SharivilleLife stories from Shari

Today was  a really peaceful and pleasant day.  We drove up into the northwest area of South Dakota.  This area is mixed plains and prairies and piney woods.  Lots of tourism thrives here in this area.  They have spoiled some of it with non essential exhibits, but that’s only my opinion others may disagree and appreciate the commercial aspects.  Certainly the merchants promoting it all.

We drove thru Spearfish canyon and that was beautiful.  We saw 3 different waterfalls. SD waterfalls are far different form our west coast waterfalls. They are very pretty here just smaller.

We went to one of the best museums I’ve seen.  Its in Bell Fourche, a really small town.  It was a small museum , but was stuffed with everything you could think of from the 1800′s and early 1900′s. I took lots of pictures. Bell Fourche is also the geographic center of our nation. Its complicated, but if you were to balance this country, I don’t know why that would become necessary, but it would be done from this town.

We picked today to take the last long ride in our area here because according to the weather channel, and I don’t know what I would do without the weather channel, we had a storm front moving in and it did.  It was raining by the time we returned to the RV.  So we are snuggled down in our home away from home and listening to the rain drops on the roof.  Jerry is drinking coffee and me tea and I think I will make some brownies. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.            Hugs,  Shari and Jerry.

What an experience. Just one more GOOF to add to our list.  Jerry decided the route we would take today to the Bad Lands Natl. Park.  What a trip it was.  I’m not even sure how we ended up where we were suppose to be.  At one point we were lost in the middle of the Badlands, on a 21 mile long pink gravel road.  I was beginning to wonder if I should be looking for the yellow brick road and thinking there’s no place like home.  Two cars passed us and waved friendly like , I think they were as glad as we just to see anyone else.

It ended well, we just saw more of the area than we would have.  This state of South Dakota is truly gorgeous.  The Bad Lands are no exception. Its truly an amazing place. The rock formations and spires and valleys and mounds of different colors are something unreal.  I don’t think there’s another place on earth like it.  The geology is definitely unique, but like everything else it’s melting slowly away and will be gone one day.

The really fun thing today was the Prairie Dogs.  They are precious and very social.  They enjoy people.  Kind of like Marmots.  Their story is sad but getting better.  Their social system is very intricate.  They actually form towns and neighborhoods and greet on another with kisses.  They are very protective of their own neighborhoods in their towns.   I did feed them some pretzels and then realized it was not the thing to do.  Especially salty stuff, I was sorry.  One dog got a pretzel another wanted and they were playing tug of war and conversing rather noisily over the situation. So cute.  The park system has reintroduced the Black Footed Ferret back into this park.  They are on the endangered list.  They seem to be doing well , thanks to their main meal, the Prairie Dogs. But its a good thing, in a way, you know the food chain thing story.

Jerry got his wish and we ate at Ruby Tuesdays tonite.  It was a good dinner, they have a fab salad bar.  Tomorrow another day trip up to Deadwood, Spearfish and Belle Fourche,   they are suppose to have a great museum in that area.  I will be planning the route.  Hugs,  Shari and Jerry

Today was the best so far.  Where to begin?  Today we saw some of the most spectacular scenery I’ve ever seen in my life.  We went to Custer State Park,  which was wonderful, but getting there and leaving to come back to our RV park was something else.  We took the Iron Mt Rd into the park, while there we fed wild burros triscuits, that’s what I had on hand, they came right up to the windows on both sides and didn’t crowd each other and took the crackers so gently.  They seemed to enjoy the treat.  They are so sweet.  We saw antelope and deer and also Buffalo, but the buffalo we not as close and the ones we saw in Yellow Stone a couple yrs ago, so I was sad about that.  We took the wildlife loop thru the park. By the way Joann, they have wonderful gift stores around here.

I thought the Iron Mt Rd was scenic until our return trip on the Needles Hwy, this was out of the world spectacular.  The rock formations were unbelievably gorgeous.  I’m getting lots of pictures. There were several rock tunnels to go thru and one was so narrow it scraped the mirror on my side of the truck.  You had to honk your horn before entering the tunnel as ,of course they were one way, and like only 11 ft wide.  Only cars not RVs could travel these roads.  You park around here at a park and take day trips. This area is like no where else I’ve ever been.

