Maggie May

Maggie May
Maggie May

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Last Two Days in New Orleans







We were super lazy yesterday and didn't get out the door until well after lunch.  We went to Riverwalk on the Mississippi River and strolled through all of the shops.  I am not going to lie and tell you that Billy had a wonderful time, but he tolerated it well.  We had planned on stopping at Cafe du Monde for a coffee and beignets but we filled ourselves up on Shrimp Po Boys and Catfish.  For dessert we shared a homemade bread pudding topped with whiskey sauce.  Yummers!  I will confess that we brought home some homemade pralines for a midnight snack.  A trip to New Orleans means a postponement of any diets.  The night before I cooked shrimp and sausage jambalaya for dinner.  While at Riverwalk we also bought a mix to make a gallon of Pat O'Brien's Hurricanes to have on hand when Brandon and Lori come to visit us in a few weeks.  Called it an early evening and relaxed.  I think Billy is rather disappointed that we can't pick up our satellite TV stations here in New Orleans.  Apparently, the tall buildings are blocking our view of the satellite.  He is not having an anxiety attack; however, because the Jude Travel Center supplies cable TV.

Today I got an early start and went to the laundromat to wash two loads of clothes.  After taking Maggie out to read her P Mail we took off for the Garden District of New Orleans.   This part of town bears little resemblance to the French Quarter.  Americans started arriving in New Orleans after the 1803 Louisiana Purchase and set up their own encampment, and today we know it as the Garden District.  The houses are a blend of wrought iron, graceful balconies, and Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns in the theme of "bigger is better" to compete with the Creole houses in the French Quarter.  For lunch Billy and I continued our regular "vacation" alien/"true story" routine and went to Voodoo Barbecue for lunch in the Garden District.  It is almost across the street from Emeril's restaurant, and it was very very good.  I brought home a white chocolate bread pudding for my midnight snack.

Before lunch we went to the oldest cemetery in New Orleans - St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.  It is considered to be the most haunted cemetery in the United States.  As we all know, New Orleans is situated well below sea level, so the dead are buried in above-ground tombs or vaults.  Most of the tombs at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 were designed to house many generations of a family or society group in the same tomb through multiple, sequential interment. Traditionally the dead were placed in wooden coffins in one of the vaults. The vault opening was loosely closed with mortared brick, and a stone closure tablet sealed the tomb. If the space was needed for another burial, the vault could be re-opened after at least 1 year and 1 day, the coffin removed and burned, and the decomposed remains pushed to the back of the tomb or placed beneath the vaults in the caveau below. This custom of multiple burial seemed strange to most Americans, particularly from the Northeast, but was familiar to French and Spanish settlers.


The closure tablet often names many names and dates from within the same family. If a closure tablet became full, it was usually mounted permanently to the side of the tomb and a new closure tablet of white marble was installed. One can read the history of many generations within the family, just by reading the tablets on the tombs.  One of the tombs was adorned with many angels (see photos).  We called Nanna to see if there was one she wanted.  Just kidding!

Many tourists flock to this haunted cemetery because it is the actual reported burial site of the legendary Grande Voodoo Queen of all times Marie Laveau.  Local legend says that when you are at the Voodoo Queen's tomb one should knock three times (to wake the dead) upon the face of Marie's tomb.  Mark the face with chalk or brick with XXX and then knock three times again and turn around three times.  Leave your offering and your wish will be granted.  I left an Atomic Fire Ball.  Think it worked?   Marie Laveau and her daughter's ghost have been spotted floating down Bourbon Street from St. Anne's Street wearing long white robes.  Her spirit has also been reported inside of the cemetery, walking between the tombs wearing a red and white turban with seven knots in it, and mumbling a original New Orleans Santeria Voodoo curse to Cemetery trespassers. Her Voodoo curse is loud and very audible, heard often by passerby's on nearby Rampart Street. Locals say this has started in recent years for she is alarmed by the many vandals and state of the cemetery.  I keep looking at my photos but I don't see her in them.  Voodoos of the New Orleans Secret Society report that her soul appears here in the cemetery as a shiny large black Voodoo cat, with fire red eyes. If you see this Were cat run! One New Orleans Voodoo Manbo suggests that upon seeing this Devil cat, cross your self three times and back away. One should never let the cat see your back. If Marie's spirit, or Devil cat sees it... you will be cursed for ever to do her bidding.

