SharivilleLife stories from Shari

I can’t believe I just opened my Coast to Coast book and picked out such a very nice RV park.  Orginally we were only staying 3 days, but even before the truck took a dive I knew we would need to be here longer. This resort is a 5 star Coast Delux.  It has more than 300 full hookups, a store, snack bar, great ice cream, and a club house with everything including a heated indoor swimming pool, which we will use with the rest of the fogies here. Very very nice  place to be stranded.

Today we drove around whats called Iowa’s great lakes area.  It encompasses Spirit Lake and East and west Lake Okoboji. We are at the latter and it’s suppose to be one of the bluest lakes in the USA.  Its definately a pretty blue.  We drove around all three lakes today what lovely homes along the lakes.  Theres lots of retirees around the area.  We stopped and had Mexican food, very good.  Lots of  places are closed already for the season, but thats OK because its peaceful here.

These are glacier carved lakes .  West Okoboji is spring fed, a georgous shade of blue and 134 ft. deep,  They fish for Walleye here, have never caught one or eaten one either, but they swear by them here.  They have some antique shops here and yes Angie, I did find you something very pretty.  There are some really nice old Victorian homes In Spirit Lake.  They also grow the most magnificent Blue Spruce trees around here and I love, love, love Blue Spruce trees.  Well home early  to relax with our feline family, Winkum, Blinkum, and Nod.  They are loving their trip and especially this park.  There are lots of birds and squirrls and folks walking dogs right by their huge back window.  More Later,            Hugs, S and J

We left the RV park and went into the town of Mitchell SD, to see the Corn Palace,  What an interesting place. I took some terrific pictures of this place because you would have to see it to appreciate it.  Every year they redecorate the entire outside.  Its kind of a paint by numbers thing.  An artist designs the murals and they various colored corn and grains are nailed and stapled into place to form the colored mural. Each year they remove all the old grasses and grains. Over the summer 3000 bushels of Milo , rye, oat heads and sour dock are tied int bundles and attached.  They have to wait until late summer for the corn crop to be ready, we got here at the right time they say over half a million ears of corn in half lengthwise and nail them in place. Really an interesting place , such civic pride and over $100,000 every year to do this.  It was worth seeing as I will likely never see anything like it again.

We drove on into Minnesota for 60 miles and them cut down into Iowa.  Its a pretty state so far, very green, around all the corn fields.  We are staying at a beautiful resort called Cuttys Okoboji Lake Resort.  It’s near Spirit lake and about 20 miles from where Jerry was born. Theres lots of lovely old farm houses and even more wonderful old barns.  More later,  Hugs  S and J.

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.