To top off the wonderful day we went to the evening program and lighting of Mt Rushmore .  It’s such a moving experience. It’s focus is on the presidents, patriotism and the nations history.  It ends with a ceremony honoring our nations military personal.  It’s done in an outdoor amphitheater that seats 2500 people.  What a wonderful day. Tomorrow we will do Badlands National Park, one more park to add to my list of Natl Parks.  Well more later,  Hugs, Shari and Jerry.

Left Buffalo Wyo. early, filled up with 85 gallons of fuel and went to a super center Wal Mart in Gillette Wyo. We were glad to see a super center.  Then on into  South. Dakota.  Right after crossing the boarder the terrain changed. drastically. We started climbing into the hills and entered Black Hills Natl. Forrest.  Guess we won’t be seeing those pretty little Pronghorns any more.  Since they can run 45 MPH, it’s probably impossible to do that in the hills and forest.  I will miss them. But everything is so green here. After the Nev. desert, the Utah salt flats, and the Wyo plains and prairies, I didn’t realize I missed the piney woods.

Our RV park ( here for 7 days) is so pretty.  We were met with a flock of foul, turkeys and chickens running around the park, much to my cats delight. The park is only about one third full, the season is over and its so peaceful.  The nearest town is Rapid City SD, and it’s the largest city since Salt Lake City. We drove in after we got set up and had dinner at the Golden Corral, thought of you Tom and Joann. Jerry spotted a Ruby Tuesdays, so guess we will end up there one nite. The city is very pretty and people seem friendly.  There are lots of parks and greenery and old buildings.

Everything gets good reception here, the cell phone and of course my air card, but Jerry is having a hassle with the satellite. Think he’s tired and so we are taking showers and going to bed early.  Don’t yet know whats in store for tomorrow, so more later.  Hugs to all,  Shari and Jerry.

I learned long ago not to underestimate small towns.  We decided to take a rest day and stay 2 nites in one stop.  It just happened to be the small town of Buffalo, Wyo. We were ahead of schedule. What a delightful campground, we fed a flock of wild turkeys this morning  , much to the delight of the trio of cats, right out the door of the trailer, while watching a mother doe and her little fawn munching grass just out side the big window.

We left the cats to entertain themselves at the windows , and went into town, 3900 population.  We went to the local museum, for such a tiny town it had the most interesting museum.  We happen to have an affinity for this type of stuff.  This little town is very interesting, most of the homes are of the matchbox type and all along the streets right in town they all have rural mailboxes.  It’s very peaceful there and they roll up the the streets just after lunch, because we couldn’t find a place to eat, except, you guessed it the local truck stop.  This is big truck     country around here.  Actually the meal was great. There are actually still lots of cowboys and cattle barons around .  Mary, I bet you didn’t know that the first white settlers in Wyo were Portuguese people, then came the Basque People. The Plains Indians had a pretty hard time in this area trying to drive off the settlers.  There’s some really good stories about all that around here.

Oh by the way I’ve been calling these charming animals we have been seeing, Antelope, when in reality they are Pronghorns. Live and learn. We are back at camp now and it’s evening and the animals are out in force.  The Trio are glued to the screen door really enjoying their vacation too.  Well really, tomorrow on the South Dakota to continue the adventure.  More later, love to all ,  Shari and Jerry

What a riot, rounding up cats is like trying to herd them.  As all of you who know us know we travel with cats. We started with 2, Sophie and Ziggy and then a little fellow came to the door asking for some help, so he joined the family and was welcomed by the other two.  His name is . Scooby Do.  So in the AM, when they get wind of camp breaking they each run in a different direction and hide. They don’t like their crates.

After the roundup today we headed east having yet another breakfast at the Flying J, ( where oh where are the Cracker Barrels?) Talking to a fellow Calif. about the fact that you simply cannot get sour dough bread east of Nev, he told us about a different route to take on the way to Mt Rushmore. We went right up north thru the central part of Wyo, to Casper and on to Buffalo, where we are tonite. When we arrived here to get set up we had to wait for yet another thunder and lightening storm to pass. All along the way here the surrounding landscape went from sage covered plains to tree covered Mts. and back. What beautiful country.  We criss crossed the Continental Divide several times.  Drove along the North Platte and the Powder Rivers,  I’ve only read about them. The trees are starting to change colors, there’s gold, orange, red and yellow colors all tucked into the evergreens. Sooo pretty. All along the road were huge cattle ranches, mostly Black Angus.  This new route took us thru small valleys and prairies.  Some areas growing acres and acres of alfalfa.  Grazing in the alfalfa fields were small herds of Antelope, wonder what the ranchers think. Maybe there’s enough to go around. It’s easy to spot these animals by their very bright white rear ends. They are sweet.  We passed places called Crazy woman’s creek and Sandy Creek Massacre.

