Yellowstone here we come - June 14 thru June 19

Getting to Cody -

Leaving Keystone we cruise by Mt. Rushmore and past the Jewel Caves taking US 16 to Wyoming toward I90 and Buffalo then through Powder River Pass (9700 ft or so)

This is one steeeeep route, it begins to dawn on me that the coach should probably not be pulling the 'toad' up this steep incline.  Yep, halfway up we hear buzzing and again see the overheating warning, with no place to really pull over we limp on to the next pullout and disconnect the 'toad' drop Liz into the car and tell her to follow.  

But we finally make it to the top and roar down the hill to Cody.  We are spending a quick night in this western town at Absaroka RV Park to recoup, do some laundry and check out the town.

Off to Bill Bill State Park Wyoming -

5 nights boondocking, no water, no sewer and no electric. The weather cooperates and the days are warm, the nights are cool so no air-conditioning is needed.  Our batteries and converter are doing great so we expect no issues.  This is about 30 miles outside of Yellowstone, farther than I anticipated, so each morning begins with the same slog to the park gate (another 50$ saved by the Senior Pass) and 30 miles to Fishing Bridge where the exploring really begins. The drive is not boring and each day brings something new.

Our camping site is awesome, right on the Shosone River with a great morning and evening view. The panoramic view is not the best on this blog but trust me our view was awesome all around us.

Yellowstone - 

Too much to tell and see, we explore canyons, waterfalls, thermal features, wooded trails and on and on.  Just a small sampling of the pictures is all I can upload (wi-fi is pretty hard to find and when you do it is molasses).

We spend 4 days walking and driving around taking in all that we can, early early mornings to beat the crowds at the popular sights, and the late afternoons (it doesn't get dark till 10PM this time of year) are the best.

Cody for an afternoon -

There is a lot of history in Cody, we take in some at the old town and enjoy the stories about the wild (Sundance and Butch of course) and the hardy women and men who struggled living and dying in the harsh lands.

Then, it so happens, there is a Pow-Wow going on with a dance competition for the local Native Americans.  The costumes where incredible as well as the dancing and the music.  A surprisingly fun few hours.

The town itself has some great watering holes, a smattering of excellent local art shops and the usual overabundance of t-shirts to be had.  I wish I had bought the black Stetson.

Off to Seattle........

Spelunking - Wind Cave National Park - June 13

Wind Cave National Park - 

Hey, another opportunity to use our Senior Lifetime Passes.  50% off of the cave tours in the National Park  YAHOO!.  Those passes have paid for themselves multiple times over.

Only bad thing is you have to be old to get them.

Wind Cave, one of the largest cave systems in the world and not yet totally explored.  Liz, myself and 38 other intrepid explorers join our guide Mark on the 1.5 hr tour.  The paths and lighting were done during work programs in the 30's by the Civilian Conservation Corps and it is hard to imagine the workers lugging tons of concrete into the caves to create the routes we and millions of others use to view this subterranean marvel.
Th interior is awash with Popcorn, Bridgework and Frostwork but lacks many of the stalactites an stalagmites  of other caves. The name comes from the almost constant wind the exits and enters the cave.  This is due to the changes in external air pressure (high and lows of weather patterns) so it could be said that the cave is a gigantic barometer.

About 1 hour and a bit into the tour the back half of the group gets separated from the guide - really, this is a national Park and we get separated? -  and we get to a 'Y' in the path (more of a 'T' really) and since I am at the front of the group I lead off to the left - WRONG - 10 minutes later a winded guide who has be chasing us down catches up to us and turns us around to the exit.  Embarrassing for me and a bit scarey for a very young girl with us.  And I though Liz had a bad sense of direction.

Things Carved Out of Mountains - June 12

The Four Men

Even a jaded guy like me can be impressed.  Mt. Rushmore is awe inspiring and, warning ,cliche comin, everyone should visit it once in their lifetime.  We got there just before the crowds on Sunday and had a great late morning walking around and viewing the Presidents from many angles.  Each offered a vastly differing perspective.  

From a large cracked bolder on the Presidents Trail

Thru one of the tunnels on Needles Hghwy

Off to Crazy Horse, 

though this site is a long way from completion the immensity of the project shadow Mt. Rushmore.  It is a private project with no government funds, not sure if that will speed things along or slow them down.  This is a great place to visit, limited amount of 'gift stuff' but plenty of history and 'I didn't know that' moments.

