4/27/13

Bright and even warmer today as we begin our Journey into Wyoming. It’s 75 degrees in Rapid City, SD where we took a quick trip to Dinosaur Park to take photos for the g’kids. When I was 13 my dad stopped here when we were travelling across country from Alaska to DC. I also visited the Park several years ago when I was teaching for the SD Association of REALTORS® Graduate of the REALTORS® Institute program.

We’re having a great laugh this morning as we decided that after experiencing a truck stop (engines running all night right next to us, ugh) we’d stay at a nice quiet rest stop. Well, it didn’t occur to us that the railroad tracks we crossed, next to the rest stop would be sooooo active. Every 20 minutes or so the train whistles blew and woke us up. After about 25 of these we gave up on sleep and read for most of the night. We thought about the scene in “My Cousin Vinny” where they experienced the same thing from their motel room – trains all night.

Today our destination was Devil Tower, Wyoming near Sundance. This is where they filmed Close Encounters of the Third Kind and many others. I think I took a thousand pictures but I’ll just post a few. Fran decided that we would hike the circumference. Oh my goodness, what a trek. But, one blister later and we did it. I’ve got shots from all angles. It is enormous and a very interesting rock formation.

 

We’re hiking more and enjoying every moment of experiencing this journey.

4/28/13

Today we spent our time at the Little Big Horn National Park. It is sobering, emotional and vast. Having a great grandmother Indian (Choctaw – Sharon Chapman) and Nana, Johnnie C. Chapman Sowell, dad’s mom live with us for over 13 years we learned a lot as children about the Indians . I am proud to be 4^th generation Indian and so proud of our heritage. I so wish I could do more for our Nation.  We have so many things to be grateful for. For those who have served; and continue to serve the US. God Bless you all.

 Custer Fell Here

Last Stand Hill:

 Deep Ravine - a battle here:

 National Cemetary:

At the Center with National Cemetary in background:

4/29/13

We’re in Cody, WY tonight. The weather has changed once again and we’re experiencing high winds and the possibility of snow tonight and tomorrow. So, we’re hunkered down at the Ponderosa Campground for the next two nights at least.

We unhooked Zippy (our Jeep) and went into old town and had dinner at The Irma. Buffalo Bill’s Hotel that he built for his wife Irma. What a fascinating place with many original fixtures and lots of beautiful antiques. Check out the pictures  of the bar and our booth. We walked through the hotel lobby and into the back. It was creaky, musty and ghostly. There are wonderful photos and memorabilia throughout the facility.

 Buffalo Bill and Indians:

The original bar at the Irma:
Its worth a thought, maybe more:

 

Critters, Monuments & Fun

This is my log from 4/24/13, 25th & 26th

Due to spotty internet service I'm unable to post the blog every day. Hang in there with me and as I can I’ll post.

We made it to Hill City, SD gateway to Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer National Park, and surround. This morning Fran battled 40 mph winds again and blowing snow. According to the forecast we can expect drastic improvements – higher temps, no weather, no high winds. Woohoo. We are road weary. RVing isn’t for wimps. First glimpse of Mt. Rushmore and some of the many rock formations:

 

 

 

 

 

Last night we stayed in Wall, SD and visited Wall Drug just as the many signs along I-90 west said we should. 5 cent coffee, “cowboy up, cowgirl up, apothecary, museum, restaurant, antiques, tiffany glass, tee shirts, etc.” you name it, it was there. Lots of memorabilia of an era past. Fun place. This is the "Travellers Chapel" in Wall Drug.

Grizzly Fran with one of the many featured statues.

I couln't resist sitting next to this old timer.

We caught our first sight of Mt. Rushmore and some of the rock formations around the area. We’re planning on doing lots of exploring tomorrow and will share all the photos and experiences.

We’re camped at a KOA near Keystone and so excited to set up and stay a few days. It’s quiet, away from the hustle and bustle of the highway. The views, vistas and great open skies are a sight to behold. It reminds you of God’s incredible power and creativeness. All things are possible through Him.

Lee, this picture is for you. Yes, a large flock of turkeys. Big & fat. We’ve seen their tracks all through the campsite along with mule deer.

Thanks so much for the kind comments and encouragement with the blog.

4/25/13

Rest day and chores.

