SharivilleLife stories from Shari

Such a busy,  busy day and I am exhausted.  First off we headed for the day activities at Mt Rushmore.  We ate whats called ” the Monument Breakfast.”  It was actually good, scrambled eggs, bacon, ironed like Kathy always did for Jerry, tater tots and a biscuit and sausage gravy.  We also had the best coffee and hot cocoa, yes, Angie, it was Green Mt coffee, they have good taste here. Wonderful!  We toured all the exhibits, saw two films, went to all the gift shops and took many photos.  We thoroughly enjoyed Mt Rushmore, and I’m sorry to be leaving, knowing I’ll probably never see it again and it is so wonderful.  I can’t imagine not ever seeing it, I’m such a history buff.  This place so instills a sense of patriotism and love and respect for Country.  The 4 Presidents represent the cream of the crop, and gave so much to starting our Republic off with ” THE RIGHT STUFF.”

Then we checked on the old time  train ride from Keystone to Hill City.  We were to late for the round trip for today, so we went to plan B.  Tomorrow is another day and the last day here also.

So then……….We went to Wind Cave Natl Park.  Well……….what can I say,  I can’t pass up a Natl Park at any cost, so says I.  The tour we took was called the Natural Entrance tour. 1 1/4 hours, 1/2 mile.  Now that doesn’t sound far, but the journey is through the middle level of the cave.  Wind Cave is famous for it’s abundant boxwork, not the usual stalactites and mites.  There is not another cave in the world like it.  Well it was beautiful.  We were down 290 ft. and there were 300 steps all down except 11.  It’s called a moderately strenuous tour, then exit is via an elevator, and you can bet I was on the 1st elevator trip up.  The cave temp is a constant 53 degrees, and let me tell you I was so warm that my glasses steamed up and Jerry thought because I was soaking wet, any minute I was going to panic.  Man of little faith.  Considering I’m very claustrophobic, maybe he had grounds, but I did it.  I must admit the deeper and further into the cave we went and the fact that some of the passageways were quite narrow, the walkway very uneven and the lighting dim, there were times I wondered what WAS  I going to do?  So I said to myself, self, you can do this, at this point what else was I going to do. So I made up my mind,  NO MORE CAVES.

Tomorrow is another day and how difficult can a train ride be?      Love to all,  Shari and Jerry

It’s not Sunday,  but this  is our day of rest from sightseeing.  The wind is blowing a gale outside with occasional brief showers mixed with occasional rays of sunshine.  Just looked at the weather channel and see it’s triple digits at home and here in SD its in the 50s. Jerry went into Rapid City this morning and bought an electric oil heater.  We left the one we had at home. Some of these RV parks have weaker breakers that won’t support our RVs  heat pump. Theres always a way around anything. Sure glad this is not a travel day.

We will do some badly needed house cleaning, vacuum and pickup and I’ll even cook dinner in today.  Hamburger steaks, baked potato and green beans.  Jerry will be thrilled.

I’m hoping this weather front moves on by tomorrow, we still have to do the day tour of Mt Rushmore and Wind Cave Natl Park. I can’t be this close to a Natl Park and skip it.  It’s so convenient to have this air card and not have to try to find places that have the Internet. This way I can send messages at 2 AM if I want to. Hope I don’t.

NOTE, some interesting stuff at least to me anyway, is the sad state of affairs with all these pine trees dying due to pine beetle infestation. All over this area while driving along we see bunches of red dead pines.  The forestry is now going in and stacking forest brush, what a job, and we see tee pee style stacks all thru the forest floor and they will burn these when the snow starts, that prevents spead of fire.  They are also thinning the pines so it’s not so dense and the trees aren’t so stressed and susceptible to the dastardly beetles.  Its a real serious problem here and the rangers are really concerned for the future of the trees.  Apparently south of Custer  State Park entire slopes are dead and only Aspens are left.  tomorrow is another day.       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.

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