It's Official!

Yesterday was a busy day!  First we went to DMV to get our South Dakota driver's licenses!  They are obviously use to RV'ers coming in to become residents.  To qualify for a license you have to spend one night in South Dakota so right away they asked for our campground information for proof that we spent the night!

From there we went to breakfast at Flying J.  I was ready for my "sweet cream pancakes"!  Much to my dismay, they didn't have them :( and I found out that a lot (if not all) the "Country Market Restaurants" that are in some of the Flying J's, are being bought out by someone else.  I think this means I may not be able to get the pancakes again (unless I make them myself)!   Sad news indeed!

On a happier note, Mount Rushmore is still there standing tall and wonderful!  There is nothing like it!

We ventured in to the gift shop, oh my, we love the black hills gold jewelry!  Teddy lost his head and got me a pretty black hills gold ring that matches my earrings and neclace, and a South Dakota quarter neclace!  They are so beautiful!

Next we went to the Crazy Horse Memorial.  It is a work in progress.  Korczak Ziolkowski started the worlds largest artistic undertaking carved in the round (when completed). Chief Standing Bear had the dream and he and other Lakota (Sioux) chiefs saw Mount Rushmore developing and invited Korczak, a famed New England Sculptor to carve a mountain in their sacred Black Hills to show that "the red man has great heroes also."  Crazy Horse is one of their heroes.  Korczak passed away in 1982 but his wife and seven of his ten children have taken up the cause.  They have taken no government money. 

They have a huge museum and gift shop which is used to help raise funds for the endeavor.  They have cleared several million tons of granite from the mountain but as you can see, they have a long way to go.  There were a few people working yesterday.  They show a movie which shows the progress from the beginning.  I imagine it's pretty exciting on the days they dynamite!  When is the expected completion date????  No one seems to know, but I don't think it will be in my lifetime!

On the way back to the campground we drove through Custer State Park.  We were disappointed to not see any bison, antelope or elk in the park.  We did see some mountain goats, deer, beautiful pines,  followed the creek, a couple of lakes and from a distance, Mount Rushmore!

Visiting Mount Rushmore, "Our Shrine of Democracy"..."Ain't Life Grand!"

Rapid City South Dakota October 2010

Yesterday we left Scotts Bluff, Nebraska and headed due North to Rapid City, South Dakota.  On the drive here we saw some Antelope and wild Turkeys!  Our campground is around 4,000' among some beautiful pine trees and the weather was in the mid 70's yesterday and mid 80's today!

Today we visited our "residence" aka our mail place! We are becoming residents of South Dakota for tax purposes and are trying to get drivers licenses and vehicle registration while we are here!  We hope to do some sightseeing as well!

Today Ted put his window down and it wouldn't come back up, so off to the Ford dealer.  Of course they don't have the part so after 1 1/2 hours, we get to go back on Wednesday!  It needs a new motor! 

Main Street in Rapid City is interesting.  There are businesses and shops and these most "important people" hanging out on the corners.  I only have gotten a few pictures so far!

Saving taxes so we can pay our Ford repair bills..."Ain't Life Grand!"

Scotts Bluff Nebraska!

Today we drove a few miles down the road to Scotts Bluff National Monument.  It is an interesting area, full of history, with unusual landforms and prairie habitat.  There are Five Rocks left in the Monument.  Originally the rock tops were the high plains and after millions of years, have eroded and only the Five Rocks are left.   The landscape is made of sandstone and siltstone and has disappeared, and continues to disappear, due to wind, water and occasional volcanic eruptions.   In the 1800's wagon trains started in Missouri and came this way headed for Oregon. The Oregon Trail went through Scotts Bluff at Mitchell Pass.

After the park we went in the town of Gering and then in Scott's Bluff and had lunch.  We got some groceries and headed home.  When I took Max out for his walk we came upon a neighboring camper and his pet South American Raccoon!  I couldn't find the actual name and couldn't remember what the man told me it was called.  He looks similar to our raccoons except a longer nose and tail.  He's had "Wooly Bully" since he was 7 days old and he's now 11 years old!  He was on a leash looking for grubs in the ground.  He has no claws and so he and Max kind of went nose to nose.  Max's tail wiggled the whole time even when Wooly Bully smacked at him.  He just needed to show Max who was boss!  The people were very nice and let me take a picture.  When Dad asked for a kiss, Wooly Bully happily complied!  This was probably the oddest pet I've seen in a campground!

