Badlands SD to Cody WY



cute train in Hill City

Mt. Rushmore is breath taking

these were taken NOT with the zoom on

These are 2 of the tunnels we went through in Custer St Park

eye of the needle

Crazy Horse was beyond words!!

the "road" to Cody almost 4 wheeling
OH SO much fun in our RV

out side of Cody

 Until Yellowstone - - - good night

HAD  to get a new wind toy  the wind has been so strong
I had to put it away.

Internet is “not too good” so quick verbiage with pictures. This area is another place that is beyond words. We had a wonderful camp site out of Custer. Seeing Mt Rushmore & Crazy Horse - beyond words - took the nature drive in Custer St Park - we got to see buffalo right off the side of the road - deer, burrows, prairie dogs & the like. The drive from Custer around the nature drive back to Hill City is unbelievable. Tunnels that looked too small for our little car to go through. The ride from Black Hills into Cody WY was interesting. Went over passes that were over 9500 feet. What goes up MUST come down - and that we did - and on a road that was under construction. Greg is one good driver. I know he was glad to pull into Cody & STOP for the day. Tomorrow we head into Yellowstone for 2 days. That will be for the next blog.

Albert Lea Minn. to Wall South Dakota

On Saturday, June 9^th we called Salem SD home. We drove in to Mitchell to check out “The Corn Palace” it’s kind of touristy but the corn murals on the outside of the building & on the walls inside were very cool. They are all made from corn (approx. 275,000 ears of corn), sour dock & rye. This was started in 1892 & is the only place where this type of folk are is being preserved. As for as Salem - not too much there - but one exciting thing is that Howard is close by - & why is that exciting - well - on Friday I went on the Internet & found Greg’s family in Howard - call and talked to his cousin Tom. We made plans to get together on Sunday. Greg has never seen the area where his dad was from so we were very excited to say the least.

The Corn Palace

Mitchell, SD

Sunday, June 10^th - we made our way to Howard, it’s about ½ hour from Salem. We met Greg’s cousin Francine and went out for brunch. There we were joined by more of Greg’s family - cousin’s Mary & Tom and Tom's wife Bobbie and their son Andrew (who just happens to be the mayor of Howard) After brunch we drove around the area seeing where Greg’s dad was born & grew up - checking our the old farm, church & the cemetery where many of Greg’s relatives are buried. In the evening we all went back to Francine’s and had a great time of eating, reminiscing and sharing old family stories until almost midnight. We had such a wonderful time. It was a special time in a very special place. We want to make this a repeat event. It was so great making that family connection - another MEMORY MAKING MOMENT for this trip.

 

Dold Implement Co.



Francine's house
(it was her parents home) 



 





The old Dold farm house

looking out from the old farm house

Today - Monday, June 11th we headed into the Badlands of South Dakota. We made today’s stop in Wall, SD. The story behind the Wall’s Drug Store & the free ice water is something you need to check out. Not enough time for me to share - but well worth the read. We had lunch there and then made the drive in to The Badlands Park - it is truly something to see. It is pretty - in a different way. We saw a lot of prairie dogs and bison - very cool. It was another time I had to make myself stop taking pictures. Tomorrow we will make our way into the Black Hills staying in Horse Thief Campground, Hill City, SD





"almost" a straight road

starting into The Badlands

this was a old sod prairie home

 

New Windsor IL to Albert Lea Minnesota

On Monday June 4^th we made camp at New Windsor IL. (Shady Creek Campground). We took a drive into Galesburg to check out the worlds largest Adirondack chair & you know we had to have our pictures taken in the chair. We were told that there was a great old time Coney Island Hot Dog shop in town & we HAD to check this out too. It was the middle of the afternoon when we got there & had to try one out. So we all had their “famous” hot dogs - & they were very good. We also did a little Illinois wine tasting & the wine wasn't too bad.

Coal Creek Winery

Tuesday June 5^th - We made our way to E Moline Ill. Our camp site was right on the Mississippi River. While there we did some great exploring We went into Le Claire IL - we checked out the “Pickers” store. It looks just like it does on their TV show. We didn’t find anything we “needed” & toured the John Deere tractor museum & got to climbing on some gigantic tractors & had a blast. We toured a really neat distillery & did a little wine tasting. On Wednesday we headed out to the river taking The River Cat Cruse. It’s a boat that goes between Illinois & Iowa. Toured the # 15 lock - we got to watch a tug boat push a bunch of barges through the locks. It was pretty cool to watch . They had to swing one of the major bridges around so the tug could get through.. We took a drive on to Rock Island where the Army has a arsenal base. There were some beautiful old buildings on the base. That evening we took a picnic & went back to Rock Island and saw a fantastic water ski show on the Rock River. There were over 50 skiers. Very cool show.

Chuck & Greg in The Pickers "store"



I just had to play in one of the huge tractors





Lock # 15 at Rock Island on The Mississippi



  
Thursday June 7^th - we left E Moline Il. Heading north to Grant River RV in Potosi Wisconsin. On the way we stopped in Fulton, Il to check out a authentic Dutch working windmill. It was made in The Netherlands & shipped here & reassembled in Fulton. It is over 90 feet tall & is fully operational - I just had to buy some of their flour. Our drive to our next RV site was truly a “Back Roads of America” experience - thanks to our GPS. It was a beautiful area BUT it took us on some CRAZY roads. Not to drive a big RV on but thanks to some good driving by our guys we made it safe & sound to Grant River RV Park - right on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi River. After settling in we went into Dickeyville to get some “squeaky cheese” aka curds - & it really does squeak when you eat it. That evening after dinner we sat on the banks of the Mississippi River to watch the sun go down - it was a magnificent sunset. I also had to put my feet in the river. As it turned out this would be our last evening on the road with Chuck & Gail. Greg & I looked at the map & felt this was the best place for us to start our way back home. Friday morning was kind of a sad saying “see you later” to 2 great traveling buddies. Chuck & Gail we will surely miss you. We pray safe traveling dear friends.
On the drive today we saw more beautiful land. We do live in a beautiful country.  As of today we have made our way to 19 states.  What a trip.  When we stopped for the day we took a quick ride into Austin to get a tour of the SPAM Museum. It was a fun tour - we had to buy some SPAM that is only sold there. When we eat it we will give you a full report.  Not far from the SPAM Museum  was a satellite Mayo Clinic. I thought that was convenient if you ODed on SPAM.
As we settled into tonight camp site in Albert Lea, Minnesota I decided to try to look up some of Greg’s family in Howard S D. (we will be stopping near there tomorrow night). Low & behold I found them - we will be seeing them on Sunday. One of his cousins is the mayor of Howard. We are really looking forward to seeing where Greg’s dad was born & grew up & reconnecting with that part of his family.


Bye-bye Chuck & Gail
we will miss you!!