4/26/13

WOW what a day it’s been. Crazy Horse, Custer National Park and Mt. Rushmore. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. It was amazing seeing the various wildlife today up close and personal. The Buffalo were right next to us several times. The bulls are huge and intimidating! Did you know that Buffalo can run at speeds up to 35 mph. We sure didn’t want to test our luck. There were signs posted everywhere not to approach them as they were dangerous. No worry with us attempting that.

Two big guys:

A really big guy:
 

New Baby:

 Friendly Burro:

 

Crazy Horse

Profile of George Washington at Mt. Rushmore

First Goat Siting by Mt. Rushmore:

This Antelope was right behind me while I was taking a picture of the herd across the street. Guess I better keep close watch from now on.

All the main streets (and many in the neighborhoods) in all the towns we’ve visited are wide and tree-lined. The main streets are filled with original buildings dating back to the 1800’s. We had a great Buffalo Burger in Custer.

 

Today is a balmy 62 degrees, sunny and wonderful. Finally, we are so very grateful. Thank you Jesus.

We are well rested having spent 3 days at a KOA near Keystone, SD near to everything we wanted to see.

We had a terrific meal at the Ruby House/Saloon on Main Street in Keystone. Talk about memorabilia and antiques. The place was filled to the brim. Ruby Tucker, infamous proprietress of the Ruby House was killed by an ill-fated bullet; July, 1890, Keystone, SD. She was the tragic loser in a gunfight between “Lecherous Leo the Lawman” and Wildman Ed, favored patrons of her establishment. The two were reportedly feuding over Ruby’s affection when the accident occurred. Ruby rushed into the street just as the two men fired and was shot dead. The clientele were worried that the Ruby House would close. Ruby had started the establishment at the height of the gold rush and it was evidently the best place in town. Ruby House lives on. In Ruby’s last will & testament the Honorable Liable announced the existence of a sizeable legacy set aside for the care, maintenance & management of the Ruby House. Here’s to the wild west.

Tommorow we'll be on the way to Wyoming and Montana. It's a Sunday - our second of our trip and we plan on spending some time worshiping our Lord and Savior. He is the one who made our trip possible and we thank Him for every moment.

Its worth a thought, maybe more: Psalm 23: 1 The Lord is my Shepard, I have everything I need.

 

 

 

 

 

Pelicans?? Really! Blowing Sideways Stew/Repair

4/23/13

We woke up to 21 degrees and lots of ice. We spent the night in Worthington, MN at a truck stop with lots of other trucks. We were having engine troubles just before we got to the truck stop. Fran knew it was clogged fuel filters as we had that problem with the other RV. He was prepared and equipped and had everything he needed to take care of the issue. Also, there just happened to be a diesel repair shop handy. They confirmed what he thought. In the blowing cold snow Fran fixed the problem. God is so good. He brought us safely here and where we were meant to be. While we were stopped the snow began in earnest so we stopped for the night with about 40 other trucks. Brrr. The weather is supposed be changing and they’re saying this is the last of the snow. Sure hope so. It’s sunny today which is wonderful.

 

As we began our morning we discovered our slide-outs were frozen open. The brakes were also frozen solid. The LP gas line for the refrigerator was frozen as well. With the snow blowing sideways and the frigid temps it’s no wonder. Fran got started trying to put things in order. He managed to get the slides in and with the engine purring went to work on the refrigerator and frozen brakes. The refrigerator thawed out eventually – we just had to wait for the ice to melt. After several attempts and much banging on the brakes Fran once again made the trek over to Ron’s Repair. Ron, the owner from Ron’s Diesel Repair shop came over and tap the brake drum in just the right place – once - and we were finally able to start rolling. As we were chatting about our destination he told us about his trip to Alaska last year with his son. They flew into Fairbanks and took the train to the Kenai Peninsula for fishing. He said you can see the fish everywhere and it’s really hard not to catch something J. They did salmon and halibut fishing very successfully. The resort/lodge he stayed at keeps in touch with him and have indicated that this year is to be an excellent year for salmon fishing with twice the numbers expected. Woohoo we cannot wait.

In our travels today we spotted what we thought was a swan in one of the many ponds along the highway. After careful examination I shouted – it’s not a swan but a pelican. A White Pelican. Shortly thereafter we saw a whole flock. Really! South Dakota has American White Pelicans Pelecanus erythrorhynchos . I went online and discovered that White Pelicans reside in South Dakota. Unlike the brown Pelicans that we’re so used to seeing in Florida this species doesn’t dive for fish. It scoops them up in their pouches. They eat fish, salamanders and crustaceans. What a surprise. We love Pelicans. They’re such an odd looking bird with huge wingspans (96-110” according to search site I visited and a body length of 62”) and a body that looks like it shouldn’t be able fly. Check out this web link: http://sdakotabirds.com/species/american_white_pelican_info.htm.