Keystone

Nice for a tourist town, lots of T-Shirt hops, some catering to bikers.  We stopped for a brew and a glass of wine and a local beer (a watermelon infused blond ale - very nice on the warm day).

and along the way saw some mountain goats

Then back to the RV.

where the ground was covered by quarter sized hail.  No damage to the RV, but some folks lost their awnings.and we missed getting hit in the car by it.  Our weather radio was bleeping and shaking, tornado watches and severe thunderstorm warning for most of the evening.  Thankfully none of it got very close to us.

There's Gold in 'dem 'dere Black Hills - June 11

It's okay - it's a dry heat.  More 90+ degree in the Black Hills, incredible but it's very dry.
We get to Spokane Creek RV Park, just outside of Keystone SD, after a quick but curvy drive from Rapid City SD where the coach was fixed and we spent 3 hours in a service waiting room.  We are a bit tired and it's still hot so Friday is a bit uneventful.  I did manage to get the new electric step motor installed and now the entrance and egress is a bit easier.

Saturday - June 11

Saturday is still warm (90+), everyone is amazed and a bit incensed about the heat.  'This is the Black Hills and it never gets above 80.' I heard more than once.  We decide to do some indoor exploring and drive south to Hot Springs, ironic with me complaining about the heat, and take in the Mammoth Site exhibit.  A live dig covered by an air-conditioned building, perfect.

This site is a sinkhole from 25,000 years ago that unwary mammoths and other beast strayed into and became modern day fossils.  We had a great time, you actually look onto the live archaeological dig site, though no activity was ongoing while we where there it was inspiring.  In the future years they expect to go down another 40 or more feet.

On the way south we take in the Custer State Park wildlife loop drive and check out the buffalo, prairie dogs and wild burros.

In spots the highway is clogged with the beasts making for an interesting drive.  The road is also known as the Iron Mountain Highway as well as the Needles Highway and at times can be a harrowing experience with switchback and pigtails and buffalo to contend with.

Pigtails are circular portions of the road that cross over on themselves at differing elevations, sort of like a corkscrew.   Popular with bikers but not RV'rs they make for a fun drive. The tunnels are strategically placed to provide you with a view of Mount Rushmore,   This portion of the highway was engineered by Peter Norbeck and, believe me, he really deserves this plaque.

The Needles portion of the highway has spectacular rock formations,

Obviously the Needle

Hmm,  guess they didn't want to call it the 'finger ' or the 'penis' highway'.

Saturday evening we take in a show at The Black Hills Playhouse, it was a great surprise to find and a well done show.  Adopted from a P. Wodehouse story it was a simple comedy with all the expected twists and telegraphed outcome.  But well done all in all.

Some respite from the heat is expected tomorrow and a trip to the highlight of the area, Mount Rushmore, is in the plans.

Wall or Bust. Bust Wins

Thought we might get a nice respite from the Florida heat on this trip.  NOT, the ride from Iowa up thru South Dakota was consistently above 100.  Of course the big coach did not like this, the temperature gauge kept climbing, buzzers going off, panics from the driver - ugh.  Copilot Liz is not liking this at all.  So the ride is a slow one, babying the diesel over each minor incline grumbling all the way.  Considering that the speed limit in SD is 80 a lot of folks behind me are as happy as I am.

We pull into Wall and WHAM - the electric steps stop working, this makes getting in and out of the coach an ordeal, minor but dangerous if you slip.

Ah well, at least we get to enjoy the Wall Drug Store, famous for its kitsch...

and boy does it have kitsch.

Onto the web where we find Eddies Freightliner in Rapid City where Bob diagnoses the issue over the phone as a dirty radiator and fan.  He also points us to Green Star RV service who actually have the exact (really, the EXACT part) part we need for the stairs and is just across the street from Eddie's. Our spirit buoyed a bit we spend a hot night in Wall.

Rapid City is just a short drive on Friday, with Liz driving the toad to reduce stress on the engine, and we find Eddies and Green Star.  Bob has them change the air filter and degrease the radiator.  We are amazed when we take off towing the toad, climbing a steep hill and the temp gauge doesn't get above mid normal.  Yahoo!!!.  Thanks to Bob  and Eddies Freightliner of Rapid City SD.

 50 miles to Spokane Creek RV site just past Keystone, SD.  What a drive, windy, curvy, hilly and narrow roads. We even do a few miles of the Iron Mountain Road, but we make it.

