The Begging Burro

Today started with snow flurries.  Yes, snow flurries.  Brrrrr.  Thankfully, the snow stopped, but the sun was still hidden, so we decided to visit Wind Cave National Park today and save Mount Rushmore for tomorrow when the forecast calls for sun.

We arrived just in time for the tour of the cave.  Apparently 95% of the world's boxwork formations are found in this one cave which is also the 4th longest in the world. Interestingly, the cave's recorded length of 135 miles (a three dimensional labyrinth that extends to 300 feet below just one square mile of surface area) is estimated to be only about 5% of the cave's total length. Miles of additional caving are discovered each year.

The weather improved a bit as we left, so we decided to take a drive through Custer State Park, which is home to Bison, Pronghorns,  Prairie Dogs,  Deer and a herd of non native Burros.  

The Bison grazed right next to the road, making for some awesome shots.

We then found ourselves stopped right before a crest in the hill...as we inched forward, the culprit behind our delay became apparent.

This burro was traveling from car to car looking for a handout.

He even poked his head inside the RV in front of us.

And, of course, he visited us leaving behind nasal mucous (burro snot) all over the window.  Keith had cleaned the windows earlier in the day.

He was persistent, making the rounds to everyone who stopped. Maybe he'll get lucky. 

The King of Corny - South Dakota

As you drive through South Dakota you see a whole lot of ----  nothing.  The entire state's population is 1/2 that of the city of Portland, Oregon.  

One thing you *do* see on I-90 are billboards.  Pretty much right after you cross into South Dakota you start seeing billboards like this

announcing Wall Drug and The Corn Palace.  You see these billboards, and not much else, for a hundred miles. 

Both places are complete tourist traps, very cheesy (and corny!) and a whole lot of fun. 

Wall Drug

Minnesota and South Dakota

We spent the day today driving through Wisconsin and Minnesota on I-90 where we crossed the Mississsippi..

and saw a whole lot of this and not much else......

Rolling hills greeted us as we crossed over into South Dakota.  We stopped just east of Sioux Falls where we watched a thunder storm roll in.  We all love storms, so we bundled up and sat under the RV park's awning and watched as the storm passed us by.  Bummer.

Re-connecting in Wisconsin

I haven't seen my step sister, Cristi, in, well, waayyy too many years.

She and her family drove down to where we are staying and it was wonderful to re-connect after all this time. We met for dinner and spent some time at our campground.  

Love ya Sis!

Cristi and I

Cristi and her beautiful family.  Issac, Ethan and her husband, Nathan. 

Operation Relocate the Snake

So, we spent the night in Illinois on our way to Wisconsin to spend the evening with my step-sister.

Upon walking back back to the RV from the shower house, Jake almost steps on this...

He was inching toward our car, so in order to avoid a hitch hiker to Oregon, we re located him to the wooded area of the park.

We made all through the southwest, Texas, the south and Florida and we encounter a snake in Illinois, of all places!

Random Thoughts.....

Just some random thoughts as we spend the night in Indiana.  We continue west tomorrow, stopping in WI on Tuesday to see my dear step-sister!  I'm so excited to see her and, hopefully, meet her family.  It's been way too long.


*We paid $32 for the privilege of driving through Ohio on some of the *worst* roads of the trip.

*Pennsylvania drivers do not know how to merge.

*The use of blinkers appears to be optional, nationwide.

*Doves are some of the most annoying birds--- ever.  They are everywhere, at every park location we've stayed at.

*Birds on the East Coast are much more colorful and noisy than those back in our section of Oregon.

*It is most excellent to drive with a potty on board (unless, of course, you are the one driving).

*The Pacific Northwest truly is one of the most beautiful places in the country to live. I am very fortunate to call it home.

*On a trip like this, alcohol is *not* optional.

*We have not had as much free time as I thought we would.

*A happy driver makes for an enjoyable trip.

*I could plan an entire trip just visiting National Parks.

Happy Mother's Day!

Silly Fun

We started our drive West this morning, stopping in Western PA.

The kids had fun on the drive with the sticky notepad pages that Gramma gave them.

And they biked around the park for a bit...

Where's Slippery Soap?

At the Statue of Liberty!

The Statue of Liberty and Grandma's House

We're winding up our week here at Keith's parents.  Keith grew up in a small, cute town with an awesome view out the back door.

The Moravian Church in Nazareth, PA

The view from the back porch

While here visiting the grandparents, they took us out to eat for lunch where I had the *small* cheesesteak sandwich.  Boy, was it good!

Nothing beats East Coast food.  

The family-the grandparents, the sister and her husband and us.

The only sightseeing we were able to fit in was visiting the Statue of Liberty.

If you plan a trip and you want to either visit the crown or the pedestal, you have to book the tickets in advance online.  The tickets will show a time for you to be at the ferry--ignore it.  We found out that it didn't matter what time your ticket said as long as you are there on the right day.   A big thanks to the very nice park ranger who informed us that yes, we would have time to visit Ellis Island AND the Statue.

We boarded the ferry on the NJ side--lots of parking and no where the lines and people that were coming and going from Battery Park in NY.  It was only about an hour and twenty minutes away and I was surprised at what an easy drive it was.

Our ferry

The New York ferry

Pulling out of Liberty State Park, NJ on our way to Ellis Island the Statue

The wind was hellacious, but the sky was beautiful.  I'm sooo glad we were able to go!

New York skyline

Ellis Island

More skyline

Being silly

The view from the pedestal

It was very, very windy

At the bottom of the pedestal

The chillin's

The statue and New York

This is what you see of the Statue when you are on the pedestal