Continuing west on I-90 toward Rapid City, SD we stopped in Mitchell, SD to see the Corn Palace. Eight Years before the turn of the 20th century -1892- when Mitchell, South Dakota was a small, 12-year-old city of 3,000 inhabitants - the WORLD’S ONLY CORN PALACE was established on the city’s Main Street. During its over 100 years of existence, it has become known worldwide and now attracts more than a half a million visitors annually. The palace was conceived as a gathering place where city residents and their rural neighbors could enjoy a fall festival with extraordinary stage entertainment – a celebration to climax a crop-growing season and harvest. This tradition continues today with the annual Corn Palace Festival, August 26th – August 30th, 2009.

We were given a brief tour by Doris Schneider and took our time looking around. The center is used for many community activities including the high school and college basketball games. The facade is changed yearly with the Corn Palace Committee selecting the theme. The murals are made up of corn husks and corn cobs. How industrious and exorbing.

The snow was blowing sideways (as seen in the pics and as Fran began his arduous task of repairs I prepared a hardy stew to revive his spirit. Here goes:

1 lb good stew beef or chuck roast cubed

1 lb potatoes, your favorite peeled or not and cubed

1 yellow onion chopped, 3 cloves garlic chopped, 3 stalks celery chopped, 1 cup carrots chopped with salt  (sautated  in olive oil until fragrant)

2 cups green beans, 1/2 cup corn, peas or other favorite veggies (I love mushrooms so I always include about a cup of them quartered) Fran can pick the mushrooms out of the stew. Contrary to his preference he still loves the flavor they add. :-)

1/2 cup port or favorite red wine

1 box Beef stock or homemade stock (approximately 6 cups total liquid - wine/stock combined)

Saute onions, garlic, celery, carrots, etc in about 2 tablespoons of olive oil until fragrant and glossy. Remove from pan and saute beef until brown on all sides. Add potatoes, stir in 1/4 cup flour until well blended. Add wine and broth and return veggies to pan. Add parsley, rosemary, salt, pepper, paprika, and hot pepper flakes to taste. Cook until tender and sauce is thick and fragrant. Serve with crusty bread and gee (butter heated and clarified to remove butter fats.)

 

 

 

Not too far along we encountered “Porter’s Sculptures” claiming to have the biggest sculpted bull head. Check out the picture – I think they may have accomplished their mission.

Our evening destination is Rapid City, SD. As I’ve indicated before we’ll be spending a couple of days here. We’re looking forward to checking out several opportunities such as: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Black Hills National Park, the Badlands and more. We’re also going to Sturgis, Deadwood and Spearfish. I taught a few years back in Spearfish. Fun stuff.  We’ve been seeing lots of signs for a place called Wall Drug Store located in Wall, SD just outside of the Badlands and Rapid City. Looks like a place we need to visit.

It’s worth a thought, maybe more: Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Travelling Along

We hit major snow through Wisconsin into Minnesota but we managed to push on. We picked up provisions at a WalMart in Eau Claire and saw the effects of last weeks 30" snow piled up in the parking lot.

We did a quick visit of the Mall of America in Minneapolis. It's a BIG mall. We took a couple of pictures for the g'kids, went through Lego Land, and were on our way. Lego Land and the amusement park were remarkable.

Last night we stayed at the Cabelas in Owatonna, MN and did a bit of shopping and are now on the way to Sioux Falls, SD. It's 30 degrees there an snowing. We're certainly making up the loss of seeing and experiencing snow this past winter at home.

Folks out this way are very friendly and helpful. We love to listen to their lilting voices.

We're looking forward to getting to Rapid City, SD where we'll spend some time camping, hiking and sightseeing.

It's worth a though, maybe more: "We should spend more time with folks over 80 and children under 5. It is amazing what you will experience - great stories and wonderment".

Woodpecker, ice, snow, 28 degrees

We spent the night at Illinois Beach State Park and enjoyed a nice quiet evening of much needed rest. Today’s trip was brutal. Chicago area has had lots of flooding including on the Interstates which caused many detours, lots of traffic and frustration. Wind, freezing rain and snow stayed with us all the way to IBSP. There was extensive flooding in the park and many of the campsites had standing water. We parked in one of the dry sites, opened the slides and set up camp. What a relief.

