1800s. The store is still in operation and is on the National Historic Register. The ice house is now a fancy gift shop and the school house had it's last 8 students in 1988.
Carrie Ingals Swansy lived in Keystone. She is the sister of Laura Ingals of "Little House on the Prairie". Lot of information about the Ingals family here. Didn't realize that this famous TV series was from real lives.
The a casual drive around the National Forest to see if we could see some mountain goats. Well the weather dropped to 52. Then we had a little hail, then rain. Exciting eh?
By the way, enjoy your comments. Keep em coming.
Well as I told you yesterday we were going to the museum to see the works or Borglum. We we went back to Rushmore ; they had a free museum. (need I say more) It was interesting. We actually met a guy who worked on the carvings. He was very old but amazing. The carving at Rushmore took 14 years to complete. I definitely think everyone who can, should visit this place. But on our way, we saw SNOW on the side of the road, at least it looked like it. We stopped, it was hail from the storm last night. Oh yea, forgot to tell you it hailed last night too. Very noise!!!
After we went to Keystone as we found out there was an old part of town. There we went through the oldest general store, The town doctors office, the ice house, and the school house. All in the late 1800s. The store is still in operation and is on the National Historic Register. The ice house is now a fancy gift shop and the school house had it's last 8 students in 1988.
Carrie Ingals Swansy lived in Keystone. She is the sister of Laura Ingals of "Little House on the Prairie". Lot of information about the Ingals family here. Didn't realize that this famous TV series was from real lives.
The a casual drive around the National Forest to see if we could see some mountain goats. Well the weather dropped to 52. Then we had a little hail, then rain. Exciting eh?
By the way, enjoy your comments. Keep em coming.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
June 18,
If you hadn't figured it out I wrote the 17th of June this morning during a storm but it was about things we did on the 17th. So here I am 9:30 pm SD time on the 18th. Ok now we are on the right day.
Had a thunder storm this morning!!!! (surprise) The storms here are pretty intense. One crack of thunder actually rattle the camper. It warmed up by noon, in the 70's and off we went. Today we went to Custer State Park. It's really really big. Many roads. First we went on Needles Highway. Believe me, it is not a highway. It goes up and up and there are tons of granite rock formations. Some look like cathedrals some look like big rocks. lol just kidding. But it was neat to see these things. We stopped at a lot of overlooks and I found this pine tree with the oddest pine cones, or the start of pine cones so I took a picture of it. It is really thick and fat. Then right next to it was a different pine tree with a skinny pine cone start and took a picture of that too. Let me add here that I am at the mercy of my husband to load the pictures here as my computer will not download pictures from my camera. It is a bit frustrating.
The we went to Custer, the town. Well I wouldn't recommend this town to you all. It did have some old buildings from 1880's but that's about it. We had lunch there and Mike had a wire in his salad. Everything else was pretty good.
Then we went back into Custer State Park again.
We took the wildlife loop. This area of the park is more grass land and is suppose to have a herd of 1500 buffalo. Well we saw everything but buffalo. We saw prong horned antelope, white tail deer, and burro's. These burro's were once used to take people up a mountain which is near this place. This was discontinued and so they let the burro's go free in the park. Some are real friendly, they will come up to you and let you pet them. Then we ran into a bunch of them. The next one we saw was in the middle of the road and we had to name him, bigus dickus. He was on his way to a large group of other burro's but was having a hard time walking across the street. He gathered quite a crowd in the middle of the wilderness. Mike said he didn't think burro's could reproduce but I really doubt that especially after meeting bigus!
Now we are going to the big city! Rapid City ( that's when I called you Bob). Yep got to go. Had to refill a prescription and the only Walgreen's was in Rapid City. Also went to Sam's. Very hard to find out here. Food in the grocery is expensive here. At least in these little towns where there is only one grocery store. So we picked up a few things, about $210.'s worth. Ok we bought a couple of chairs and a side of beef. No sorry just a tenderloin of beef. Wanted to stop at a Staples but I think that was enough city for Mike.
I'm going to send you that brochure Emily as soon as I can get some envelopes.
Well we have one more day here in Hill Town and then off we go again. Goobie likes the looooong stays (3days). Tomorrow we are returning to Keystone to see the museum of Borglum the artist of Mt. Rushmore.
Forgot to tell Pat. Found my sign in Mitchell SD. Remember I was complaining how all these new signs I have missed. (parking for pregnant mothers, parking for mothers with babies, parking for green vehicles) Well I found one for us and I am having Mike post it here.