Humming up I29 - June 8 Wednesday

8:00 AM to 10:00 AM

10:00 AM to NOON

and so on and so on

get the picture?

Finally

Tomorrow WALL SD.......

Branon, MO - Friendly and Sweet

Branson, MO - More than just Country Western

June 6 - The travels from Tupelo MS to here was not a picnic. A firey wreck on I40 East of Little Rock added hours and miles to our trip, but we arrived safe and tired after 436 miles and 10 hours of asphalt. 

The park, 'Shenanigans', allowed us to test the turning radius of the coach as it is rather steep and a bit tight. Seems that there are no flat spots in all of Branson unless someone made it as the whole town is carved out rock and granite of the surrounding mountains. But the staff was super friendly and helpful - they even assisted in disconnecting the toad prior to the chicanery needed to get us to the site.

Great park, 50 amp, sewer and HIGH PRESSURE water (a pressure regulator is recommended) and the sites are all hard packed gravel and pretty level., they like to sell you tickets to the shows and believe it when they say their prices are the best.

We took in the sights around town, found a gas cap replacement (I lost ANOTHER gas cap just outside of Tupelo, for me they are like socks and dryers) and had a nice lunch at Casa Fuentes, fresh Tex-Mex with just the right amount of bite for Liz and I.

'Can I ride and you push?'

The town is cleaner than anewborn, smells almost as nice and feels great.  There are very few bars (never did find one - but I was told there are some) and if you stay here a while they say one leg will get longer as there are no flat places.  EVERYTHING is uphill or downhill..

 There must be over 200 stage shows in this town, along with zip lines, scenic train rides and a host of water activities.  Even the Hard Rock cafe with King Kong gracing the skyline is available (bet I could find a bar in there).

We took in 2 shows, 'Telling Tales' at the Baldknocker, and the review at the Pierce Arrow.  Both were wholesome, uplifting and funny.  At times a bit too uplifting, but this is the bible belt and everyone seems to have a good story or two about their redemption.  The comedian, James Sibley (aka Gene Pool) at the Pierce Arrow is extremely funny in a subdued kind of way, a must see guy.

Great town, two nights is not enough though - we both wish we had another day to wander around and do another show or two.

Off to Oniwa IA on Wednesday, just a stopover on the way to Wall SD.  460 miles through Kansas City (which is really in Missouri) and Omaha, guess there be some prairie on the way..

Fort Yargo and visit to Elvis in Tupelo

Off We Go - June 3

Planning, spending, fussing (Liz), grumping (Bruce) and loading up the coach we are finally as ready to go as can be.  

So off to Fort Yargo,a very nice state park just east of Atlanta, 490 miles of fun on the way - ugh.  I spend 9 hours looking at blacktop and thinking about the arrival.

Yay for Fort Yargo - 

We arrive, as nothing has broke on the way and no too much screaming or blood I consider the first trip a total success.

Fort Yargo is a super nice park, it's in Winder Georgia if you're thinking about trying it out.  Great bike trails not buggy at all and a nice lake to walk around.

Liz is excited because her grandson and his new wife are going to be able to join Larry (her exhusband), Diane (Larry's wife and a bff of Liz) and us for dinner.  A strange set of bedfellows but a great mix of folks.  Larry and Diane take us to Dahlonega for a wander thru the shops , some lunch and a visit to Wolf Mountain winery (really - there are more wineries in GA than you can can shake the proverbial stick at). Since I'm old enough I buy a walking stick that appeals to me, all in all a great day and a great dinner -  thanks Diane.

Tupelo - Elvis' Birthplace, Tombigee State Park and an amazing Frisbee Golf Course

Back on the road Sunday June 5.  

We park at WalMart planning to boon dock and hop in the car to go see Elvis' birthplace, it was a pleasant surprise and well worth the trip.

Liz and Elvis (at 13)

When we return to Walmart we found ourselves surrounded by 18 wheelers with their engines running and no peace, a bit toooo bohemian for us.  A quick look at AllStays show Tombigee State Park just down the road and we drive in the toad to check it out quickly deciding to stay there.  A great overnighter and very cheap.  They have 36 holes of disc golf with blue and red tee boxes, water hazards and tough tree shots over some very rough terrain.  Next time I will bring the discs, or buy the discs and bring them.

Next stop Branson MO to get our lifetime fill of country.