There are a lot of pics below in the last 4 posts so check them out!
Today we drove to Custer, SD and checked into the Beaver Lake Campground. This one will be on the list too. Now, our site is not shaded, but instead we have a HUGE grassy area between our vehicles for the kids to run around in. Super nice. So big that we don't have to worry about Robby - he doesn't have the attention span to crawl far enough in one direction to get into any trouble. Heavenly. And obviously the internet is solid here.
This area of South Dakota is called the Black Hills, and the drive from Rapid City down to here is just flat out gorgeous. I don't say this kind of thing too often, but I really fell in love with this place almost immediately. Now don't get me wrong, the drive is full of a little bit of mini-Gatlinburg tackiness, but it totally adds to the charm. I wish we had more time to explore here...but as I like to say...now we have a reason to come back.
I could totally live here.
We went to Mt. Rushmore. Well, duh, you have to do that. And as someone with no penchant for MINDLESS displays of patriotism, I wasn't sure what I'd think. Well, it's really extremely tasteful and impressive. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Now of course we have a silly number of pictures...and as you're taking them you realize that you don't need this many pictures of the same thing from a million slightly different angles....but you feel like you should be taking them anyway. My editing skills will be put to the test on that one. I have to say however, that the most impressive thing for me wasn't the faces on the mountain...it was in the parking garage - a true display of just what a shrine this is in the American imagination. I had to walk down two rows of cars until I saw a second license plate from the same state. In our row alone were Utah, Alaska, Illinois, Arizona, Colorado, and us from Ohio to name a few.
Came back to Custer, ate at the Purple Pie Place...well...my Bumbleberry pie was good - everyone else's was not as good as you'd expect from a restaurant with "Pie" in its name. But we never expected this trip to be a culinary wonderland either.
And we're back. So now I am ALMOST caught up on pics - will hopefully upload another couple days tomorrow and the next day and will be all caught up.
Tomorrow is Custer State Park. Lots of wildlife and Sylvan Lake. Apparently had a big part in the second National Treasure movie...but as you all know, Nick is on my 'list'. So I wouldn't know.
Bye all!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Catching up on pics
Some pics from Day 3:
The legendary Indian Taco:
Cinnamon Fry Bread with Ice Cream:
The twins' view of mealtime - maybe I DO understand now why they scream so loud:
The legendary Indian Taco:
Cinnamon Fry Bread with Ice Cream:
The twins' view of mealtime - maybe I DO understand now why they scream so loud:
Farewell to the Badlands
Today we move on to Custer, SD and the Black Hills. We have really enjoyed our time here in the Badlands. The KOA here has risen slowly on our top ten list and now stands at #3. We will be sad to go but there are countless more adventures to come. The thing about this trip is that it teaches you the life skill of taking in the moment you are in - even though you are sometimes frantically planning what to do, you also become aware that you are enjoying what may be the only time in your life that you are in this place on earth, so you learn to be very aware and look around and try to remember.
Yesterday was a slower day. Mom had a headache so in the morning Steph and I took the girls back to the Badlands for another short walk. The girls again did a great job...they seem to 'get it' as much as a 5 and 3-year old can. We also took them to this ramshackle roadside attraction where they could see a family of prairie dogs. Fat prairie dogs...these things are living off of peanuts that people feed them. But we got to get pretty close and they enjoyed that.
After lunch, Steph, Dad and I went on a tour of the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. Kind of odd-sounding but fascinating. If I had more time to collect my thoughts I'd attempt to describe it but for now, just click the link if you want to learn more.
Earlier in the week we had made a grocery run and I picked up some ground bison meat, with the intent of using it to make chili one night. We made that last night, using the outside gas grill slideout on the trailer. We ate late, after the babies were in bed, around a campfire. Very cool. It was the perfect evening for it - once the sun went down it cooled off to a great temperature. We had a wonderful time. As dad said, that's why we do this.