Often stories are told of Ghostly nude Voodoo Probationers in an eternal dark secret Ritual. Always after midnight and well into the early morning hours. With Marie Laveaus' ghost dressed in white presiding over the ritual. Nude Voodoo Ghost dancers, male and female can be seen and heard in an orgy of spiritual Voodoo calling down the power.

Many times fine china plates and cups and saucers and ornate silverware are found through out St Louis No.1 graveyard. Paranormal Investigators say this is part of the ancient wiccan practice of the occult. It is called the" Dumb Supper". This is a old ritual, a mock table setting of a meal and two empty plates filled with invisible ghostly food. It is usually a setting for the ghost and the a setting for the person who questions the ghost. This is to call the dead to answer your most sought after questions. Sometimes wine glasses or even bottles of rum and or wine, cigars or packs of cigarettes, bags of chips, or candy or even many times a loaf of french bread. All this can be found placed before many of it's tombs. Visitors think it's litter, but if you look at how it is placed you then realize it is a special ghost offering to the spirits of the cemetery.

Other known and unknown ghosts haunt this cemetery.  There is a ghost called by some Henry. This haunted Cemetery Ghost story tells that he gave his tomb to the lady who owned a boarding house to keep the papers for him if he died. Local workers for the cemetery say she sold the tomb when he was away at sea. When he returned he died and was buried in potters field. Every day his ghost is said to walk up to someone visiting the cemetery asking if they know the where abouts of the Vignes' tomb. Many a tour guide has related the tale of Henry and have said how he appears ragged and lost. And his blue eyes will look right into yours. The tall white shirt dressed man seems very real. Until he walks away into thin air. Sometimes he will tap you on the shoulder, or lead you to a lone tight alley between tombs asking " Do you Know anything about this Tomb here?" Then he disappears. Henry has also been known to have walked up to people at burials and asked if they think there's room in the tomb for him! His voice often appears on EVP's saying I "I need to rest!" And in ghost Photos he appears in a Dark suit with no shirt.

Another well known ghost of St. Louis No.1 is that of Alphonse he is a lonely young man and will take you by the hand telling you his name and asking can you help him find his way home. He is also known by some to be seen carrying flowers and vases from other tombs and placing them on his own. Those who have seen him say he is afraid of a tomb with the name Pinead on it and is said to warn visitors to stay away from it. He always has a smile on his face but is said to start crying then just disappear. Alphonse has been known to turn up in many of a ghost photo.  Do you see him in our photos?

Ghost cats and dogs are said to prowl the cemetery daily. Very near the great walls of oven tombs. None of these ghost animals have ever shown signs of meanness. Several Tour guides say these are the animals of an 1800's cemetery keepers guard dogs and pets. Often they lurk the cemetery waiting for their owner who was buried in St. Louis No.2 to return to feed and care for them.

I hope that these ghost stories entertain you for the month of October.  Billy and I were certainly entertained for the day.  Now we will relax some as we depart for Pensacola tomorrow.  Life is Good Today.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Jude Travel Park - New Orleans



We slept in rather late for a Rest Stop this morning (7:00), and only then woke up to take Maggie out for a potty break.  We broke camp and left at 8:15 for a 3 1/2 hour drive to New Orleans.  Jude Travel Park is a 15 minute drive from Bourbon Street, but not in the nicest of neighbors; however,  we are surrounded by a security fence that is locked at night.  Still, don't think I will be taking Maggie for long walks down the sidewalks. 

Billy and I went into New Orleans and enjoyed a cold drink at Pat O'Brien's, and strolled around the French Quarter.  I thought the architecture was absolutely remarkable and the people-watching was beyond comparison.  You can still see many homes damaged by Katrina as well as a lot of new roofs.  Let me repeat.......the people watching is superb!   After taking in Bourbon Street we made our required trip to Wally World to pick up a few groceries.  I have to learn to keep a closer eye on my grocery cart and Billy while shopping.  If he wants one box of frozen breakfast biscuits he will pick up two boxes.  My point is our freezer is the size of a large shoe box! 

I thought the photo of our "campground" last night was good.  I'll show it to the grandson's and ask them...."what is out of place in this picture?"  "Life is Good Today!"

