Signing Off . . .

We are signing off tonight from Lazy Day Campground in Danville, Missouri.  We are in travel mode now, travelling on interstate highways, being rocked by semi trucks  as they whiz by us, driving longer hours and feeling tired by the end of the day.  We will make a stop in Nashville to visit my cousins, but then it’s straight home. 

As of tonight, we have travelled a total of 8,546 miles with another 1,141 to go.  The factoids on this summer’s trip are as follows: 

Total Miles:  9,687

Number of States Visited:  23 as well as Canada

Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia.

National Parks Visited:  9

Petrified Forest, Grand Canyon North Rim, Yosemite, Redwoods, Olympic, North Cascades, Glacier, Mount Rushmore, Badlands

We leave you with a few memorable photos and thank you to those who shared this trip with us.  

Antelope Canyon / Page, Arizona

North Rim Grand Canyon - Winds of 40 mph

Yosemite

San Francisco

Glacier National Park

Mount Rushmore

   

    Over and out Summer 2017 Pacific Northwest  from Ron and Jean

The Badlands!

START:  Wall, SD                 TODAY:       179  Miles

END:      Chamberlain, SD   TOTAL:    7,860   Miles

Shortly after leaving Wall this morning we entered the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands.  Before the homesteaders arrived by wagon train, The Lakota Indians followed the migrating buffalo
herds across these plains.

This view abruptly changed as we came into The Badlands National Park.  How could 100 yards make such a dramatic difference in the landscape?  Well, 37 million years ago the volcanoes began the transformation, and then water was the carving agent.  

The vistas were spectacular at the viewing overlooks, but just as special along the roadway. 

The Lakota Indians called these lands “Mako Sica” meaning badlands.   The Badlands included peaks, gullies, and buttes that all seemed to shift colors as the light changed. 

  

Just as we had become accustomed to the banded-color peaks, we came to the Yellow Mounds near Dillon Pass.

We once again watched the presentation at The Visitor’s Center to understand the geological history and paleontology studies of these lands.  The active fossil lab on site was very interesting and informative. 

 

As we were leaving the park we were lucky enough to see Mule Deer and Big Horn Sheep. 

When planning this trip months ago, we read about a 1800s town along our route.  When we arrived it was apparent it was a tourist trap, but we decided to take the tour.  A local man had created an old west town by saving original South Dakota buildings from being destroyed.  Each building, train, water tower, fire equipment was from the 1800s.

The museum honored the history of the Native Americans of South Dakota as well as displaying many artifacts depicting the difficult life of early settlers. 

The Hollywood connection was not to be ignored, since the museum provided most of the props for the movie Dances With Wolves which was filmed in the area.   

Many photographs documented the old west. Native Americans and Army Forts were included in the collection.  One photograph that caught my eye included Doc Holiday, Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson and Butch Cassidy.  

 

A heat wave hit this area a couple of days ago, and the temp reached 105 today, so we were pleased to settle in The American Creek Campground.  Our site is within a few steps of the banks of The Missouri River. 

Click on Location to spot us on Google Map

 

Black Hills, SD

Total Trip Miles:  7,681

After two travel days we were ready to mix in a little sightseeing today.  After leaving Glacier National Park, we headed southeast through Montana and Wyoming and this morning we crossed into South Dakota.  This was Black Hills Country and Native American Reservations. Many tribes, Cheyenne, Sioux, Crow, Lakota, once called this land home. 

Once on I-90 we eased back into mainstream America, leaving the wide-open spaces of the west behind, seeing huge billboards, larger cities and housing subdivisions.  We turned south at Rapid City and followed the signs to Mt. Rushmore, in the middle of Black Hills National Forest.   

The idea to carve a monument in The Black Hills was born in the year 1923.  John Gutzon, the son of a Danish immigrant, was chosen for the job based on his sculpture of Lincoln (1908).   Gutzon began the process in 1927 and continued for the next 14 years.  He died seven months before its completion and dedication in 1941.  