Well, gotta run. If the internet is more reliable at our next stop I will post a bunch of pics as a recap. I promise. See y'all later!
Matt
Yesterday was a slower day. Mom had a headache so in the morning Steph and I took the girls back to the Badlands for another short walk. The girls again did a great job...they seem to 'get it' as much as a 5 and 3-year old can. We also took them to this ramshackle roadside attraction where they could see a family of prairie dogs. Fat prairie dogs...these things are living off of peanuts that people feed them. But we got to get pretty close and they enjoyed that.
After lunch, Steph, Dad and I went on a tour of the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. Kind of odd-sounding but fascinating. If I had more time to collect my thoughts I'd attempt to describe it but for now, just click the link if you want to learn more.
Earlier in the week we had made a grocery run and I picked up some ground bison meat, with the intent of using it to make chili one night. We made that last night, using the outside gas grill slideout on the trailer. We ate late, after the babies were in bed, around a campfire. Very cool. It was the perfect evening for it - once the sun went down it cooled off to a great temperature. We had a wonderful time. As dad said, that's why we do this.
Well, gotta run. If the internet is more reliable at our next stop I will post a bunch of pics as a recap. I promise. See y'all later!
Matt
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Quick pick
In order to upload a pic here, I need to wait till morning, shrink the pics by 25% and then hope I can get one at a time. Until next time, this is probably all I'm going to get to the site:
Badlands was great. Today we're doing something cool and a little unusual, which I will post about later. This is not exactly a 'do-nothing' day but it's our first more laid-back day so far. Right now, though, I have to go let the dogs out.
Matt
Badlands was great. Today we're doing something cool and a little unusual, which I will post about later. This is not exactly a 'do-nothing' day but it's our first more laid-back day so far. Right now, though, I have to go let the dogs out.
Matt
Busy day bad internet
So much to say, can't get a thing to upload. Don't have much planned for the morning, will try to post more then. A good day.
Matt
Matt
Monday, July 6, 2009
Morning
It's 6am local time and the old body clock is at work. I'm up before anyone else. It doesn't help that this far north the sun comes up pretty stinkin' early too. Actually, I like it. Reminds me of our trip to Mackinaw.
Yesterday morning I jogged around the Sioux City campground a few times - this is causing me problems now. At home on the treadmill I go slower but with more incline. Outside, at an RV park, things are pretty flat, so I had to increase my speed more than I am used to. Outside there's also no such thing as TemperShock Cushioning. Parts of my legs really hurt and are hard to move. Getting through the badlands today will require a strong dose of Ibu.
Random thoughts not covered in the last few posts.
Peoria is bigger than I thought.
Iowa has very cool and unique place names. Driving through the midwest can be pretty dull in that respect. So many recycled or plain old boring town names. But Iowa towns are like highway DIBELS nonsense words (shout out to my elementary education peeps).
The girls are really being challenging. Steph and I are trying so hard to not be harping on them, and to give them chances to succeed but they're just really pushing things and forcing our hands. I hope they can find their travel groove here soon.
People might be starting to wake up soon. Gotta go.
Matt
Yesterday morning I jogged around the Sioux City campground a few times - this is causing me problems now. At home on the treadmill I go slower but with more incline. Outside, at an RV park, things are pretty flat, so I had to increase my speed more than I am used to. Outside there's also no such thing as TemperShock Cushioning. Parts of my legs really hurt and are hard to move. Getting through the badlands today will require a strong dose of Ibu.
Random thoughts not covered in the last few posts.
Peoria is bigger than I thought.
Iowa has very cool and unique place names. Driving through the midwest can be pretty dull in that respect. So many recycled or plain old boring town names. But Iowa towns are like highway DIBELS nonsense words (shout out to my elementary education peeps).
The girls are really being challenging. Steph and I are trying so hard to not be harping on them, and to give them chances to succeed but they're just really pushing things and forcing our hands. I hope they can find their travel groove here soon.
People might be starting to wake up soon. Gotta go.
Matt
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