Monday, September 27, 2010

A long day on the road

We got a late start out of Texas and traveled for eight hours. Mind you we stop for long breaks to eat and check the computer for a place to camp. We finally stopped at Camp Beauregard. It is a National Guard base in Pineville, LA. After a long conversation with the girl at the gate, she sent us a few blocks to speak with her supervisor. Seems they lock the campground and nobody had the key. The guy asked Billy why he didn't call for reservations and Billy replied that he had tried all day. The guy said "I guess that is why the phone rang all day. I did not bother to answer it."  So we drove on another hour or so and stopped at a rest stop. My State Lines application for the I Touch says that you can not sleep the night at rest stops in LA but the security guard said we were fine. Life is good today. 

I had to come in to this post 24 hours later to correct errors.  My laptop was not hooked up, and I was typing the post last night on my I Touch.  I forgot to mention that after the Camp Beauregard experience we saw an international symbol for a campground a few exits down the road.  We took the exit, remember driving a 747 and pulling a Heavy Duty pick up truck, and couldn't find the campground.  I ran into the closest "Stop and Rob" and asked the clerk where to find the campground.  She laughed and said that she thinks they put the symbol at the wrong exit because there was not a campground around.  Oh Well.

Last Day in Dallas - Sunday

Woke up to another rainy and rather chilly day.  After seeing the grand kids and telling them goodbye we began the routine of cleaning the motor home for departure.  My, it takes a while to tidy this motor home.  Gosh, just cleaning the 747 sized windshield takes as long as it did to clean the other camper.  Not complaining though.  As soon as we return home I plan to make a quilt that will cover the 747 sized dashboard to keep the sun from blazing down on it and cracking it.  I use Dawn (not the antibacterial) to clean most everything in the RV but the floors.  It is a great cleaner and is good for the holding tanks.  In keeping with the idea that everything in the camper serves two purposes, Dawn is an excellent spot/grease remover in the laundry.  The Swiffer mops are handy to mop the floors and you can easily hand wash the pads and use them more than once.  Guess the Swiffer mop only serves one purpose however.

Tomorrow we begin heading in the direction of New Orleans and eventually home.  I have never been to New Orleans so I am looking forward to seeing Bourbon Street.  "Life is Good Today."

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Ashley's Homecoming Dance

Woke up yesterday morning to rain pitter pattering on the roof.  It sounded like someone popping bubble wrap up there on our rubber roof.  Slept in and enjoyed the rain just as long as I possibly could.  I had promised Eric that I would take him out shopping for some new tee shirts to wear to school.  Wow!  I had forgotten how difficult it is to shop for young men.  After going to four different stores and not finding one shirt that qualified as suitable we treated ourselves to a Venti coffee from "Four"bucks (Starbucks). Since University of GA had a football game that we couldn't pick up on our TV last night we bribed Jody with a dinner from Kentucky Fried Chicken if we could watch the game at their house.  About 1/3 of the way through the rather embarrassing football game Jody's TV switched over to the Texas Rangers having a  rip-roaring celebration party in their locker room.  After snapping a few photos of Ashley out the door for her Homecoming Dance, we rushed back home to listen to the GA game on XM radio.  I know that it has been many many years since GA lost three football games in a row.  I still bleed Bulldog red and black, but there appears to be something wrong in Athens!  Get it together please.  Laure called us about an hour after we arrived home and asked to spend the night with us, but explained that she was afraid to sleep by herself.  I regret to say that I think my back is beginning to act up (had it fused in 1988), and I am afraid to sleep on the hideawy sofa, and Billy's feet would hang off the end of it.  I am afraid that Laure was very disappointed.   "Life is Good Today!"

Friday, September 24, 2010

Still enjoying the Grandkids in Dallas

Billy and I had a well-deserved lazy day today.  We made a Wal-Mart run and picked up goodies for dinner tonight.  We are having Jody, Donna, Ashley, Eric and Laurelin over for hamburgers on our new Baby Q grill, complete with all the fixins!  We had plenty of room in the motor home and a good time was had by all.  At least we each had full bellies.  Going to call it an early evening so we can go shopping with Eric tomorrow.
Not much news today.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Plantation RV Park - Dallas, TX

I know that we have missed a few days blogging.  Just found a GOOD place where it doesn't hurt my back to use my laptop.  Life is Good Today!   Tuesday Billy and I just sort of rested a lot after that hairy 3 days of hard driving and stopping the night at rest stops.  Monday was my daughter's 33rd birthday.  Where does the time go?  It seems like only yesterday that she was a newborn baby in Kailua, Hawaii.  I still miss those days.  We picked up Laure from 1st grade at 3:00 and ordered pizza for dinner.  What fun to order pizza and have them bring it right to your door.  We haven't done that in a long time.  We stayed at Donna's and Jody's house with the grand kids until these two old folks started to nod off.

