Mount Rushmore National Monument, South Dakota

Well, the monument was impressive. 40 years ago, it was just a quick stop on a long trip to Banff. They have a nice job or sprucing up the place and visitor experience. Still real crowded, still people everywhere snapping pictures  with little reguard for those around them, but the sculpture overwhelmes all the chaos. It is a master work. Enjoyed learning how Borglund adjusted and moved things to get to the final product. Adjusting shoulders, turning Jefferson slightly, cutting a shadow line to give the impression that Roosvelt is whereing his famous glasses, fashioning the eyes so that they all look more life like, like they look at you. Just magnificient! Dedicated to a bunch my favorite Presidents.

  

Hiking at Devil's Tower National Monument

Day 8 - Hiking around Devil's Tower National Monument in WY. We hiked around the base and did a lovely walk down the Joyner Trail which went out on a ridgeline with views of DT, and then across some bottom land and cirled back with a great walk through the praire. We are staying at Devils Tower KOA, which has a pool to relax at in the sunny afternoon.

 
 

DInner Out in Custer, South Dakota

The town of Custer,  SD features painted buffalo sidewalk sculptures. Right outside Custer State Park, it was our go to place for groceries, hardware (fixing broken grey and black tube hangers) and dinner out.

  

 

Wildlife Custer State Park, Custer, South Dakota

We saw lots of wildlife at Custer State Park. They have a special loop road for viewing and we saw lots of buffalo, and more antelope than I have ever seen in any trip west in my life. There are wild burros in teh park, left over from a herd that was set loose many years ago. Somehow these were not "wildlife" to the tourists who allowed the burros to stick their heads into car windows, who fed them carrots, and generally saw them as tame ponies. Have not yet, and when will we learn that this torist behavior is so wrong and is bad for teh animals. I thought this kind of stuff was done with, but I guess not. Wnder what a missed bite of a burro would do to a finger or perhaps a swift heel kick would do to the side of an SUV...

 

Riding the George S. Mickelson Trail to Crazy Horse Viewpoint

We road the George S. Mickelson Trail from north from downtown Custer, SD. Had no clue about the trail until we meta buch of riders who said, "Yeah it is kind of up here, but once you get the the Crazy Horse Monument viewpoint it goes over and it is all downhill to the next town. Who knew we picked one of teh best parts of this hall of Fame Rail Trail.  We climbed about 100 feet over 5 miles (so not real steep, but workin' it) and there on te right was Crazy Horse. We road on a cloudy day with dak black skies behind the monument but a bunch of sun on the face of the monument. A stunning view of what is finished and easy to see how great it will be when finished.

Of, course the ride back down was a blast, narry a pedal stroke needed.

 

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Took the scenic byway off I-90 and cruised through the Badlands stopping at places we could walk around a bit. Glad it wasnot too hot and there was a breeze. You could almost feel the dryness sucking the moisture out of you as you walked around. Not sure what exactly would be the best way to explore this area more. Met some folks who were doing a "primitive" camping trip into the country who said the night skies were spectacular. 

Minuteman Missisle National Historic Site, Soth Dakota

We visted the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site near the Badlands in SD. It recalled the roll teh missiles and the crews played in te Cold War. It had lots of displays about the era of life inte late 1950's and early 60's, including this mock living room and Lazy-Boy recliner and black and white TV. As I sat in the recliner, I asked Marsha if she would like to see how a 1950's TV remote control worked. Of, course she bit and I said, "Honey, go over there and turn the dial to channel 4..."

On the road - Folk Art in Wisconsin

Road folk art inWisconson

 

Day 2 - Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Animal artwork in Murals at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

On the Road - Ohio

Best thing about Ohio "oasis" travel plazas - $1 for 3 minute back massage, hard and mean and oh, so good for the long drive through OH. 

Day 3 - Indiana Dunes and The Misplaced Spre Keys

So Day 3 of our trip had a mission. We traveled from Indiana Dunes State Park to the shores of the Mississippi River in WI. The day before we left on our trip we misplaced the spare key to the truck. We looked everywhere trusting that somewhere in the packing clutter the key would show up. Nada. Our local dealer that we love was closed and we would gone long before he opened on Monday morning. We left with one key, clipped to a huge belaying carabiner and a bright yellow rope.

Monday morning we called in to our local Ford folks to check out our options. They said would need to get our truck and key to a Ford dealer so a new key could be cut and the truck reprogrammed to the new key. 

Our schedule outbound on this trip across the country is tight with all reservations booked for the first two weeks. We would have to call to a Ford dealer up ahead to coordinate a service time with our camping schedule to get a new key.  Fortunately we found Sleepy Hollow Ford in Viroqua, WI who said they could work us in this afternoon. Tight for them, tight for us, but doable. 

We slogged though early morning Chicago traffic, and up into WI with a plan to get to the campground, drop the Pod, and get to Sleepy Hollow Ford by 2PM. 