Take care all, Chad have fun in Maine.
If you hadn't figured it out I wrote the 17th of June this morning during a storm but it was about things we did on the 17th. So here I am 9:30 pm SD time on the 18th. Ok now we are on the right day.
Had a thunder storm this morning!!!! (surprise) The storms here are pretty intense. One crack of thunder actually rattle the camper. It warmed up by noon, in the 70's and off we went. Today we went to Custer State Park. It's really really big. Many roads. First we went on Needles Highway. Believe me, it is not a highway. It goes up and up and there are tons of granite rock formations. Some look like cathedrals some look like big rocks. lol just kidding. But it was neat to see these things. We stopped at a lot of overlooks and I found this pine tree with the oddest pine cones, or the start of pine cones so I took a picture of it. It is really thick and fat. Then right next to it was a different pine tree with a skinny pine cone start and took a picture of that too. Let me add here that I am at the mercy of my husband to load the pictures here as my computer will not download pictures from my camera. It is a bit frustrating.
The we went to Custer, the town. Well I wouldn't recommend this town to you all. It did have some old buildings from 1880's but that's about it. We had lunch there and Mike had a wire in his salad. Everything else was pretty good.
Then we went back into Custer State Park again.
We took the wildlife loop. This area of the park is more grass land and is suppose to have a herd of 1500 buffalo. Well we saw everything but buffalo. We saw prong horned antelope, white tail deer, and burro's. These burro's were once used to take people up a mountain which is near this place. This was discontinued and so they let the burro's go free in the park. Some are real friendly, they will come up to you and let you pet them. Then we ran into a bunch of them. The next one we saw was in the middle of the road and we had to name him, bigus dickus. He was on his way to a large group of other burro's but was having a hard time walking across the street. He gathered quite a crowd in the middle of the wilderness. Mike said he didn't think burro's could reproduce but I really doubt that especially after meeting bigus!
Now we are going to the big city! Rapid City ( that's when I called you Bob). Yep got to go. Had to refill a prescription and the only Walgreen's was in Rapid City. Also went to Sam's. Very hard to find out here. Food in the grocery is expensive here. At least in these little towns where there is only one grocery store. So we picked up a few things, about $210.'s worth. Ok we bought a couple of chairs and a side of beef. No sorry just a tenderloin of beef. Wanted to stop at a Staples but I think that was enough city for Mike.
I'm going to send you that brochure Emily as soon as I can get some envelopes.
Well we have one more day here in Hill Town and then off we go again. Goobie likes the looooong stays (3days). Tomorrow we are returning to Keystone to see the museum of Borglum the artist of Mt. Rushmore.
Forgot to tell Pat. Found my sign in Mitchell SD. Remember I was complaining how all these new signs I have missed. (parking for pregnant mothers, parking for mothers with babies, parking for green vehicles) Well I found one for us and I am having Mike post it here.
Take care all, Chad have fun in Maine.
June 17, 2008
Well we made it from the Bad Lands to the Black Hills in South Dakota. The distance between the 2 areas are only about 50 miles however it took up about 4 hours of travel. Why? Well we had to stop at the Ellsworth Air Force Base. There is an Air & Space museum there, AND, a Minuteman Missile Silo! Hmmm. Well it was pretty interesting. These silo's were built in the 60's and there were lots of them all over the country. Well in '92 we signed a treaty to destroy all these silo's which now are filled with cement! So this one is a training silo. Don't know to train about what, but, we got to go on this base and go down inside of one. It gave me the willies but Mike like it. They had a lot of planes all on display outside of the base, that was interesting.
After Ellsworth we soon arrived in Rapid City. The biggest city we had seen since Chicago. I was getting excited. A big post office, regular stores, most towns have been cowboy and Indian stores for a long time now. I'm thinking well we can just bop into town if we need anything. (And we do) WRONG...... Twenty five miles later we are in the hills in a very small town called Hill Town population 703. We went from Wall to Hill. Hill is a nice place, a cute one street town with souvenir shops and fast food places. It's pretty. We are right in the Black Hills. The Indians named these hills, as from a distance they do look black, but in reality they are covered with pine trees. It really is nice. It's cool at night, 40ish and nice in the daytime. However, so far we have had two thunder storms, one last night and one RIGHT now.