Yesterday, Billy and I started working on getting the motor home set up the way we want it to be.  We have to delay doing many things until we get back home and move a few items from the house into the motor home.  However, Billy set up his X Box so we are set to play our video games.  I hung a 3M Command Hook for the dog leashes and one for the pot holders in the kitchen.  I also purchased a huge 3 ringed notebook and plastic sleeves to put all of the motor home instructions and warranties together.  Now to find a place to store the notebook where we can get to it when the slides are in.  Then went to Target and purchased a brown foot stool that has storage inside and also doubles as an end table and a table between the captain's and co-captain's seats.  It worked so well that I am going to buy another one today to use as a movable coffee table.  They are extremely light and only $19.00 life is good today.  I have read that it is a good idea not to purchase anything for the camper that doesn't have at least two uses.  Works for me.  Billy tried to purchase a new pin THAT LOCKS for our tow dolly, but couldn't find the right kind.  We'll just keep looking.  We picked up some guacamole and grated cheese and enjoyed a delicious Mexican dinner with Donna and Jody.  We visited until bedtime with Laure and Eric, but Ashley was off to Youth Group at the church.  She has homecoming this weekend, and we are excited to be here to share that with her.

While Billy slept in this morning I went to the laundromat and finished up the laundry.  We are preparing to go to the store to buy some carrots and potatoes for dinner tonight, and then we will pick up Laure from school again at 3:00.  We are looking forward to a pot roast dinner at Donna and Jody's tonight.  "Life is Good Today!"

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Dallas, TX

Thankfully made it to Dallas yesterday in time to see Eric's football game last night.  Eric is by far the tallest player on the team (# 71) and he played both offense and defense outstandingly.  They didn't win their game; however, it was a good game and they came away with their integrity in tact. 

Our tow hitch lost the pin (we are certain someone removed it) in rush hour Dallas traffic and we had to bully our way over to the shoulder of the road.  Ouch, but no harm done.  I just drove the truck and followed Billy to our RV park.  We are staying at Plantation RV Park about 15 minutes from Jody and his family.  Billy and I are here to report that the Dallas, TX roads are far worse than the Atlanta roads.  Unbelievable.

We have lots to do to make this motor home ours.  Praise the Lord, the TV's are working correctly.  Now, we have to get the inter net working correctly.  We are super excited about our plans to full time and our Real Estate agent even gave us a call yesterday.  We are mentally deciding what to do with all of that STUFF that ties us down and celebrating the fact that we will no longer have the responsibility of a house and yard.  Needed that house and yard while the kids were growing up, but now there is no need.  Gotta rush off to Wally World to buy some hooks and "stuff" for the Motor Home.  "Life is Good Today!"

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Oklahoma

I know we have been MIA for three days.  It took us all the day on Friday to pick up our new motor home, and we had hoped to be on the road right after lunch.  We are a day behind schedule, and we have learned that we no longer care to be on a schedule.  It is a schedule enforced by ourselves because we want to be in Dallas, TX by Monday night to see Eric's, our grandson's, football game.  We have spent the last three nights at Rest Stops and loved every minute of it.  We always wake up the next morning with parking lot full of trucks and campers.  The first morning I turned on our motor home heater for the first time and set off the smoke alarm.  I am certain the truck drivers enjoyed that early morning alarm.  The second night I am certain they enjoyed the smell of the dinner I cooked after we stopped for the night.  Tonight, we stopped at a "Burger Biggie," so I ready to call it an early evening.  The motor home is definitely the ticket.  Billy is a pro at driving it, and I am beginning to relax more.  Maggie is still a bit confused that her house is moving down the road, and she doesn't understand why I can't just let her out the door to go potty when she goes to the door.  We have a few more little things to adjust to make it ours, but we are very happy with our decision.  The photos that are with this blog are all taken with the slides in.  It is considered rude to put your slides out while you are staying free at Wal-Mart, a rest area, or just anywhere you dare to park it.  With that in mind, we know that it would be unheard of to put out the awning, the lawn chairs, and then grill a few steaks in the Wal-Mart or Rest Stop parking area.  I made the mistake of putting my clothes in a drawer that I couldn't get to with the slides in.  I quickly changed that around.  We hope to be in Dallas, Tx tomorrow, but I probably won't post tomorrow night because we will be at Eric's football game.  "Life is Good Today!"

