Sun Rises over the Missouri

Up early watching the sun and humidity gain ground here in St. Charles! "My sweet reason for living" has left in Duke to find a transmission shop nearby. Seems that Duke has been riding a little rough these days and we are a bit concerned about his transmission. First step, change his fluids and filters and hopefully fix the problem before it becomes severe and strands us, here in no man's land! I think he is just tired! He has pulled us for over 5000 miles in just under 3 weeks! What to do today? The town of St. Charles looks intriguing! It has many restored buildings, the Lewis & Clark boathouse and museum, Frenchtown (restored houses), shops and quaint restaurants. We might just hop on the trolley at our front door and head down town and check her out! Blessings, y'all!

St. Charles, Mo.

Arrived in St.Charles about 25 miles from St. Louis today. We will stay here at least two nights, seeing St. Charles and taking a trip into St. Louis before traveling on to Memphis! It has turned HOT,HOT, and HOTTER and we are dying! After no humidity and temps in the 40's to 60's, it is an adjustment..............guess it is getting us ready for home! Hoped to do some shopping today but didn't find anywhere I wanted to go...............can you believe that?!! Posting some pics of the past few days! Poor Esther was about to blow away in Nebraska!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Arrived tonight in a small campground outside of Cheyenne and greeted by campground hosts. Enjoyed a meal of smoked ribs and fixins prepared by the campground owner. Yum!!! Will head out early in the morning for our trek across Nebraska. Continue the prayers that all goes well! Blessings!

Day 2 in Jackson, Wyoming

Day 2 in Jackson, Wyoming and a Ride into Idaho
Again the morning broke cool and crystal clear! The sky is amazing here in the morning. It never seems to have a cloud. I arose early to the rest of the clan sawing them off! After a few hours of reading and enjoying my morning brew, the others rose and we headed off to The Bunery for a yummy breakfast. Adventures awaited us as we crossed the Teton Pass into Idaho, with vistas at 10,000 plus feet! The trip proved to be a bit scary though as Duke (our diesel) seemed to not like the high altitudes and didn’t want to shift into 2nd or 3rd gear! We are not sure what the problem was but it did provide some queasy nerves all around. The decent down the mountain with multiple 10% grades proved to be a bit scary under the circumstances. We made it back down into Jackson Hole safely and proceeded to the Carr wheelhouse for a bit of a nap. Dinner tonight was a delicious Rocky Mountain pan fried trout for me and an Elk chop for “my dear sweet reason for living”! Erin played it safe and went for the pork ribs. Erin and Keith are off again on a late night adventure, seeking that big Elk which seems to have eluded them thus far! Erin flies out bright and early in the am for Richmond and we will again hit the road. We have decided due to time and Duke’s possible condition that we will start east. Tomorrow our destination will be Cheyenne, Wyoming!

Sunday July 12 to Jackson, Wyoming

Sunday Night July 12, 2010 The Virginian RV Resort, Jackson, Wyoming
It seems forever since we had an outside link to the world via the internet or even cell phone, but it has been rather delightful! After staying outside of Yellowstone for two nights, we moved into Fishing Bridge in the middle of the Yellowstone National Park for three nights. This was followed by an extra night in Bridge Bay. We spent numerous days roaming the park looking for ‘mules as Keith calls them! On Thursday, we picked up Erin at the Jackson Hole airport and she spent the days in search with us. We were very productive, seeing 4-5 Grizzlies, one with her two cubs, numerous Black Bears, Pronghorn, White Tail and Mule deer, and tons of Elk, both cows and bulls! In addition we spotted beaver, pelicans (yep in Yellowstone), ducks, chipmunks (janitors as we like to call them because they clean up the crumbs left by others), and herd after heard of Bison!!!! We traveled over the Black tooth Pass twice, enjoying the 30 degree drop in temperatures and the snow on the top of the mountain! The animals were the highlight of the trip thus far! Sorry Old Faithful and wondrous geysers, you guys were neat, but the animals had you beat! Lamar Valley, Haden Valley, and the Beartooth Pass were all amazing!
Today was a change of pace as we moved into Jackson Hole and traversed the town. After a great lunch at The Bunery, (yep we got to go back tomorrow for the sticky buns), a brewsky at the Snake River Brew Pub, Erin and Keith hit the road again going back into the Tetons in search of the additional Griz!!! I decided to stay back and catch up on some laundry and reading! Tomorrow will bring a trip over the Teton Pass into Idaho, a trip to Teton Village and a dinner already planned consisting of Elk, Bison, and who knows what other wild animal! I am already dreading Erin’s return back to Richmond on Tuesday. It has been such a pleasure having her with us on this adventure! We sure wish Matt could have joined us!

Clouds Above the Rockies

This morning dawned cool and crisp, with clouds rising above the Rockies in front of the Carr wheelhouse. From my vantage point, new snow appears on the crests and below. It was 48 degrees here by the Yellowstone at bedtime, going from 100 degree heat just 3 days ago with air conditioning blazing, to windows drawn, covers pulled and heat on. This country is truly amazing with its differences! I am allowing my "dear sweet reason for living" to sleep in a bit this morning as I enjoy the solitude of the morning and my morning brew! Today brings Yellowstone, and one of the major reasons for the trip. We are excited to finally be able to enter! We are not sure what the day will bring, but it will for sure be new and exciting as these two newbies enter the park. Blessings, y'all!