We thoroughly enjoyed the movie that showed the planning, dynamite blasting, jackhammering and bumping process to smooth the finished granite.  The scale of the carvings required a frame from which he hung a plumb bob to enlarge dimensions 12 times the size of the scale model.  What a monumental undertaking!  

Since it was only 30 miles away we decided to visit the Crazy Horse Monument.  Our first view was from the highway coming around a curve, but the scale escaped us.  There were hundreds of cars in the parking lot when we arrived, so we just went with the flow.  

Again, a movie skillfully explained the history, starting in 1939 when  Henry Standing Bear ("Mato Naji"), an Oglala Lakota chief ,  recruited the Polish-American sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski to build a monument to honor his Native-American people.  He wanted people to understand that his people had heroes too.  The scale was massive, with the head being almost 88ft tall. 

The Crazy Horse project became Ziolkowski’s life work.  After his death, his wife and their 10 children have carried on the dream.  Currently the work was focused on his hand and arm, and we wondered how many more generations it would require to complete the original vision.  

We settled into Sleepy Hollow Campground in Wall for the night having enjoyed our day in The Black Hills of South Dakota.

July 4th - Glacier NP

START:                                          TODAY:       30  Miles
END:      West Glacier, MT            TOTAL:   6,720 Miles

Massive mountains and giant trees mean no connectivity, so let's catch up on postings.  

Happy Independence Day from Glacier National Park!  After 10 hours in Glacier, 187 photos, 173 miles on Going To The Sun Road, and 3 miles hiking, we were done for the day!  But what a great way to spend the 4^th!


Even the roadway driving views were amazing. 

Heaven’s peak loomed large at 7,987 ft elevation.

Bird Woman Falls had a 492 foot cascade, but the overlook area wasn’t at a good angle for a photo op.

The roadway was constructed with a tunnel to allow the water to flow down the hillside.

At Logan Pass Visitor’s Center we learned that in 1850 there were 150 glaciers and now only 25 remain.  It is predicted that by the year 2030 there will be none left in Glacier Park.

  Ron conquered this glacier while he still could.

We hiked to Sun Point for amazing views of the mountains and Saint Mary Lake.

There are six peaks in the park with elevations over 10,000 feet. Further along the road, at the end of Saint Mary Lake, the view yielded more reflection on the water and a lovely sky to top it off. 

The view of the lodge at Many Glaciers was a picture-perfect sight, but the mountains over Lake Sherbourne stole the show. 

Smaller waterfalls, bubbled and flowed over rocks virtually around every curve.

Snow and ice along the road was equally as frequent sighting. 

Retracing our path to exit the park, we were delighted to see mountain goats and big horn sheep up close and personal. 

 Once again we had a wonderful experience in a national park, thankful for naturalist like John Muir and George Bird Grinnell, as well as President Roosevelt for understanding the importance of setting aside these lands for all.  

JULY 3rd

Today was a travel day so John Grisham entertained us as we drove US2 which was a good road with very little traffic allowing us to drive a steady 60 mph.  Having crossed into Big Sky Country, Montana, and Mountain Time we entered Kootenai National Forest.  We passed thru Troy, decorated in red, white and blue with banners announcing the local Fourth of July celebration.  This area adhered to the trinity to which we have become accustomed; river, railroad tracks and highway as we traversed the pass through the mountain range.  

Coming around a curve we pulled into an overlook where a trailhead led to The Kootenai Falls and Swinging Bridge.  We mindfully chose our footing over the jagged rocks and tree roots on the trail.  One mile walking, 200 stairs up and down to cross the railroad tracks, with quickly-beating heart we were glad we took the time for this gem. 



 By 3:00 the trailer was tucked into the wooded site at Glacier Park, which had a “No Vacancy” sign displayed.  After taking the time to square things away, we headed to the visitors center at the west entrance to Glacier National Park. 

Since we were spending three nights here we just spent an hour in the park and snapped a few photos of Lake McDonald since the sky was crystal blue. 

The touring cars were charming and the passengers seemed to be enjoying the ride.  Lake McDonald Lodge, built in 1914, had an authentic woodsy feel.