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Ellsworth Fam Camp - Rapid City, SD

Missed everybody for a couple days, or was it three days?  Billy has a routine appointment at the VA Clinic in Pensacola, FL on October 7 and they could NOT accomodate our schedule by changing said appointment.  Long story short is that have to cut our trip short by three weeks and begin our slow trek toward home.  We will be leaving SD tomorrow and heading in the direction of Dallas, TX.  We hope to be in Dallas, TX by Monday so that we can be proud Grandparents at our grandson's, Eric, football game on Tuesday night.

Billy and I have had the time of our lives on this extended trip; seen so many beautiful places and wildlife, and made many new friends along the way.  Those of you who know us best know the "rest of the story."  We have purchased a 2011 Coachmen Mirada 32 foot motor home.  We pick it up tomorrow morning and if the walk through goes satisfactorily we will pull our camper up door to door and transfer our "junk" into the new motor home, and be on our way to Texas.  When we finally return to our home in FL. we plan on putting the house on the real estate market, downsizing our "stuff" a WHOLE lot more, giving the children even more "stuff," and then being on our way to full -time living in our new motor home.  We are truly looking forward to making many new friends, visiting new places and spending more time around our children and grandchildren.  The freedom from yardwork and housework, and feeling of being free from maintaining so many possessions has been exhilerating on this trip.  We want MORE of this freedom.  With the motor home we will be able to stay in National and State Forests, Bureau of Land Management, and Corps of Engineers Land much easier than we ever could in this travel trailer.  We are truly excited and looking forward to our new adventures.  "Life is Good Today!"

Monday, September 13, 2010

Badlands National Park, SD

Had a pleasant morning with Billy grilling bison ribeye steaks on the grill to go along with eggs and toast for breakfast.  "Life is Good Today!"  Then we loaded up the truck to visit the Badlands National Park about an hour away.  Yoo Hoo!  Used that National Park yearly pass again.  It has more than paid for itself.  The Sage Creek Rim Road has spectacular views and we saw plenty of bison, deer, pronghorn, prairie dogs and one eagle.  Bah!  Didn't see a bighorn sheep.  Really wanted to spend more time out of the truck; however, signs warned of Plague being in the National Park possibly being carried by the Prairie Dogs and fleas that had bitten the Prairie Dogs.  We had Maggie May with us and although she has flea protection we didn't want to take the chance of contacting Plague through a flea bite.  Also, prairie rattlesnakes are abundant in the area and again, I had on flip flops.  It has been much warmer these last two days.

More than you may ever want to know about Badlands geology follows.  Deep canyons, towering spires, and flat-topped tables can all be found among Badlands buttes.  They are the result of two basic processes:  deposition and erosion.  The Badlands terrain did not begin eroding until about 500,000 years ago when water began to cut down through the rock layers, carving fantastic shapes into what had been a flat floodplain.  The ancient fossil soils, buried for millions of years, became exposed again.  Erosion is ongoing.  Every time it rains, more sediment is washed from the buttes.  Evidence suggests that they will erode completely away in another 500,000 years.  On average, Badlands buttes erode one inch each year.  If you look at the buttes you will notice that the Badlands were deposited in layers (resulting in different colors).  These layers formed soft, sedimentary rocks, composed of minute grains of sand, silt and clay that have been cemented into solid form.  Geologists (what I will be in my next life) study the rocks to determine what type of environment caused the material to accumulate.  The oldest layers are at the bottom.   I will describe the bottom and oldest layer and you MAY "Google" if you want to learn more.  The oldest formation exposed in the Badlands is the Pierre Shale.  These black layers were deposited between 69 and 75 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period when a shallow, inland sea stretched across what is now the Great Plains.  Sediment filtered through the sea water, forming a black mud on the sea floor that has since hardened into shale.  Fossil clams, ammonites, and sea reptiles confirm the sea environment many millions of years ago.    Okay, I'll describe the very top layer of the buttes and leave it to you to explore the layers in between.  The lighter colored Sharps Formation on top was primarily deposited from 28 to 30 million years ago by wind and water as the climate continued to dry and cool.  Volcanic eruptions to the west continued to supply ash during this time.  Today, the Brule and Sharps form the more rugged peaks and canyons of the Badlands. 