There is so much history to be found in the state of Wyo.  The Pony Express, the Calif, Org. and Mormon trails all cross Wyo. I can’t think of a better way to spend my time than just touring this beautiful country and enjoying all it’s splendor.  Tomorrow we make it to South Dakota and a whole new adventure.   More later………..Shari and Jerry

Well we would have got an early start, really we tried, but ended up waiting for a terrificly beautiful thunder and lightening storm to pass.  The wind was really howling.  It’s so nice to sit here in our little home away from home and snuggle down and sip coffee and watch the storm out our huge big back window. Finally we struck out because the word we got was that it was only going to get worse.  Left Wendover around 10:30 out across the salt flats headed for lunch at the Flying J and fuel stop in Salt Lake City.  It really was pretty with the occas rain squalls, the wind did slow Jerry down to about 65. All along the readside were the prettiest little yellow sunflower type flowers, they cheered up the dreariness of the ride. Got into Salt Lake, Jerry fuels up mainly at Pacific Pride stations, well somewhere in that city was a station, but where?.  Mary, I just prayed we would find it easily and so we did , almost immediately, It was  a miracle. prayers answered. It was a fiasco finding out how to work the pumps, there were lots and lots of big rigs pulling in and around us in the meanwhile, every station has its own particular way of doing things. We finally got the card to work. We put 125 gallons on as we had not fueled up since we lift Chico. Then up into the Mts. and to the high prairie of Wyo.  We saw all kinds of animals,cows, goats , large herd of black and white pigs and even wild antelope.  This is definately animal country. Very very pretty scenery, lots of colors on the Mts, green valleys with streams, so peaceful.  Here we are at a KOA, RV park in Rock Springs, Wyo.  Tomorrow on to Laramie and maybe we will stay 2 nites there.  We have to be in Mt Rushmore on Thur. the 17th.  So we are on schedule.  Hope all is well with everyone at home, thinking of you all, but really enjoying this trip so far. We are now 967 miles into the trip.  More later,   Love to all,   Shari and Jerry

Hello again, 2nd day of trip.  We left Winnamucca at noon.  Couldn’t get started earlier as Jerry was chatting with a fellow RV er.  You know , ” Oh yes, we’ve been there or Oh yes, we have to go there.”  Then to see who can lie the best about fuel mileage.  RVers are really nice folks.  We ran into 2 rain squalls crossing thru the Nev desert, beautiful, cooled down the tires, because if it says we can go 75  that means at least 70. We really do make the time tho.  All the way listening to the CD version of The Shack. It was a great book and now Jerry doesn’t even have to read it. The drive was nice , straight road, Mt’s on both sides with big billowy clouds over the Mt’s. This nite will be spent in Wendover Nev, right on the boarder of Utah.  Ate a great buffet at the Casino where the RV park is.  Elsie they had the most huge peel and eat shrimp, thought of you.  Tomorrow on to The Great Salt Lake and beyond on into Wyo. We’ve seen all the Salt Lake City stuff before so we will skip that.  Tomorrow nite who knows?  Catch you all later,      Shari and Jerry

Hello all, well what a first day, got started late 11am, going across the Sierra’s right at Donners Pass we ran into a torrential rain storm, so heavy the windshield wipers could not keep up.  We had lightening strike right in front of us, we were at the 7300 foot elevation.  Then on into Reno for a lunch, the we struck out again across the Nevada desert on hwy 80, and just east of Reno we hit a sand and dust storm.  Well anyway we made it into Winnamucca for the night.  Nice RV park , nice people and great soft serve ice cream, you know me and ice cream.  Tomorrow ” FORWARD HO”, headed for Utah , hopefully we will make it to Salt Lake City, maybe stay a couple of days in that area.  Oh yeah, by the way my wireless card works great, it will be worth the money just to pass on this saga. Everyone take care of each other, and tomorrow is another day.  Love to all  ~   Shari and Jerry