Seeing something new every day..."Ain't Life Grand!"

The Road to Gering Nebraska

Yesterday we left the mountain area around Denver, started east and north, drove through a farming plains area to Nebraska.  Driving further north we started seeing some hills again.  I took a picture along the drive as we got into the hilly area.

This morning after I walked Max, I took a couple of pictures.  It was cloudy but the sun was starting to come through.  This is the view from the campground of Scottsbluff National Monument.  We are going over there today to look around.

Ted said the bluff looked like it had been radiated!  It was really pretty.

First time in Nebraska..."Ain't Life Grand!"

Fun in Denver!

On Tuesday we took our 5th wheel over to the Ford dealer.  Of course the truck isn't blowing out the black smoke it did when coming to Denver so they can't figure out what's wrong.  So oil change, fuel filter and air filter change later, they can only say it might be the altitude! 

Wednesday we had ladies/mens day!  Us ladies had lunch at BJ's then got haircuts followed by Starbucks!  The guys had a pizza lunch followed by a trip through the Hanger Air Museum!  It was huge and had a lot of old planes to see.  We met up at Pam and Jon's and took off to Hobby Lobby!  We found a few things to buy and were ready for dinner!  After a fun dinner at Mimi's we came home.

Today Pam and Jon drove us through the small historic town of Golden where we are camped.

Then we went to the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster Co.  They have live spiders, cockroaches, walking sticks, sea life and butterflies in a rain forest!  The butterflies only last a couple of weeks and then they buy more from various rain forests.  It is a cool place and really kid friendly.  We touched the starfish but had nothing to do with the tarantulas!  Saw two little girls hold Rosie the tarantula!!!!

It was a lot of fun at the Pavilion.  Tomorrow we leave Denver, will head through Nebraska for South Dakota!

Beautiful butterflies..."Ain't Life Grand!"

Monday in Denver!

We took the truck in this morning by 7:00 and they changed oil and fuel filter but didn't find anything wrong with turbo or figure out the black smoke problem!  Tomorrow we are going to load on the 5th wheel and take in to see if they can figure it out.

Meantime, our friends picked us up and we went to lunch at Salty Rita's in Lowry, Co.  Bet it's hopping on the weekends for happy hour!  Then they drove us over to Cherry Creek State Park so we could see the lake and look at the campground.  We will definitely stay there next time.  It's not any closer to our friends but they give you huge spaces on concrete with trees and grass all around and lots of space between RV's!  Being late Monday afternoon it was pretty deserted, probably lots of people on the weekends!

Back at the RV enjoying a glass of great wine..."Ain't Life Grand!"

Arriving in Denver!

Yesterday we left Moab for Denver Colorado.  In the last two passes to Denver, the truck started acting up AGAIN!  We had black smoke and the turbo wasn't kicking in, making it very difficult to get over the mountains.  We have an appointment at a Ford Dealer on Monday morning!

In Colorado, the Aspen are starting to change color and are bright yellow and beautiful. 

After we arrived we visited our friends Pam and Jonathan Pullen in Denver, went out for dinner and checked out their cute new apartment.  They haven't decided where in Colorado they want to live so they rented a place until they can decide.  They are having a lot of fun checking out all the areas!

Today they took us to the Garden of the Gods!  We took the bus ride around part of the park and the driver told us the story of how the Garden came about.  The area was owned by a private party and donated to the City.  The park is free to drive through and the bus ride was only $5.00 each, and interesting! There is a large visitor center that aparently pays for itself, and a lot of volunteers!  There is a movie, wild life exhibits and plenty of trails.  It's a pretty park and worth seeing in Colorado Springs.  Pikes Peak is in the distance at 14,110 elevation. 

After the park we had dinner at "Black Eyed Pea" restaurant.  It's a national chain but primarily in Texas and Colorado.  My mom used to love black eyed peas and cornbread so I always think of her when I eat there!

Seeing more of our beautiful country..."Ain't Life Grand!"