FYI

I forgot to mention on the trip that in every medium to large town/city, right along the Interstate (which ever one we were on at the time) had an enormous Cabelas store and a Harley Davidson dealer. Whenever we saw the signs we laughed. Those two businesses are doing well. Should we buy stock????
KT

Day 7, Friday April 10th

We had a great night in Missoula, Montana. Left this morning about 8:30am and headed west on I90. We drove through Idaho and headed into Washington. Arrived in Wenatchee around 1:00pm Pacific Time and enjoyed a "Dusty Burger" at my favorite hamburger stand that has been in business since 1955. Then on the road again and arrived at my mom's about 2:00pm. Since it might snow tomorrow or Sunday, Gail wanted to head up to the property so away we went. We also spent some time visiting with my mom. I think she is glad I'm here and she is going to need some help around here. I will add the pictures from the day next. Hey, Dr. Grieco's office , I miss you guys A LOT.

More History

Mount Rushmore was completed in 14 years and cost $1,000,000. Jefferson was actually started to the left of Washington, but when the sculptor realized the surface granite was too soft, he dynamited the face off and started all over to the right of Washington. The original layer of granite was dynamited off the cliffs to leave a smooth surface for the sculpting of all four presidents.

Crazy Horse Monument was a dedication to the American Indians. Crazy Horse who was also at the Battle of Little Bighorn with Red Cloud, will be pointing toward the Black Hills and the Badlands. His answer to the question from a white man, "Where are our lands now?", is "My lands are where my dead lie buried." Red Cloud, a Lakota Indian, says this, "They made us many promises, more then I can remember -- They never kept but one: they promised to take our land, and they took it! The original scupter, Korczak, hired to do the monument died in 1982 and his family which includes his wife and 10 children continue to work on the monument. It has been 50 years and so far they have raised 2.5 million dollars for the monument.

All this history of our "Wild West" is incredible. Gail says every day how different it is here in the west. Everyone we have had contact with is very friendly and interested in our trip and why we are making it. It is so relaxed and beautiful. The Rockie Mountains are now taking over.

Day 6, Thursday April 9th

Today was a loooonnnnnggggg day. We awoke in Sheridan, Wyo. to a very gray, drizzly day. We left at 8:30 am and traveled for several hours through rain and wet snow. Low cloud cover all morning. Around 10:30am we arrived at the Little Bighorn National Battlefield in Montana. Gail and I spent about an hour and a half watching a movie about the battle and toured the museum. We also drove the several miles around the battlefield and reading the placards at stopping points. Very interesting place. As the settlers headed west, they were destroying the land and killing off the food supply. The Indians resisted and refused to be put on reservations by President Grant. He had Custer and the 7th Calvary attack the Indian nations to force them onto the reservations. The Indians won this battle. But in the end, lost the War.

Gail and I traveled all day and stopped at 6:30 pm in Missoula, Montana at the Best Western Grant Creek Inn. Very nice and we ate at the MacKenzie River Pizza Co. next door. Had a very nice, fun waitress (college student.) Had a delicious ceasar salad and chicken quesadillas. I also had to try a local microbrew: McKenzie River Driftwater Amber. Then, I tried the McKenzie River Pale Ale. Loved both, Angela!

Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, Lincoln

Day 5, Wednesday April 8th

After a good night's rest in Rapid City, SD we got up early and enjoyed waffles and scrambled eggs at Perkins Restaurant. Around 8:30am we headed south into the Black Hills. It was beautiful, sunny and fairly warm in the 5o's. Mt. Rushmore was tremendous and we spent about an hour and a half having our pictures taken and taking other people's pictures. We also watched a movie about the project and toured the museum. They still have quite a bit of snow there. We then drove about another 20 minutes south to the Crazy Horse Monument. His head and face are now complete (unveiled in 1998 for the 50th anniversary of the project start) and we could see the workers and hear the machinery from the visitor center. They are now starting work on the horse's head. See Pictures. This center also includes a huge American Indian exhibit, restaurant and of course, gift shops. The Crazy Horse Monument is funded only by private sources. The Indians and the sculptor refused to take Federal funding because they didn't want the government telling them what to do and how to do it. I don't blame them! Gail agrees.
Got back onto I90 around 12:30 and stopped for lunch at 2pm in Spearhead, SD. We ate at the Cedar House Cafe. Ate sandwiches, but resisted trying one of the 20 pies offered! BUT we enjoyed red vines in the car!!!! It was a short driving day today as we stopped at 6pm in Sheridan, Wyoming. We have been driving about 500 to 550 miles per day. Today was just under 400 miles. pictures to follow.

