Wednesday, July 14, 2004
July 13
Oh my, we have really fallen behind on our blog. I’m sorry to disappoint you avid blog readers (if indeed there are any of you). We have been either out of coverage, or intensely traveling, such that we simply haven’t had time or access. In fact, I am now writing this in an inaccessible place, so hope to find a connection tomorrow to post it.
I’d rather be selective than comprehensive in giving you this report, but it has turned out rather long after all, so feel free to skip through to the last two most important paragraphs.
Last Sunday we spent the whole day exploring the Black Hills region in our trusty Buick, returning to the same RV City for the evening (only time on this trip that we stay the same place twice). Our first stop was Crazy Horse, which is the Native American (dare I say Indian?) response to Mount Rushmore, but on a bigger scale. The only part of the sculpture that is finished is the head. We told Marina that we’ll return with her for Lenny’s 75th birthday and hopefully the horse will be done by then, too.
Then we went to the Mammoth Sink Hole, which I thought was one of the highlights of the trip. An astounding number of mammoth remains found in one pit that is now both a museum and a working archeological site. After that, we took one of the tours at Wind Cave National Park, an enormous cave with strange formations called boxwork. We then took the Iron Mountain Road back to Rushmore which involved stopping and waiting for bison to cross the road, seeing bighorn sheep, going through tunnels carved into rock specifically to frame the Mt. Rushmore sculpture (and too small for our RV, therefore justification for having rented the Buick), and pigtail bridges, which is a bridge you cross, then circle 360 degrees while descending, to go under the same bridge, so taking a turn and descending at the same time. Had a marvelous dinner in Keystone, near Mt. Rushmore.
Yesterday (Monday), we returned to Mt. Rushmore to see the sculptures in the daylight, and then headed out. This was the “turn” … we now started heading west to return home. Our first stop was the Accidental Oil Company, home of the “world famous hand-dug oil well“, where we were shown around by the digger’s granddaughter. We visited Ft. Laramie, where they have done an excellent restoration. Seemed everybody who went west passed through Ft. Laramie, whether fur trappers, Native Americans, Oregon Trail travelers, Mormons, cowboys, gold seekers, etc.
Then we went to my chosen site for the night in the Guernsey State Park. My plan was to dunk in the lovely reservoir and have a nice evening away from RV parks. Unfortunately it was over 100 degrees, we were low on gas so couldn’t run the air conditioner, and the lovely reservoir was a few feet of muddy water since it had just been emptied for maintenance.
Lenny looked around our beautiful campsite, where there were no other people (they apparently knew about the empty reservoir), and smiled. I took a shower to cool down, and then sat outside (inside the RV was probably ten degrees hotter than outside), and nearly started to cry. Yes, my friends, I pouted enough to get Lenny to take me to the Best Western in Wheatland instead. Cool air-conditioned rooms, wonderful shower, and a perfect pool (which even Lenny admitted to enjoying).
This morning we drove to Laramie, where we visited the Wyoming Territorial Prison, which was another reconstruction that was very well done. They housed such famous people as Billy the Kid. Then we took the highway 130 scenic route through the Snowy Mountain range, where we actually were in snow, and made snowballs (this route was recommended by our friend Borden … great tip!). It was quite something to go from 100+ degree heat to snow in the space of one day. We found a truly remote campground here (to make up for last night, of course), and are happily sitting in a beautiful spot in a very small campground.
I should note that last night Marina had a little accident and ended up with a sprained ankle. We took her through the Territorial Prison in a wheelchair, which seemed to please her no end. Although she is recovering rapidly, my sense is that she is milking this injury for all it is worth.
I also should note that I finally spoke with my pal Jessica Prince about her birthday celebrations and was thrilled to hear that she and David got engaged on her 50th birthday. Congratulations Jessica and David!!
-- Donna
I’d rather be selective than comprehensive in giving you this report, but it has turned out rather long after all, so feel free to skip through to the last two most important paragraphs.
Last Sunday we spent the whole day exploring the Black Hills region in our trusty Buick, returning to the same RV City for the evening (only time on this trip that we stay the same place twice). Our first stop was Crazy Horse, which is the Native American (dare I say Indian?) response to Mount Rushmore, but on a bigger scale. The only part of the sculpture that is finished is the head. We told Marina that we’ll return with her for Lenny’s 75th birthday and hopefully the horse will be done by then, too.
Then we went to the Mammoth Sink Hole, which I thought was one of the highlights of the trip. An astounding number of mammoth remains found in one pit that is now both a museum and a working archeological site. After that, we took one of the tours at Wind Cave National Park, an enormous cave with strange formations called boxwork. We then took the Iron Mountain Road back to Rushmore which involved stopping and waiting for bison to cross the road, seeing bighorn sheep, going through tunnels carved into rock specifically to frame the Mt. Rushmore sculpture (and too small for our RV, therefore justification for having rented the Buick), and pigtail bridges, which is a bridge you cross, then circle 360 degrees while descending, to go under the same bridge, so taking a turn and descending at the same time. Had a marvelous dinner in Keystone, near Mt. Rushmore.
Yesterday (Monday), we returned to Mt. Rushmore to see the sculptures in the daylight, and then headed out. This was the “turn” … we now started heading west to return home. Our first stop was the Accidental Oil Company, home of the “world famous hand-dug oil well“, where we were shown around by the digger’s granddaughter. We visited Ft. Laramie, where they have done an excellent restoration. Seemed everybody who went west passed through Ft. Laramie, whether fur trappers, Native Americans, Oregon Trail travelers, Mormons, cowboys, gold seekers, etc.
Then we went to my chosen site for the night in the Guernsey State Park. My plan was to dunk in the lovely reservoir and have a nice evening away from RV parks. Unfortunately it was over 100 degrees, we were low on gas so couldn’t run the air conditioner, and the lovely reservoir was a few feet of muddy water since it had just been emptied for maintenance.
Lenny looked around our beautiful campsite, where there were no other people (they apparently knew about the empty reservoir), and smiled. I took a shower to cool down, and then sat outside (inside the RV was probably ten degrees hotter than outside), and nearly started to cry. Yes, my friends, I pouted enough to get Lenny to take me to the Best Western in Wheatland instead. Cool air-conditioned rooms, wonderful shower, and a perfect pool (which even Lenny admitted to enjoying).
This morning we drove to Laramie, where we visited the Wyoming Territorial Prison, which was another reconstruction that was very well done. They housed such famous people as Billy the Kid. Then we took the highway 130 scenic route through the Snowy Mountain range, where we actually were in snow, and made snowballs (this route was recommended by our friend Borden … great tip!). It was quite something to go from 100+ degree heat to snow in the space of one day. We found a truly remote campground here (to make up for last night, of course), and are happily sitting in a beautiful spot in a very small campground.
I should note that last night Marina had a little accident and ended up with a sprained ankle. We took her through the Territorial Prison in a wheelchair, which seemed to please her no end. Although she is recovering rapidly, my sense is that she is milking this injury for all it is worth.
I also should note that I finally spoke with my pal Jessica Prince about her birthday celebrations and was thrilled to hear that she and David got engaged on her 50th birthday. Congratulations Jessica and David!!
-- Donna
# posted by Double D @ 6:42 PM 
