Nebraska, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Sept 8-25, 2011

Omaha, Nebraska Sept. 8-12

Some places you just never get tired of, like the Bohemian Cafe in Omaha. Every time we visit our dear friends, Bonnie and Ed, we have lunch at here. The food is to die for!

And a trip to Omaha isn't complete without a trip to the amazing Omaha Zoo. It is one of the very best in the whole world! Here Bonnie is interacting with one of the gorillas.

A visit to downtown Omaha brought us to the memorial to the early settlers. There are several life size likenesses of horses, wagons, and the early pioneers that passed through Omaha on their trek west. Downtown Omaha is a truly beautiful city.

Every night (and any free time during the day) found us playing some card or dice game. Here Ed thought he was pouring some money out of this cache, when in fact, he grabbed his juice bottle and dumped it in his hand. Boy, was he surprised! We had a good laugh over that one.

Leaving Nebraska and crossing the Missouri River revealed the river still in flood stage. These farmers and landowners have been flooded since June. Unbelievable!

Next stop was Greencastle, Indiana, to visit my Sister-in-law, Judy. One outing took us on a drive through the countryside to this picturesque "Cataract Falls" covered bridge. This area of Indiana has many, many covered bridges on little used back roads. It is always fun to come across one.

Another day, Judy treated us to a boat ride on a near by lake. In a couple of weeks the area will be wild with fall colors.

Saturday afternoon found us having a picnic in Judy's back yard with some of the nieces and nephews. My how big the young ones have grown!

Judy has always had a love affair with Golden Retrievers. Here she is holding Rocky. Her other dog, Tigger, is with a handler and has earned several "points" towards his championship.

Next stop, Meadville, PA, where my daughter, Lisa and Kevin, informed us they had gotten married! What a wonderful surprise. They have been together over 10 years. I am so happy for them. We had just enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Montana Chop and Steak House, a new restaurant in Meadville.

We parked the rv in Bill's sister Sue's front yard and enjoyed visits with many of our friends from work and neighbors. Sue had fixed ham and eggs for breakfast this morning. It was good to see her after almost 3 years.

On Sunday we stopped in Pittsburgh to visit Bill's boyhood friend, Mark. They have been friends since they were in grade school. Mark is a special friend to us. We had a late lunch together before heading further east to Maryland.

Custer South Dakota with Guy and Judy, Aug 20 to Sept 7, 2011

Custer, South Dakota is a quirky little town with painted buffalo on almost every street corner. It is quiet here now that the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally of 2011 is over.

We came to help our friends, Guy and Judy finish the remodeling of their new home just outside of Custer. We met them at Buckhorn Lake Resort in Texas where we all spent the last 2 winters.

Guy had a full hook-up site, including cable, ready for us when we arrived. Behind our rv are Guy and Judy's 2 rvs.

Other than doing a lot of wiring and hanging light fixtures, Bill installed a new railing on the deck off of the loft area in the back of the back of the house.

Ceilidh celebrated her 11th birthday while we were there. There was birthday cake on "Princess" plates and Ceilidh wore here Texas denim skirt and pink top. She was much more excited about the cake than the dress! Schuster, in the background is her "long distance" boyfriend.

Our main reason for visiting Guy and Judy was to attend their wedding on Labor Day weekend. The evening before the wedding they hosted a dinner at Crazy Horse Memorial. Everyone had a great time and we were able to watch the laser show after dinner.

Sunday, Sept. 4, was a gorgeous day for the outside wedding in their front yard. Afterwards we were all treated to a sit down dinner and lots of good food and conversation. Some guests were Guy's Air Force buddies, Judy's childhood friends, her children, and of course rving friends like us. People were there from all around the country from California to Maryland. A great time was had by all, but all too soon it was time for people to leave. We enjoyed seeing Nancy from Buckhorn and other rvers we know.

Sept. 6th brought the "Blast on the Mountain" when charges are set off on the mountain after dark. Guy and Judy always have a tailgate party in the parking lot.

Guy was the grill master. He also made buffalo chili.

Grilled cheese and chili-doesn't it look yummy?

Finally it was time for the laser show, the the blast. What a beautiful sight.

All too soon it was time for us to say "so long for now" (never goodbye) "we'll see you down the road somewhere". Actually, we will be working just a mile from Guy and Judy next summer at a Big Pine Campground. We are so blessed to have them as friends. Thank you so very much for your friendship and hospitality! We love you both!