On the return trip to Rapid City we visited the city of Wall and went to the famous Wall Drug Store.  Wall is a cutle little reproduction of an old Western town.  There are great shops up and down both sides of the street and the famous Wall Drug Store is HUGE.  I could have done some lengthy browsing, but Billy is just not interested in retail therapy.  Like most men, he doesn't see the point.  Stopped off at an RV superstore on the way home to purchase a new jack, and I ran into Cabelas to look into the "deep discount" room.  After a stop at McDonald's and of course Wally World we are safely tucked into our little RV for the evening!  "Life is Good Today!"

Will probably not post a blog for tomorrow as we are taking the truck in for yet another oil change, but I guarantee you that life will be good again tomorrow.  Thank you so much for stopping by.  Please leave us a comment.

Deadwood

Yesterday we drove about an hour to the frontier town of Deadwood.  Deadwood was known as a lawless town run by infamous gamblers and gunslingers.  Bars, brothels and gaming halls made up this tiny town in the Black Hills, and  Deadwood was home to legendary Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane.  In 1876 gold miners moved into the Northern Black Hills.  That's where they came across a gulch full of dead trees and a creek full of gold and Deadwood was born.  Just a few weeks after Wild Bill Hickok arrived in Deadwood, he was gunned down holding a poker hand of aces and eights.  After we stopped by the Visitor's Center in Deadwood and saw the ridiculous parking situation and the commercialism of Deadwood we looked at one another and said "let's don't and say we did," and we turned around and returned home.  Deadwood is surrounded by the natural beauty of the Black Hills which we had thoroughly enjoyed and explored on Saturday, so I'll post a few more photos taken on Saturday in Custer State Park and Black Hills National Park. 

We shopped at the BX and Commissary on base yesterday for a few groceries and necessities.  I went to the laundromat and washed two loads of laundry, and Billy cleaned inches of road dust from the outside of our RV windows.  He also cleaned the colony of dead bugs semi-permanently adhered to the front of the camper.    We had planned to grill bison steaks on our new Weber Baby Que; however, it got too late before we knew it.  Bison steaks for dinner tonight.  "Life is Good Today!"

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Mount Rushmore/Custer State Park/Black Hills National Forest

Our RV Park is close to Family Housing so I took Maggie for walk on the manicured sidewalk through housing before calling it a night last night.  It was a cool crisp fall Friday evening, and the children were playing up and down the street.  The basketball goals in the driveway, little toddler girls riding their big wheels with baskets on the front down the sidewalks trying to run over the little boys who were riding their dirt bikes and skate boards.  Came around the corner to see the house with about 20 kids and various riding toys piled up in the front yard.  That would have been my front yard many years ago.  It brought back many warm memories especially when I saw the soccer team practicing in the adjoining field.

Billy slept in this morning while I jumped out of bed and got into my GA football "pace."  It was not a good day to be a GA Bulldawg, but I am proud of our team and the integrity of our coach.  About halfway through the game Billy and I loaded up the truck and took off on one of our "excursions."  Following the advice of one of the campers here at the Fam Camp we went to Custer State Park prior to going to Mount Rushmore.  Going that "back" route brought us around mountain roads, and we were able to view Mount Rushmore in ALL of its glory without even entering the park.   The drive through Custer State Park is beautiful, and $12.00 gives us a pass to enter the park at will for the next seven days.  We saw beautiful deer, pronghorn antelope and buffalo up close and personal.  One buffalo was intent on walking straight toward our truck.  The park is home to as many as 1,500 head of North American bison.  Bison can grow to 6 feet tall and weigh more than 2,000 pounds.  The Pronghorns live mainly on the open grasslands.  The name pronghorn comes from the bucks' large pronged horns.  If the females have horns, they are small and unpronged.  These animals possess remarkable endurance and can run 40 mph or faster for great distances.There were many many side roads that we weren't able to take because we had to go on to Mount Rushmore.  It is definitely an all day trip. 

Neither one of us was super excited about seeing Mount Rushmore, but it came alive by coming in the back winding roads, going through naturally made tunnels, and viewing Mount Rushmore through the trees at a distance and viewing it in profile from the side.  Coming out of one of the naturally made tunnels provided a perfectly framed photo of "the faces."  Wouldn't have missed it for the world.  As Billy said, we wonder what would make a person wake up one morning and say "I am going to carve faces in those rocks on that mountain."  Crazy!  But "Life is Good (Again) Today!"