 

This morning we woke to 28 degrees, ice on the standing water around our site and lots of bird chatters. One beautiful woodpecker hung around for a while and collected a good breakfast from a tree right outside our dining area. Cardinals, robins, geese, deer and plenty of squirrels roamed all around. The dogs didn’t know which way to look but remained fairly quiet. We took a long walk before breakfast to shake off our travel weariness. Tilly our little female Scottie slipped on some black ice. She was quite indignant but recovered quickly. The beach on Lake Michigan was beautiful and we watched it change from a deep blue to turquoise as the morning progressed. The walk was brisk and refreshing and we cooked a good weekend breakfast. We took care of RV business – taking on fresh water and visiting the dumping station and started off on today’s journey.

 

 

We travelled north to Kenosha, on to Milwaukee and are on the outskirts of Madison where we’re thinking about stopping for the night. Not sure just yet. We are now an hour behind home travelling through our first time zone. The towns we’ve gone through today on the rural route of 137 are typical small towns. There were main streets with old buildings dating back to the 1920’s. It’s like driving through Mayberry.

 

We stopped at a little country diner called the Pine Cone in Madison and had a delicious honest to goodness homemade meal. They also had a fabulous bakery and we picked up homemade rolls, a gigantic chocolate éclair, elephant ear and a Persian (a fried cinnamon roll with cream frosting and peanuts. Needless to say we’ll be walking again tomorrow morning. We asked our waitress where we could pick up some good quality Wisconsin cheeses. She recommended the Mouse House. The cheeses we bought are delicious (you can sample any of them). We purchased Mouse House Jack, medium cheddar, buttermilk blue, cranberry cheddar and a Wisconsin sausage. Won’t need any snacks for a while.

 

Coming soon you’ll be able to makes comments on our blog. I had a duh moment on including the pictures and will be editing them before posting.

 I’m closing with one of my favorite Bible verses Psalm 118:24 "This is the day that the Lord has made; let rejoice and be glad in it. We truly rejoice in all God gives us. We are so blessedThe verse is on a sign dedicated to Harold Hutsie Hertzberg:

 

 Tomorrow is Sunday. Rest and rejuvenate.

 

 

Chicago, Chicago. . .

Yesterday the Pennsylvanian weather was cold and foggy until we went through the Allegany Mtn. tunnel. The sun came out and the temperature rose to a comfortable 77. Shortly after past Pittsburgh the wind picked up and has stayed with us since.  We’ve been buffeted around pretty good. Fran has had to hold on tight to the wheel. The Turnpike was expensive so we changed gears this morning and took a jaunt through rural Michigan on Rt. 223 out of Toledo, Ohio.  Lots of farms, large old trees (one was the biggest Sycamore we've seen) and livestock (sheep, cows and horses).  Lots of water lying in the fields as well.

 

We stopped in Blissfield, MI and met with Tom Schrock of Riverbend. That’s the post and beam plant we selected a few years ago to for our Colorado home. It was exciting to see the operation and learn more about the process. Food for thought

 

  

We’re headed to Chicago today (about 242 miles from Blissfield) and the closer we get to Lake Michigan the windier it’s getting. The wind is worse today than yesterday. It’s like riding a bucking bronco. There are gale warnings posted for all of the area lakes and many of the ponds we’ve passed actually have white caps. Spring certainly hasn’t sprung out this way yet. We’ve just entered a stretch of snow/sleet. Ugh.

 

Zippy and me

Thanks Robin Fithian for the terrific photo of my Jeep Zippy & me leaving to meet hubby with the RV.

I love my Graduate of the REALTORS Institute students

Good morning from Western Maryland. What a send off from my GRI students yesterday!!! They're the best bunch of folks ever. Here's the group in front of the Maryland Association of REALTORS building in Annapolis.Keep succeeding everyone.

It's worth a thought, maybe more: "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."  Best regards, A

Beginning the Journey

Today's the big day - the start of our Journey. The kids and grandkids stopped by for dinner last night and we had a grand time. We will miss them very much. Shortly I'll be leaving for Annapolis for my last teaching assisgnment until October. The Jeep is ready to roll and hubby will meet after class with the RV. We'll have dinner with our other son and wife tonight on our way out of town. Then we're off. Our goal tonight is to make it North of Frederick, possibly Cumberland. Looking forward to keeping in touch with all of our friends and family.