Anyway last night we went into the town of Keystone which is a little bigger than Hill Town but has more souvenir shops and restaurants. But it also is where Mt. Rushmore is located. There is an evening show there every night at 9:00pm. So we went. It was very inspiring. Very patriotic. Girl Scouts lead you in the pledge of alliance, a movie about all the carved presidents, then they light the carvings, then we sign the national anthem, then all the Veterans and service men go on stage. (yep he went up there) Then the Girl Scouts take down the flag, fold it, and it is passed to everyone on the stage. That took a while. So that's about it. But it was pretty cool.
So now we are kinda waiting for the storm to get over. So will probably talk to you all tomorrow.
After Ellsworth we soon arrived in Rapid City. The biggest city we had seen since Chicago. I was getting excited. A big post office, regular stores, most towns have been cowboy and Indian stores for a long time now. I'm thinking well we can just bop into town if we need anything. (And we do) WRONG...... Twenty five miles later we are in the hills in a very small town called Hill Town population 703. We went from Wall to Hill. Hill is a nice place, a cute one street town with souvenir shops and fast food places. It's pretty. We are right in the Black Hills. The Indians named these hills, as from a distance they do look black, but in reality they are covered with pine trees. It really is nice. It's cool at night, 40ish and nice in the daytime. However, so far we have had two thunder storms, one last night and one RIGHT now.
Anyway last night we went into the town of Keystone which is a little bigger than Hill Town but has more souvenir shops and restaurants. But it also is where Mt. Rushmore is located. There is an evening show there every night at 9:00pm. So we went. It was very inspiring. Very patriotic. Girl Scouts lead you in the pledge of alliance, a movie about all the carved presidents, then they light the carvings, then we sign the national anthem, then all the Veterans and service men go on stage. (yep he went up there) Then the Girl Scouts take down the flag, fold it, and it is passed to everyone on the stage. That took a while. So that's about it. But it was pretty cool.
So now we are kinda waiting for the storm to get over. So will probably talk to you all tomorrow.
Monday, June 16, 2008
June 16, 2008
Better late than never, eh Bob?
Well you all know the start of our trip with the burned out little balls in a wheel of our camper which cause big damage to the axle on our first day of our big trip to Alaska. Yep 11 miles from our first campsite in Connecticut. Yep new axle, new tires too please, all is not good. Oh has to be shipped from Indiana, grrrrrrr, 3 working days?, grrrrrrrrrr. Ok have to kill our trip to Chicago. Went to Pat & Bobs. Stay for a couple of days, went to Newport, saw Jarrett, ate Black Pearl Chowder and Pearl Burger, had a wonderful time, called the camper repair guy, camper all fixed in two days, whoopeee, we are back on track to Chicago.
So on the way out the door, Uncle Bob says, send an e-mail every day to us all about the trip so we can keep track of what we have seen and done. Good idea Bob, ok will do. Hmmmmm, got to Chicago and haven't done it yet. Truthfully nothing really to talk about except Pennsylvania is a really BIG state, is very, very green has many many hills and no one lives there cause we didn't see a house!!!!!!!!
Got to Chicago region, (60 miles from the city) and found a camp ground. Very unusual place, but, very cheap! (need i say more?) Many abandoned and rusted travel trailers, kind of a cemetery of trailers so to speak. Some nice ones too! Some Vietnam Vets live there too. Just so many things can't tell them all to you, it's a must see. Anyway had to have a place for the Goob meister to sleep and be comfy, air conditioning an all. We spent first night there and then into Chicago the next at Judge's place. New bed, very very comfy.
We had a great time there, went on a historical tour and a architectural tour all on the river. Very very interesting. Loved it. Ate a Avec, one of Judges favorite restaurants and once you have been there you would understand why. But first we met Emily at Trumps new place right on the river. Went and had a cocktail up in the lounge. Bob, you would like this one, very understated for Trump. No Gold!!!!! Simple lines very tasteful. Judge took us to Millennium Park. WOW Many sculptors very beautiful art and gardens. Another really must see.
Okay I know you are probably bored by now but I'm only catching you up, it'll be better after this one.
Ok so now we are still in Chicago, we slept that night at Judges. Got up the next day and played Wii. Liked it! Then we three went on a bus trip around the city, that was good too. We had fun then met Em for dinner at BlackBird which is owned by the same people as Avec. Different menu, a bit more upscale (table cloths fancy knowledgeable wait person) very unusual. Liked it, my entree a little salty. Then we were off to the Goob meister. He was great didn't even bat an eye when we got back to our camper. He's not sure he likes this traveling stuff. He hides under the comforter most of the time, looks out the windows in the night when we are sleeping.