Friday, September 10, 2010

Ellsworth Air Force Fam Camp - Rapid, City, SD

Left the state of Wyoming today and boy were we in shock to see towns, cars and trucks on the expressway and HELLO - billboards along the roadside.  It was definitely "Country Comes To Town."  We saw a McDonald's and got all excited until I saw a sign right after it that said "Next McDonald's 250 Miles!"  It is $120.00 a week here at the AFB for full hook ups for a week, so we plan to stay here and relax a week.  I definitely had to set down roots and give Billy PLENTY of time to get that satellite dish set up so I can cheer on my GA Bulldogs in the GA/SC football game at 10:00 am tomorrow.  I am happy to report that the satellite is up and working as I type!  Go DAWGS!

We stopped off at Devils Tower National Monument today and used our National Park Pass yet again!  We bypassed the hiking trails and pulled the camper up right in front of the tower and had lunch at our own kitchen table.  "Life is Good Today!"  The diaries of covered wagon women that I have been reading each mention stopping and camping at Devils Tower.  I don't think the covered wagon women could visualize our camping here in an RV in the coming years.  Although I have read how they prepared their wagons in the morning for traveling, and it is not that much different than our preparations when breaking camp.  I definitely have a mental visual of how it must have been for them because I don't think it has changed that much over the years.  The Belle Fourche River carved most of the landscape that exposed Devils Tower.  White-tailed deer live in the wooded areas and we saw plenty of them as we drove through Wyoming .  I could spend hours watching busy, playful prairie dogs in their town on the grasslands below the Tower.  In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Devils Tower the first national monument under the new Antiquities Act.  His action made Wyoming the home of both our first national park - Yellowstone in 1872 - and our first national monument.  Scientists once thought Devils Tower was the core of an ancient volcano.  Recent data suggests it is instead an igneous intrusion.  And that scientific term is way more information than I need to know about Devils Tower.

We have a great place to park here at the AFB with a view of an opened field behind us.  Hoping to see more wildlife around our camper.  We inquired if we could wash the filthy, dirty and dusty camper and were told "NO!"  At least I will clean the windows so that we can see out.  "Life is Good Today!"

Little Bighorn Battlefield

I failed to complete the blog yesterday - didn't even plug up my laptop.  We drove out of Montana back into Wyoming.  Saw lots of antelope along the way, and stopped in Buffalo, Wyoming at Lakeview RV Park for the night.  The wind was blowing super hard, but it seemed to settle down a bit before bedtime.

Before parking for the evening we toured Little Bighorn Battlefield.  Again, our National Park yearly pass came in handy.  We have more than paid for that luxury.  To quote the brochure which eloquently states that "the Battle of the Little Bighorn continues to fascinate people around the world.  For most, it has come to illustrate a part of what Americans know as their western heritage.  Heroism and suffering, brashness and humiliation, victory and defeat, triumph and tragedy - these are the things people" go there to ponder.  I was astonished at the number of our Calvary who died there.  The Little Bighorn Battlefield lies within the Crow Indian Reservation.  Sorry, didn't take one photo at Little Bighorn.  It was rather sad to see the markers throughout the battlefield that said "A Calvary soldier fell here."    "Life is Good Today!"

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Last Day in Lewistown, MT

Billy and I leisurely crawled out of bed this morning and piddled around the camper until after lunch.  A trip into town was on the schedule since I needed cream from the grocery store, and Billy wanted to sport a new pair of cowboy boots.  While we were out and about we decided to fill the truck up with gas and drive it through a car wash.  We are now set to break camp here tomorrow.  Speaking of driving around here.  A few days ago we were approaching a crossroad as "the little old lady from Pasadena" hunched over her steering wheel that she had a death grip on came plowing through the intersection without even a sideways glance.  Billy was halfway into the intersection and slammed on the brakes.  I was furious imagining what a fine fix we would be in if we wrecked the truck out here until I took a closer look at the intersection and discovered that neither corner had a Yield or a Stop sign.  Upon further investigation we noted that most intersections in town are without Stop/Yield signs anywhere.  After that near accident Billy crept through every intersection we passed.  Archie explained that Montana law is a bit different.  Archie explained that in most states the car in the intersection first has the right of way; however, in Montana the car to the right always has the right of way.  Heck, it has been my experience that all intersections have some sort of traffic sign. 

