Blogging is hard work

Ok, so I have uploaded all of the documented material from the trip out. Here are some pics as well. Feel free to hassle me for this past month's information as the days progress. Yikes, is it almost July??? 

The Needles Highway-Custer State Park, SD

The Needles Highway-Custer State Park, SD

A View from the highway
I really was happy to be here but evidently my face doesn't show it.

A bunch of Mini Coopers drover through, then a bunch of hot rods.
Another granite entrance. 

The Badlands of South Dakota

It was a windy day in The Badlands. The colors are arranged in spectacular bands across the buttes. I can't help but think of a time long ago when buffalo roamed in huge numbers in these lands. What did the ancient peoples think of this place? 

Mitchell, SD

Travels out West continued

Thursday May 14- Illinois, the Land of Lincoln and on to Iowa

8:30 am

Ha Ha Hamvention! Um, this morning’s staff told us the convention was for HAM RADIO OPERATORS, not pig producers! What a funny realization that was! We made some sweet space tracks from Ohio and continued on through Illinois, the Land of Lincoln. Uh oh, Eric’s drinking coffee and promised things would get crazy.

9:30 pm

Motel 6 Sioux Falls, Iowa welcomed us very sleepily tonight. We were happy the frogs had a place to stay in the hotel pool, and glad it was closed for their use. Mike at the front desk shared some great Pennsylvania trivia with us. Awesome shower and very nice room made for a comfy rest.

Friday May 15 – South Dakota and the Corn Palace

8:00 am 

Audio record shares our location to be just shy of Sioux City, SD. The weather is overcast, cool in the low 60s. 

11:00 am

Mitchell, South Dakota has become one of my favorite places because of one particular attraction: THE CORN PALACE!!! The theme this year is destinations (I think) and of course it smells of popcorn when we walk around the building! We bought some more popcorn (best I’ve ever had) and some baked corn nut-type snacks. Our first meal outside of the car took us to Jitters Coffeehouse for some well-deserved proteins and a yummy smoothie. 

1:00 pm

Bow is it windy in the Badlands! We almost blew over a few times getting out to take pictures. Of course it’s always breathtaking here, with plenty of prairie dogs and Pronghorn antelope. Enjoy the video coverage of a prairie dog and the pics of wildlife. 

Custer State Park and the Needles Highway

Wind Cave National Park, Curt Gowdy State Park, Medicine Bow National Forest

Saturday May 16 –South Dakota 

3:55 pm

Audio report: Eric says we’re in Cowboy Country! We just saw a guy pulled off the side of the road taking a picture of Boner Ranch. Ha. We are still uncertain of the road conditions because we haven’t had computer access since yesterday in Rapid City. 

Sideling Hill and Morgantown, WV

Trip out West

Wednesday May 13 

Leave Seven Valleys

8:30 am

We left Seven Valleys after waiting for Mom to come for a final goodbye. The last clean out of the fridge brought forth more than expected but Mom graciously took everything off of our hands. The houseplants were divided between Rose-Anna and Mom, I sure hope Mr. Miyagi is fairing well. Started our route on 30 to Chambersburg then onto 81 through Maryland. Sideling Hill Visitor Center offers a panoramic view of South Mountain and so much more. A woman graciously offered a suggestion: “You might want to cover up that beer in the backseat.” Ha Ha. Next stop, Morgantown.

10:30 am

My first audio report from the road: The first interesting site is a girl made of hay outside of Gettysburg. Eric sees the bike tire spinning. 

12:30 pm

We met Aaron Barkhurst at our traditional Sheetz meetingplace and decided on Black Bear burrito restaurant for some lunch. I called the Ungers to meet us there, Barry agreed to be there after feeding the turkey. Wait a minute, did he say turkey? 

Fakin bacon with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and honey mayo makes for a bangin burrito. It is always nice to catch up with Aaron. Although he and Eric worked together for such a short time, it seems like we have been chums for years. He seems to have similar ideals of outdoor stewardship and adventure as we do, and is even competing in an Ironman competition this summer! Whoa, that’s intense. Barry and Leanne are great, had great stories to share and just seem to naturally go with the flow. I’m excited of the possibilities of our continued friendship and look forward to seeing them back in their Ohio home on our return trip in August.

8:48 pm

Got some Merrills at Cabelas in Wheeling. Can’t wait to wear those puppies. Rain prevented camping somewhere in Ohio. Ohio takes a long time to get through, but it didn’t seem so bad this time. Staying at a super cheap Motel 6 in Englewood, OH. The Hamvention is in town!!! We were jokingly convinced by the front desk clerk that the convention was for rednecks with pigs. Swine flu jokes and all, we were sold. Cannot wait to sleep.  

One more thing

I plan on typing some past journal notes I took as we traveled out and our experiences thus far. P.S. I've seen a grizzly at Yellowstone and a black bear in our front yard! Sweet! More later...

Yeah we made it

I have been so very busy since we arrived in the great state of Wyoming that I have been slacking on the weblog. For this I do apologize. As soon as customary early season governmental training sessions cease I hope to update this blog weekly. Thanks for your patience!