So we are off the next day very early about 7:00 am. We had a heavy day of driving throught Wisconsin and and into Minnesota. Stopped in Minnesota at a KOA. Can't say much about Minnesota except we did see some of the flooding. Highway 90 runs south all most on the boarder of Iowa. Lot of farms growing corn but not distroyed by flood there. Stay 2 day in Mn. as I was burnt out from the last 3 days about 18 hours all together. From Mn. to South Dakota where we stayed in Mitchell SD, where the corn palace is located.
Ok this is where it started to get interesting. This place is something else. It has been built and rebuilt 3 times the last time in 1931. The whole outside is decorated in different corn cobs. The cobs are cut in half and then mounted on the walls. It changes every year in August (first part) when the corn is harvested. Also in Mitchell, SD, is a Carbala store. So aren't you all excited about this? Hmmmmm, Carbala is a famous store that sells fishing stuff and other things (we didn't look at) it is kind of like Gander Mountain or Bass Pro shop for those of you that are not familiar. It was exciting, I think. I went once, Mike went again once while I was showering.
So here we are at the present! WHew!
We are in Wall, SD. You see, Wall Drug advertises on the road like South of the Border! You have to stop ya know. Well Wall is a very small town right near the Bad Lands. We are camping in Sleepy Hollow in Wall. Not a bad place, got to see Design Star!!! Anyway Wall drug was a drug store that was started in 1930. The guy was a pharmacist and the wife was a humanitarian. It seems people traveling at that time were very thirsty and the wife would offer free ice water to everyone who came to the drug store. Word traveled fast and more and more people came and Wall Drug became something else. So the kids took over and built it bigger and bigger and now Grandchildren are in charge and it is bigger even yet. Shop after shop, cowboy boots, fudge shop, jewelery shop etc etc. Now there is only a population of 1000 people inthis town. So this place if very successful. Not real tacky, very western. One grocery, one car repair, one bank.
Now today we went to the Bad Lands. How did it get it's name? Well first we were told it was from the outlaws hiding there. ( an unnamed source ). The border of SD the information guy told us it was the indians that named it because the land was poor and couldn't grow anything! So today we went to the visitors center in the Bad Lands and found it was call the Bad Lands from French explorers who said nothing would grow here, so you take a guess on who named it. Anyway, it is very interesting. It is a national park, (so you know we get in free cause we are old and have a lifetime pass, which Mike takes great pride in, he got to use it twice, whoopie ) Much has happened in this area. It wasn't always a national park. It was an area where back in the earyly 1900's ('10's, '20's '30's) where one could homestead. Unfortunatly drought in the 30's and bad farming techniques cause a lot of land erosion and the people lost and left. The government took over and made most of this area grassland. Now protected all kinds of beauty and wild life live here. It was very fascinating. Have some pictures of the wildlife we saw here which include Bison, which by the way is the same as Buffalo! and that not mozz.
Ok now you are all caught up! Love you all, miss you but also having a great time (most of the time).
Well you all know the start of our trip with the burned out little balls in a wheel of our camper which cause big damage to the axle on our first day of our big trip to Alaska. Yep 11 miles from our first campsite in Connecticut. Yep new axle, new tires too please, all is not good. Oh has to be shipped from Indiana, grrrrrrr, 3 working days?, grrrrrrrrrr. Ok have to kill our trip to Chicago. Went to Pat & Bobs. Stay for a couple of days, went to Newport, saw Jarrett, ate Black Pearl Chowder and Pearl Burger, had a wonderful time, called the camper repair guy, camper all fixed in two days, whoopeee, we are back on track to Chicago.
So on the way out the door, Uncle Bob says, send an e-mail every day to us all about the trip so we can keep track of what we have seen and done. Good idea Bob, ok will do. Hmmmmm, got to Chicago and haven't done it yet. Truthfully nothing really to talk about except Pennsylvania is a really BIG state, is very, very green has many many hills and no one lives there cause we didn't see a house!!!!!!!!