This weekend is the Chokecherry Festival in Lewistown.  Per the locals here this wild cherry makes fine preserves, juices, jelly and syrup.  Choke cherry leather is still a unique, convenient, healthy and tasty snack.  The Chokecherry is a large shrub or small tree growing along water or on hillsides.   We can see the Chokecherries ripening on the trees all around the town and surrounding area.  Lewistown has been declared the Chokecherry Capital of Montana.  Nevertheless, I am still waiting to enjoy a huckleberry milk shake and buy Billy some huckleberry preserves.  As always, "Life Is Good Today!"

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Lewistown, MT - The Breaks - And Farewell to Good Friends

I decided to take a "me" day all to myself.  Billy got up and met Archie at his house.  I wondered around cherishing my cup of coffee and then went to the laundromat to do two loads of laundry.  Afterwards I cleaned the camper (took all of 20 minutes) without Billy being underfoot.  Enjoyed a nice long hot shower and curled up with a cup of tea and my book.  What a relaxing day.  It warmed up a little so I was able to let some of this fresh Montana air wash through the camper.

Billy and Archie took off to The Breaks for some serious male bonding time.  I am so glad they got to spend this time together.  The Breaks is quite a hairy drive up a wet and muddy one lane road.  Archie's truck looked as if they had been dirt dobbing when they returned home.  Billy said there were a few times that he didn't think they were going to make it out.  They finally came to a spot in the road that was impassable and had to come back the way they came.  The Breaks is beautiful with the Missouri River running in the bottom.  There was a ghost town up there with a jail, a whore house, a house, and a church.  You can even see where they tied their horses in front of the little church.  After seeing the photos I wished that I had gone along with them, but I wanted them to have this time together.

We had another beautiful dinner at Archie and Charlene's.  Charlene prepared barbecued ribs, rice and mushrooms, corn, and that wonderful chocolate cake topped with whipped cream.  They have been way too good to us while we have been here visiting.  Archie and Charlene have to leave town tomorrow, and Billy and I are going to remain here to do some grocery shopping and plan the remainder of our trip.  We are still having a wonderful time without being one tiny bit homesick.  Think a motor home and full time traveling may be in our future.  We figure that we would see more of the children and grandchildren if we full timed RV as opposed to living in a sticks and bricks house.  We are running it through our minds.  Today is my big brother's birthday.  Happy Birthday Bubba.  I love you.  "Life is Good Today!"

Monday, September 6, 2010

Mountain Acres RV Park - Lewistown, MT

I know that we missed blogging yesterday, but we broke camp at Glacier KOA at about 9:30 am and drove to Lewistown, MT to visit with Archie and Charlene Moss who have been Billy's Army friends for many years.  We again drove the entire distance without seeing a "burger biggie," grocery store, or Wal Mart.  As an afterthought thought I will add that it is VERY cold here.  It rained on us most of the day yesterday.  Archie and Charlene came over while we were setting up camp and we took off for a beautiful drive around the area.  There are loads of wheat fields around here with rolling hills and the mountains in the background.  I would like to be able to tell you where we went yesterday, but I only know that it was beautiful and cold.  Charlene fixed a delicious dinner last night of salad, spaghetti, garlic bread and homemade chocolate cake. 

Billy and I slept in this morning till 8:30 am then met Archie and Charlene at their house.  We drove through beautiful National Forests, saw lots of wind mills, missile silos (unmarked), mountains, snow, rocks, sage brush, and wheat fields.  When you come to the rolling high plains there is not a tree in sight for miles and miles.  We saw a coyote fairly close to the road and these beautiful antelope.  Stopped off at a little dive for lunch and had the biggest fattest hamburgers I have ever seen, pork chop sandwiches and hot dogs.  After our drive through this section of Montana we had a steak dinner complete with salad, mashed potatoes, and lemon meringue pie.  It was a dinner fit for royalty.  It's 9:00 in Panama City, 10:00 in Ga and 8:00 here so it is time for me to curl up with my book and call it a night.   Hip Hip Horah!  Billy just finally got his satellite to work here, so he is a happy camper.  "Life (Certainly) Is Good Today!"  Thanks for stopping by for a visit.