A summary of our trip/adventure
0 tv in the camper
1 travel trailer pulled by a Ford F-150
2 winter weather events/hail and snow
2 adventurous adults
3 campfires
3 tolls
4 times zones
7 waterfalls
8 meals eaten "out"
8 days spent with grandkids
10 hikes
11 rainy/drizzly days
11 campgrounds
12 different states
14 different species of "wild" animals
33 days of the "camping" lifestyle
137 hours of driving for Keith
565 gallons of gasoline
620+ pictures taken
6348.7 miles traveled
immeasurable memories to last a lifetime!!
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Signs along the way
As we traveled along the byways of this beautiful country we saw some interesting (or different) signs along the highway. This is a sampling of what we saw
Caution signs that said
Stock
Rocks
Trucks
Game
Wildlife
Moose Crossing
Range cattle
Then there were these signs:
Please don't feed the sheep
Do not feed prairie dogs
No animal remains to be left at campsite
Beware of poisonous snakes
Be polite don't tailgate (never work in MI)
Lochsa River Wild and scenic
NW Scenic By-Way
North by Northwest filmed in this area
Caution signs that said
Stock
Rocks
Trucks
Game
Wildlife
Moose Crossing
Range cattle
Then there were these signs:
Please don't feed the sheep
Do not feed prairie dogs
No animal remains to be left at campsite
Beware of poisonous snakes
Be polite don't tailgate (never work in MI)
Lochsa River Wild and scenic
NW Scenic By-Way
North by Northwest filmed in this area
HOME!!
Sunday, June 29 Day 33
It's a bittersweet moment as we head for Clarkston, MI. It has been such a superb adventure that we hate to see it end. But it will be good to be home in our real beds and with our dogs!
Before we left we stopped for breakfast at the Sunfield Family Restaurant in the next town. (recommended by women in the campground office). It was such a delicious breakfast--omletts, homefries, pancakes and coffee! (we didn't even stop for lunch).
Today's drive is our shortest and the wind is not as strong. Before we knew it we saw this
It's good to be home.
It's a bittersweet moment as we head for Clarkston, MI. It has been such a superb adventure that we hate to see it end. But it will be good to be home in our real beds and with our dogs!
Before we left we stopped for breakfast at the Sunfield Family Restaurant in the next town. (recommended by women in the campground office). It was such a delicious breakfast--omletts, homefries, pancakes and coffee! (we didn't even stop for lunch).
Today's drive is our shortest and the wind is not as strong. Before we knew it we saw this
It's good to be home.
Through Wisconsin and in to Illinois
Sat., June 28 Day 32
Spent last night in Welcome, Minnesota. Traveling through Wisconsin today. It is very windy and hard for Keith to drive. The wind is hitting us sideways, so Keith has had to slow down just to maintain control.
Crossed into Illinois and immediately had to pay a toll. Our only tolls have been in Illinois!
Hickory Hollow Campground, in Utica, IL, is very nice. Our site was a pull-through with a concrete pad. We didn't even unhook the trailer since we are leaving in the morning!
Spent last night in Welcome, Minnesota. Traveling through Wisconsin today. It is very windy and hard for Keith to drive. The wind is hitting us sideways, so Keith has had to slow down just to maintain control.
Crossed into Illinois and immediately had to pay a toll. Our only tolls have been in Illinois!
Hickory Hollow Campground, in Utica, IL, is very nice. Our site was a pull-through with a concrete pad. We didn't even unhook the trailer since we are leaving in the morning!
On the road again
Friday, June 27 Day 31
Today will be our longest driving day as we head home. We left our campground around 8:30 and headed east across South Dakota. We drover over rolling hills past many ranches with lots of cattle. Even though we were close, we skipped going to Wall Drug Store. The billboards were very tempting, especially the ones that said coffee 5 cents and homemade donuts!!
We did stop for lunch at a rest area overlooking the Missouri River.They had exhibits about Lewis and Clark (there was just a bicentennial there) with a replica of their keel boat they use to travel the Missouri River. This was the nicest rest stop we encountered. EXCEPT for this sign along the walkway that led to the river.
If told to beware, I don't go there!! I did take some pictures from the safety of the patio.being closer to the building...
Custer State Park, South Dakota
Thursday, June 26 Day 30
This was our last day in South Dakota and we weren't sure what to do. We didn't want to do excessive driving since we will do that tomorrow, so we went to Custer State Park (no, the battle wasn't here. That was in Montana at Little Big Horn.) What a gem of a state park! Just driving there was so beautiful--trees, black hills, rocks, tunnels, lakes and animals!
There are 6 tunnels through the rocks--one way and very narrow. We went through 3 of them.
There are 6 tunnels through the rocks--one way and very narrow. We went through 3 of them.
 |
| This tunnel is called eye of the needle. Driving through the park we came across this buffalo (bison in N. Dakota and buffalo in S. Dakota) |
One final gem before we left the park--Sylvan Lake.
Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Monuments
June 25, Wednesday Day 29
We weren't sure what to expect at Mt. Rushmore. Near-by areas are very commercial, so we were very happy to see that the drive was very beautiful and the trees, rocks and lakes are unspoiled. There is no fee to get in to the Park, but you pay a hefty fee to park ($11.00). Once in, it is just a short walk to view the mounument. We spent lots of time there, talking a walk on the Presidential Trail for closer views.
We visited the sculptor's studio. It was fascinating. Not one single person died while working on these faces. Originally they were to be larger--head to waist, but they ran into difficulties so stopped with just the heads. George Washington has a bit of his lapels done, but not the others. On the walkway in and out are columns with each state's name and date of entering the union. Keith, with a great smile, is standing next to the Connecticut one.
It was just a short drive to the Crazy Horse Monument. It is still a work in progress, but it is so massive (all of the faces on Mt. Rushmore would fit into Crazy Horse's head!). All of the viewing was from a distance.
We spent hours in the buildings with museum type displays, book signing, craft show (yeah!--I bought a necklace) artifacts and modern stuff. We had a great lunch there also.
We weren't sure what to expect at Mt. Rushmore. Near-by areas are very commercial, so we were very happy to see that the drive was very beautiful and the trees, rocks and lakes are unspoiled. There is no fee to get in to the Park, but you pay a hefty fee to park ($11.00). Once in, it is just a short walk to view the mounument. We spent lots of time there, talking a walk on the Presidential Trail for closer views.It was just a short drive to the Crazy Horse Monument. It is still a work in progress, but it is so massive (all of the faces on Mt. Rushmore would fit into Crazy Horse's head!). All of the viewing was from a distance.
Leaving North Dakota
We are going to miss this sight from our window!
It was cloudy when we left Medora (nothing new weatherwise) and headed south to South Dakota.
Rolling hills, farms and no mountains. South Dakota does have excellent rest stop area. They are often more than a rest stop. The picnic areas are covered to offer sun protection (or rain).
The campground is near Mt. Rushmore.. It is the last place where we will stay for multiple nights.
Petrified Forest in Roosevelt Wilderness area
June 23, 2014 Day 27
This morning we headed for the Petrified Forest. It is not in the Park, but in the Roosevelt Wilderness Area. We drove on a long unpaved (and dusty) road, parked the truck and walked 3 miles to the area. There were many ups and downs on the path, but it was so worth the hike.
Teddy Roosevelt came to this area to find peace and purpose after his wife died in childbirth and his mother lost her life to typhoid fever ON THE SAME DAY! (can't even imagine how awful that would be). Here he found the peace and tranquility he was seeking. This untouched landscape and the abundance of animals filled him with purpose and strength that he used when he became president. He was able to get through tough times and hostile opposition because of what he experienced here in North Dakota.
After lunch we went back into the Park to the highest point in the Park (short climb from the parking lot). It was so peaceful there as we gazed out over the panoramic views around us. On the way back we saw some wild horses. We had seen them before. They are so beautiful!!
This morning we headed for the Petrified Forest. It is not in the Park, but in the Roosevelt Wilderness Area. We drove on a long unpaved (and dusty) road, parked the truck and walked 3 miles to the area. There were many ups and downs on the path, but it was so worth the hike.
Teddy Roosevelt came to this area to find peace and purpose after his wife died in childbirth and his mother lost her life to typhoid fever ON THE SAME DAY! (can't even imagine how awful that would be). Here he found the peace and tranquility he was seeking. This untouched landscape and the abundance of animals filled him with purpose and strength that he used when he became president. He was able to get through tough times and hostile opposition because of what he experienced here in North Dakota.
After lunch we went back into the Park to the highest point in the Park (short climb from the parking lot). It was so peaceful there as we gazed out over the panoramic views around us. On the way back we saw some wild horses. We had seen them before. They are so beautiful!!
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
Sun. June 22
Day 26
It's hard to believe that we are beginning our last
week of this grand adventure!
We started off by riding all the way around the park
loop road to get our bearings. As we were pulling out of the Visitor Center
parking lot a motorcycle went by with a bride and groom on it. She was wearing
a wedding dress! When we got to the first overlook, they were there and had a
photographer video tapping them. We never saw them after that. We were too busy
taking in all the gorgeous sights!
We stopped to visit with some prairie dogs. You have to look carefully to see their heads popping up!
In the afternoon we drove to another part of the Park
via I-94. We walked 1 mile down into Painted Canyon (and a mile back up--it was
easier going down!!) These were narrow
dirt trails with overgrown weeds brushing against you (no ticks fortunately).
Keith at a flat part of the canyon bottom
After dinner we went to see the sunset at Wind Canyon Trail (1/2 mile walk). The lookout was high up over the Little Missouri River. When we got there we saw 6 bison crossing the river. The, to the right was a larger herd of about 150 bison in the meadow. Just before the sun set they were on the move right in front of us. There were many calves in the herd.
And the sunset! God is the perfect artist every night!
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