Got to Chicago region, (60 miles from the city) and found a camp ground. Very unusual place, but, very cheap! (need i say more?) Many abandoned and rusted travel trailers, kind of a cemetery of trailers so to speak. Some nice ones too! Some Vietnam Vets live there too. Just so many things can't tell them all to you, it's a must see. Anyway had to have a place for the Goob meister to sleep and be comfy, air conditioning an all. We spent first night there and then into Chicago the next at Judge's place. New bed, very very comfy.
We had a great time there, went on a historical tour and a architectural tour all on the river. Very very interesting. Loved it. Ate a Avec, one of Judges favorite restaurants and once you have been there you would understand why. But first we met Emily at Trumps new place right on the river. Went and had a cocktail up in the lounge. Bob, you would like this one, very understated for Trump. No Gold!!!!! Simple lines very tasteful. Judge took us to Millennium Park. WOW Many sculptors very beautiful art and gardens. Another really must see.
Okay I know you are probably bored by now but I'm only catching you up, it'll be better after this one.
Ok so now we are still in Chicago, we slept that night at Judges. Got up the next day and played Wii. Liked it! Then we three went on a bus trip around the city, that was good too. We had fun then met Em for dinner at BlackBird which is owned by the same people as Avec. Different menu, a bit more upscale (table cloths fancy knowledgeable wait person) very unusual. Liked it, my entree a little salty. Then we were off to the Goob meister. He was great didn't even bat an eye when we got back to our camper. He's not sure he likes this traveling stuff. He hides under the comforter most of the time, looks out the windows in the night when we are sleeping.
So we are off the next day very early about 7:00 am. We had a heavy day of driving throught Wisconsin and and into Minnesota. Stopped in Minnesota at a KOA. Can't say much about Minnesota except we did see some of the flooding. Highway 90 runs south all most on the boarder of Iowa. Lot of farms growing corn but not distroyed by flood there. Stay 2 day in Mn. as I was burnt out from the last 3 days about 18 hours all together. From Mn. to South Dakota where we stayed in Mitchell SD, where the corn palace is located.
Ok this is where it started to get interesting. This place is something else. It has been built and rebuilt 3 times the last time in 1931. The whole outside is decorated in different corn cobs. The cobs are cut in half and then mounted on the walls. It changes every year in August (first part) when the corn is harvested. Also in Mitchell, SD, is a Carbala store. So aren't you all excited about this? Hmmmmm, Carbala is a famous store that sells fishing stuff and other things (we didn't look at) it is kind of like Gander Mountain or Bass Pro shop for those of you that are not familiar. It was exciting, I think. I went once, Mike went again once while I was showering.
So here we are at the present! WHew!
We are in Wall, SD. You see, Wall Drug advertises on the road like South of the Border! You have to stop ya know. Well Wall is a very small town right near the Bad Lands. We are camping in Sleepy Hollow in Wall. Not a bad place, got to see Design Star!!! Anyway Wall drug was a drug store that was started in 1930. The guy was a pharmacist and the wife was a humanitarian. It seems people traveling at that time were very thirsty and the wife would offer free ice water to everyone who came to the drug store. Word traveled fast and more and more people came and Wall Drug became something else. So the kids took over and built it bigger and bigger and now Grandchildren are in charge and it is bigger even yet. Shop after shop, cowboy boots, fudge shop, jewelery shop etc etc. Now there is only a population of 1000 people inthis town. So this place if very successful. Not real tacky, very western. One grocery, one car repair, one bank.
Now today we went to the Bad Lands. How did it get it's name? Well first we were told it was from the outlaws hiding there. ( an unnamed source ). The border of SD the information guy told us it was the indians that named it because the land was poor and couldn't grow anything! So today we went to the visitors center in the Bad Lands and found it was call the Bad Lands from French explorers who said nothing would grow here, so you take a guess on who named it. Anyway, it is very interesting. It is a national park, (so you know we get in free cause we are old and have a lifetime pass, which Mike takes great pride in, he got to use it twice, whoopie ) Much has happened in this area. It wasn't always a national park. It was an area where back in the earyly 1900's ('10's, '20's '30's) where one could homestead. Unfortunatly drought in the 30's and bad farming techniques cause a lot of land erosion and the people lost and left. The government took over and made most of this area grassland. Now protected all kinds of beauty and wild life live here. It was very fascinating. Have some pictures of the wildlife we saw here which include Bison, which by the way is the same as Buffalo! and that not mozz.
Ok now you are all caught up! Love you all, miss you but also having a great time (most of the time).
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