Bear Tooth Pass/Chief Joseph Highway/Cody pictures

Waking up late in Billings after a busy day of riding through Bearfoot Pass and the Chief Joseph Highway! What a glorious way to enjoy the 4th of July. Thanks to all the veterans out there who have allowed us to continue to enjoy the freedom of traveling in this great country. Thanks to God for providing it for us to enjoy!! We are all blessed! We are moving today over to a campground 30 miles from the north entrance to Yellowstone. I may have a lazy day today after a puny day yesterday! Check out these pics folks! Even the mountains of my heritage don't compare to these!

Montana

Rode into Wyoming and Montana yesterday and after a trip to the Little Bighorn National Monument, arrived in Billings. We are at the first every KOA campground and it is a beauty! It sits on the side of the Yellowstone River with gorgeous grounds and wonderful people! After a walk around,some photo ops, good conversation with the neighbors, and a glass of wine, we moseyed up to Pistol Petes (200 yards away) for a wonderful dinner! Keith had grilled Rainbow Trout and I had grilled Salmon. We sat out and ate on picnic tables with new friends from Canada! One couple was enjoying their 45th anniversary and we all toasted to them!!! What a wonderful evening! I can't imagine traveling any other way. You guys who have never enjoyed the pleasure of RV travel are missing a golden moment (or more)!!! We hope to drive the Pass into Cody today, staying here another night, then will move to another campground for a few nights closer to the entrance of Yellowstone! We are getting excited to have Erin fly in on Thursday!! As for now, I am sitting here in my long fuzzy robe enjoying my hot coffee cuz it is 52 degrees with no humidity! Was it really 100 degrees a day before in South Dakota?

Custer State Park

beautiful black hills

Esther and the Buffalos

begging burros

begging burros

Custer State Park

Custer State Park

Badlands

Badlands

Badlands

Wall Drug

Trip to Walnut Creek

The soddy..............just like Charles, Caroline, Laura, Mary, and Carrie lived in!

Walnut Creek, home of Laura Ingalls Wilder athor of the Little House on the Prarie series!

Spearfish, S.D.

Arrived today in Spearfish, S.D. after a lovely drive thrugh Spearfish Canyon. Sitting in a beautiful city park campground along the Spearfish Creek. Why can't we do something like this in the 'ville! We have stayed in two very nice city parks thus far. Great WIFI connect so was able to get some work done!!

The photo is when we crossed the Mississippi with me wearing "Esther" my traveling YaYa shawl! Actually cool and felt good!

Finally the time is here!

The trip west has been eventful to say the least. Although we have had a multitude of WIFI sources, time has been at a premium. We have covered over 2000 miles since leaving the home base of Ridgeway, Virginia on Saturday June 26. From Virginia we traveled through West Virginia (by God), Kentucky (The Bluegrass State), Indiana and Illinois. The first night proved to be a Griswald experience at the Indianapolis State Fair Grounds! The Midgets had taken over (little cars, not people) and after getting stuck in broiling heat, we slept in a parking lot in 90 degree temps but Dave (Ramsey for those that don’t know) would have been proud, it was FREE! After a hot night, we were on the road early and enjoyed a big fat Cracker Barrel breakfast before heading out. A stop provided plenty of excitement after parking beside a truckload of bees. (Courtney, where were you?) This day provided endless wind turbines and then endless dairy farms as we headed into the Wisconsin Dells for the night. After a good pasta dinner, wine and conversation with the neighbors from Seattle, it was time to call it a night! The next morning started early (why does the sun come up so dad blamed early here?) we were “on the road again”! God traveled again with his arms wrapped around us and we headed to Walnut Grove, home of Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of my favorite childhood books! The museum was a bit of a letdown but, I was able to cross Plum Creek the place of the book with its namesake. It was quite a thrill for the history and literature buff in me! After a major detour which bumped and jolted us along, we finally were able to gravitate back to a “real” road and head on to South Dakota. Everyone needs to see Wall Drug, or so I thought! Wrong!!!! Been there done that at South of the Border in South Carolina! I do have to say that the doughnuts though were pretty darn good, so we had hot one which my “dear sweet reason for living” walked to pick up while I “made the money” and worked!!! Wall, S.D. is not the place one wants to stay in for very long, so after touring the Badlands National Park, riding among Buffalo and exploring amazing vistas, the Carr wheel house moved on! Our next adventure turned out to be a city park in Mitchell, S.D. home of the Corn Palace (which we did NOT see) and the biggest “baddass” mosquitoes thus far on the trip! Next day, on to the Black Hills, where we now reside! This is by far my favorite thus far on the trip. Beautiful mountains, winding roads, amazing valleys and vistas as well as more animals than I can count. My “dear sweet reason for living” has been my “Miss Daisy” and I have been HOKE as we traveled on the wildlife loop and graveled roads! All I need is the cap, and I am there!!! We have captured on camera, antelope (or pronghorn as they are respectfully called”), buffalo, prairie dogs, rabbits, burros, whitetail deer, elk, heron, chipmunks, and squirrels as we traversed Custer State Park! What an amazing day!!!!! We were back to the wheel house for a lazy afternoon, some steaks and wine and we will then see what tomorrow will bring. Heading to Spearfish early tomorrow and then to Sturgis, my “dear sweet reason for livings” real destination for the trip!! Sorry for the length of the entry, I will try to do better on a daily basis and keep it brief! I pray that God will continue to wrap his arms around us and provide a safe journey, as for each of you I pray for a restful and peaceful day wherever you are! Signing out to eat that steak that “dear sweet reason for living” has prepared and……………..a bit more vino! Blessings!