Rapid City, South Dakota, Aug. 14-19, 2011

After leaving Devil' Tower we headed to Happy Holiday Campground south of Rapid City, SD to catch up with our friends, Syd and Jen. They gave us the "grand tour" starting with all you can eat pancake breakfast at Fort Hayes.

To walk off some of the pancakes, we toured the buildings at Fort Hayes.

Our next stop was, of course, Mount Rushmore. What an awe-inspiring sight!












Next we drove through Custer State Park and found this huge herd of buffalo coming down from the mountains to the watering hole.

We enjoyed a picnic lunch under a huge old oak tree in the park.

We stumbled across this "begging burro". It is probably one of the descendants of the ones we saw many years ago while visiting South Dakota. They still "beg" for food at the same place. He doesn't look too hungry, does he?

The next area to visit was the "Needles Highway" with its huge spires of gray colored rocks reaching skyward. Yes, they actually drive tour buses through this narrow crevice in the rocks.

Last stop was a late afternoon walk around Silven Lake. What a perfect day! Thanks, Syd and Jen.

Devil's Tower, Wyoming, Aug 12-13, 2011

DEVIL'S TOWER, WYOMING


After miles of open range, Devil's Tower rises out of the earth to a height of 1267 feet above the
Belle Fourche River. Even after extensive studies, scientists are still debating the origin of Devil's Tower.












One of the most striking features of the Monument is its polygonal columns. Most of the columns are 5-sided although some are 4- or 6-sided. The largest columns measure 15-20 feet at their base and gradually taper upward to about 10 feet at their summit. There is a 1.3 mile trail around the base which made a pretty walk one afternoon.

About 1500 climbers will make it to the peak each year. The summit is about the same as the surrounding except you can see 5 states!.. The summit is actually domed and is covered with prairie grasses, big native sage, prickly pear cactus, current and gooseberry bushes, thanks to prairie falcons and vultures that drop seeds up there. A few rattlesnakes, pack rats, and red squirrels have also found their way up the rock.

Can you see the climber??

Near our campground is a prairie dog town where we spent part of a morning watching their antics.

The tower is sacred to the American Indians in the area. According to the Kiowa legend, seven sisters watched in horror as their brother was turned into a bear. The sisters run from him to the stump of a large tree, which beckons them to climb on. When they do, the stump rises up into the sky and the bear, unable to climb up the stump to reach the sisters, scores it with its claws. The sisters are then raised into the sky becoming the seven stars of the big Dipper.

East Glacier National Park and Little Bighorn, Montana, Aug 7 -9, 2011

Once we crossed the border it was just a short drive to East Glacier National Park. While the scenery was beautiful, this is the absolute worse run park we have ever visited. In the spring in West Glacier the park hired an outside contractor to chip/shred all the small trees that had fallen over winter and let them take the larger trees. (In Canada at the Provencal Parks they have shelters loaded with FREE firewood,)

Going To The Sun Road

There is a free shuttle bus to take you from East to West Glacier and there is awesome scenery, BUT, we were at the shuttle pick up area 10 minutes before it left and there was no room. So we waited an HOUR (with 3 shuttle buses sitting empty nearby) for the next shuttle. They pick up so many people that as many as 10-15 had to stand. (That doesn't seem very safe on a bus on a winding, hilly road.) There are also 2 or 3 places that you had to change buses and of course you had to wait for the next bus to come. The ride is advertised as 2 hours so I figured 4 hours total plus a little time to eat lunch at East Glacier. It was after 5 pm before we got back!!




The vastness of Montana comes to life as you drive past hundreds of thousands of acres of wheat fields as far as the eye can see.
































Next stop was Little Bighorn Battlefield near Crow Agency, Montana. We listened to the account of the events leading up to the battle by a park ranger that was also a local Sioux Indian. He painted a vivid picture of battle on June 25, 1876, in which General George Armstrong Custer met his demise. While the battle lasted 2 days, Custer's famous last stand lasted only about 20 minutes!















There is also a National Cemetery located near the battlefield with row after row of markers honoring our fallen heros.














Continuing across Montana revealed beautiful rolling plains and far distant mountains. Montana is truly "big sky country." What a beautiful country we have- God Bless America!

Alberta, Canada August 3 to Aug 6, 2011

Down through Alberta we passed hundreds of acres of brilliant yellow canola fields, one of their major agricultural crops.

We spent the night in Wetaskiwin so we could visit the Reynolds Alberta Transportation, Aviation, Agriculture and Industry Museum. It is a wonderful informative collection of all types of transportation. The layout is of old store fronts with the old machinery and autos parked along the "street".