more pictures

Day 4 pictures

Pictures: Gail in front of SD sign, Badlands, Prairie Dogs and Wall Drug

Day 4, Tuesday April 6th

WOW, what a day. We left Sioux City, Iowa at 9:00am. Hit South Dakota around 10am and the speed limit of 75mph. We drove straight through with a few rest area stops for Brizzy. We also gained another hour when we hit the Mountain Time Zone. Drove into the Badlands National Park - SPECTACULAR! Well worth the couple of hours we spent driving through the park and walking on some of the boardwalks and taking pictures. We saw many herds of mule deer and one area was a village of prairie dogs. They were hysterical to watch - popping out of their mounds and running around looking for food and mates. We continued north and stoppped at Wall, SD. This was after at least 68 signs advertising Wall Drug. (My family used to stop here every other summer when we would travel to Aberdeen, SD to visit my grandparents.) Lots of fun. We found great t-shirts and took some great pictures. Stopped for the night in Rapid City, SD and are at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel, nice. Had a great dinner at the hotel: we shared honey peppered salmon and blue cheese encrusted filet. Pictures to follow.kt

Funny Story

Yesterday, prior to arriving in Sioux City, Gail called ahead to a Quality Inn to spend the night. We could not find the Inn when we first arrived, so stopped at the Hilton Garden Inn to get directions. The customer service agent here chuckled and told me where it was. The Quality Inn had changed to a Rodeway Inn. Gail and I drove across the way to the now R.I. and it looked like an hourly rate, flea ridden dump motel. We laughed and drove back across the freeway to the Hilton Garden Inn. The reservation gal said she was expecting us and we all laughed again. The Hilton was fantastic: deep down comforters and foam, air chamber beds. It was a beautiful place right on the Missouri River which from our room we looked out on. AND they let us keep Brizzy, too. Breakfast was awesome! As Rich always tells me: "It only costs a little bit more to go first class!" I should listen to him more often. I love you , Rich. kt

FYI

If you would like me to know you left a comment, add your name to the bottom of your comment and it will post in the box. Thanks to all who have left comments. kt

Same Day 3

More pictures:

Day 3, Monday April 6th

Woke up this morning with 2 inches of snow on the ground and a wind chill of about 13 degrees. BURRRRR. We left Galesburg, Ill. around 9:30am and continued north on I74. At Moline, Ill. we crossed the Mississippi River and got onto I80. Traveled all day through Iowa, very flat with cornfields. In central Iowa we saw many wind turbines. At 3:00pm we made a lunch and fuel stop in Elkhorn which is the largest Danish community in the country. We ate Danish ham and swiss cheese sandwiches with raspberry mayo. So delicious, and no room for the tasty looking Danish pastries made by Stefanie. The name of the restaurant was Stefanie's Good Eats.

At Council Bluffs, we turned North on I29 following the Missouri River and the Lewis and Clark trail. Stopped at 6pm in Sioux City, Iowa.

Pictures include Brizzy, the restaurant, wind turbines and the rivers.

Day 2, Sunday April 5th

Off again, but a slightly later start around 9:30am. Said our goodbyes and headed west on I70. Just outside of Indianapolis, we experienced a severe thunder and lightning event. Some spectacular sights in the sky. Gail read in her book, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, about a great burger place in W. Lafayette, Indiana. Just off the Purdue University campus. It was an hour detour, but worth it. The Triple XXX Family Restaurant - a classic 50's diner where all seating was a formica counter and red vinyl barstools. We ate the classic Chopped Steak sandwich w/fries and their signature XXX root beer (and it wasn't diet.) Took a picture at another rest area when we arrived in Indiana. Also, included pictures of the flat corn fields.

At 6:00pm we decided we'd had enough of the open road and found a great Best Western that let us keep Brizzy and includes breakfast. We are in Galesburg, Ill.

Day 1, Saturday April 4th

Gail and I left Fairfax at 8:30am and headed west. Around noon we arrived in Morgantown, WV to say hello and bye to #1 son, Andrew. We lunched at a rest area, in the car because the wind was blowing about 45mph) on grapes, crackers and cheese. Arrived 5:30pm in Dayton, Ohio. I stayed with good Navy Friends, Bill and Jeanette Rudy and Gail stayed with her daughter, Sarah.

Had a great visit! Unfortunately, I FORGOT to take pictures of the Rudy's and us together.

Big Day tomorrow

I have my belongings packed for the trip. Rich and I will be loading up the Explorer tonight. I am so excited to start the adventure. Tune in to see what I'm doing and where I've been each day.