Google Maps took us off the interstate and onto state roads with two numbers then three number roads, then county roads with one letter then county roads with double letters each getting a little narrower. We went deep into farm country twisting and turning through tight valleys and up and down hills and by beautiful farms. Ahead there were clouds, then dark clouds, then dark black clouds and then, it opened up. Rain so heavy you could not see the sides of the road, and nothing really in front, as the heavy rain was washing in waves across the road. Could not have turned around with the Pod and gone even if we tried. We needed to forge on to give the Ford dealer enough time to squeeze us in. 

And then we realized that we were 

 out of cell phone range  and Waze had given up on us. We really could not supplant Google with human map reading as we did not have paper maps of county roads. Marsha reached deep into the electronics bag and pulled out the old school backup GPS to confirm we were still headed down to the Mississippi and soon we found Blackhawk COE Campground on the banks of the Great River.

It was the quickest unhook and go ever at the campsite dodging the waning thunderstorm . And here we sit waiting on the new spare key watching television and drinking free root beer provided in the showroom.

Kudos to Karl of Sleepy Hollow Ford, and the Steve Bowen of Bowens Ford in Eastford for helping us out.

Day 1 - Bald Eagle State Park, Howard PA

Day 1 - Westward Bose Tour. Feet up Bald Eagle State Park in Howard, PA.  Old friend PA did not disappoint. Lots of ongoing highway construction, green ridges as far as the the eye can see with peaks into farming valleys. Set a PR for I-80 with 10 dead deer in one day. Best 10 miles of the trip was the drive through farmland up to the park. We stayed here in the parks Nature Inn last year but first time with Pod in campground. Very nice flat asphalt spacious  camping pads with 20/30/50 electric (could use more shady sites) Water is at spigot a couple sites down. Bathrooms with showers and a lake with beach and boat launch. If it was not 93 degrees it is pleasant place to bike. Thank goodness there is a great breeze.

T-19 hours to launch of the Westward Bose Tour.

T-19 hours to launch of the Westward Bose Tour. 95% packed. Some personal items to pack, double check reservations and other paperwork, mow one last time, download any new podcasts while we are still on wifi, clean the house, eat those three New York strip steaks hanging out in the freezer, final check on pre-trip TV, Pod exterior, Pod interior, and personal checklists, hook up and run the departure checklist and wait on sunrise. First stop? Granddaughters house before she heads off for daycare for one last hug and kiss...

T-Minus 48 Hours to Launch for the Westward Bose Tour

It is crunch time! Our first major trip cross country in the Beanpod has been the focus of several months of planning and prepping. Now we are down to it. Checklists expand and items get checked off only to see the lists expand again. Life in an amazingly cool and rainy New England spring has exploded into a spate of early summer weather, but the cool weather has delayed the strawberry season and we will be gone before the berries are ripe and only a few steps away from a picking basket, a biscuit and a dollop of whipped cream. Not to be this summer but we are confident to find some on the road. No more writing this AM, it is time to get our collective rears in gears....

Chapter Three - Podding ON!

Ok, so you are going to have to fast forward a bit. Our last post was in March of 2016. We intended to do more blogging and posting bit life is just life. Quick summary:

- Bought an RV, a 2016 Forest River R-Pod 178 which we have named - The Beanpod
- We travelled th KY for Tom and Suzanne's Wedding in May 2016, checking out C&O Canal Trail, GAP Trail and Ohiopyle.
- Took the Pod to Bike Virginia and dis some excellent riding in the Shenandoah Valley.

- Celebrated the arrival of Evelyn Lois Stolz on July 25, 2016

- Bean Pod had ro go back to the factory to repair a leakiy roof, curbbing RV activities for the summer.
- We visited Acadia National Park, tent camping. Enjoyed the park, the carriage roads with our bikes and kayaking on Echo Lake.
- In spring of 2017 we did a long Pod trip to Gettysburg National Battle Field, drove down the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive, to a Pod Rally on Jekyll Island, GA. We returned by stopping at Charolette NC to visit Marsha's Uncle Jacka nd Aunt Betty. We continued to Damascus, VA aka "Trail Town" where the AT crosses. We rode the Virginia Creeper Trail.

-Celebrated the departure or Lyn Argersinger, Marsha's mom at 92, in May.

I should add that there have been a bunch of shorter Pod trips to RI and in CT, and a a few trips to visit with Janice and Dave Shannon at Wolfeboro.

And now, we are on the verge of another longer summer trip. It is our 40th anniversary coming in September and in July we will take a 7 day cruise to Alaska from Seattle. To get there we will drive the Beanpod through the Badlands, stop in Wallowa County to see Rick, Doug and Jodi will come for the July 4th holiday, and we will return to Spokane with them. We leave the Beanpod there and swing through Vancouver with Doug and Jodi who will be on the same cruise but on a different ship.

So, now 10 days out, we pick up the typing again to post our way across the USA!