I thought this restored 1928 Dusenberg was stunning. Doesn't it make you think of the "Roaring 20s"?

Bill is standing beside this huge tractor which starts on gasoline then converts to kerosene as a cheaper fuel.

The next day we visited the Heritage Park Historical Village in Calgary. It is the Canada's largest living history museum. We arrived around 9:30 am when it opened and it was suddenly almost 5 pm when we had to leave. We could have spent another day there as there is so much to see and do.

Gasoline Alley boasts one of the largest public collections of antique vehicles and oil and gas related artifacts in the world. This interactive exhibit brings the 1930s, 40s, and 50s to live in an unforgettable way. The gentleman here, dressed in period attire, told us about this first tow truck that was converted from a Cadillac truck.

Inside one of the homes this Bobbin lace weaving was on display. The lace being made was so pretty but it sure looks confusing as to how it is woven. Sadly, this will soon be a lost art.

Throughout the village were original houses moved here from Calgary. This was a school house with a playground beside it. Inside you could listen to the "teacher" giving the days lessons. Outside on the streets were old trucks and horse drawn vehicles.

Another picture inside gasoline alley was of this grocery delivery truck. Everything was immaculately restored. The park also has an operating steam engine that circles the historical village on 1 mile of track. Over 115 exhibits include a paddle wheeler, an old fashioned park with ferris wheel, carousel and other rides, ranch house, post office, train station, an Indian encampment and a fort. There is so much to see and do here. I highly recommend it for anyone visiting the Calgary area. You won't regret it!

Back to the "Mile 0" July 29-Aug 2

BACK TO THE LOWER 48

Finally it's time to head "outside" to the "Lower 48". Ceilidh is glad to be going "home" but little does she realize that she has another 2 months until we are back in Texas for the winter.

We are not the only ones heading south as we follow a long line of RVs through the Yukon Territory on the Alcan Highway. I'm sure all of us are saying the same thing: "What a wonderful summer! Alaska is a magical place."

Early one morning after camping along Kluane Lake in the Yukon Territory we saw this grizzly bear loping along the lake.

Again we drive along miles and miles of Aspen and Spruce trees. The snow on the mountains is gone for now but soon winter will be upon them again. The aspen tree leaves are a silvery color due to a leaf minor disease that eats the chlorophyll out of the leaves.

Our last night on the Alcan was spent at lovely Summit Lake on Stone Mountain. What a view! I love these beautiful mountains and never tire of gazing at them.

We spotted this moose in the fireweed along the roadside in the Yukon Territory. What a magnificant animal. Many people fear them more than the bears as they are very protective of their "space".

Just outside of Dawson Creek you could still see evidence of pine beatle destruction. It is so sad to see the beautiful forests being slowly destroyed. But that is the cycle of nature.

What an awesome, unforgetable summer. I am truly sad that it is over. Maybe someday we will return to the "last frontier" as there are still many places I would like to visit.

A FEW STATISTICS AND "BEST" THINGS WE SAW AND DID:

Total Miles from Dawson Creek back to Dawson Creek: 6038

73 nights of camping averaged: $18.69 per night

Camping and fuel costs: $3480.00

Favorite town: Me, Seward on the Kenai Peninsula

Bill, Palmer

Best eagle viewing: Haines

Best campground: Palmer

Worst campground: Wasilla Municiple (we didn't stay)

Best sunset: Ninilcik over the Cook Inlet

Best wildlife experience: Bear at the rv in Williwaw Campground in Portage

Prettiest flowers: Fireweed

Most picturesque town: Seward and Seldovia

Best cinnamon rolls: Bayside Bakery on the Homer Spit

Most unusual store: Save-U-More, Homer. They actually sell hay in the grocery store AND the have the best ice cream cones for 99 cents!

Best cruise: They were all awesome in their own respect. Fast Ferry to from Haines to Juneau; Major Marine buffet cruise from Seward to Aialik Glacier, and Stan Stephenson's cruise from Valdez to the Columbia Glacier. Each was special in its own way.

Best fish: Salmon patties from Peter Pan Cannery in Valdez

Most educational tour: Bus to the Arctic Circle

Best museum: Wow, hard to say: University of Alaska museum at Fairbanks, Native Alaska Heritage Museum in Anchorage, Maxine and Jessie Whitney Museum in Valdez

Most interesting: '64 earthquake, Alaska pipeline, permafrost.....

Most beautiful: Denali National Park (It's like potato chips-it's hard to pick just one!)