Dec 3 - Jan 1 - Randolph AFB, Canyon Lake, TX

December brought lots of visiting with friends and celebrations with family.

Our visit with Roseann's former workmate, Karolyn Mau & her family was a treat for sure. Karolyn, AKA Frau Mau, runs the best bakery in Columbus,TX. Besides baked goods there are the breakfast burritos. A great taste for sure. What a day is was. We spent most of the day touring the area with Karolyn and 2 of their children.

John, her husband and former NM Air National Guard pilot, is also quite the entrepreneur. He is producing custom made coolers with fantastic "plasma cut" metal logos of your choosing. When we get our next "Stick & Brick", John's cooler will be in our backyard for sure.

We then spent some time visiting their home in the hills. What a beautiful place to raise her children. Lots of room to run, family nearby and animals to great them everyday.

Then it was the special occasion of helping celebrate our granddaughter's 16th birthday. Her mom and dad blessed her with a teenagers dream, a small pickup truck. Oh well, another teenager on the road. Watch out! They had a big barbecue for our granddaughter and friends. My son-in-law, Marshall, sure can cook some great tasting ribs & venison sausage. We all ate very well that night.

Lester and Rose Graham brought tons of memories and laughter. Tim worked with Lester in the MICU at the VA Medical Center in San Antonio, TX back in the 83-84. What memories of those nights working with the veterans who had served our country. We shared a great discovery, Lucky's in Canyon Lake, with them on that day. Really, the bread pudding at Lucky's is something worth traveling there for. It was big enough for all of us to share. Fabulously delicious.

Time is passing quickly for sure. It's Christmas time already and we're off to visit our friends, Roger & Marilyn Parker, and take in the Christmas light show in Whimberly, TX. What a great night. There were Christmas carolers, hot dog roasting, hot chocolate, somemores and the Christmas lights all put up by different organizations in the town. The highlight of the night though was when Roger asked Tim to him raise the service flags at the Vietnam Memorial there. Roger was one of the people instrumental in getting the memorial built. Thank you Roger. You are truly an American hero.

Our travels have brought us new friends too. We first met Alan & Ann Morrison in Colorado just before they started their Full Timing journey. Our paths have crossed again with their stop here in Austin,TX. We spent the afternoon visiting the Air Museum in San Marcos,TX and sharing lunch. Great times with fellow FT'ers. We look forward to seeing them again in our travels.

Christmas Day was spent with my son-in-law's family. What a holiday treat it was for us to see his family again. I can't believe we drove that much though. It was especially great seeing his grandmother Noreen. God has blessed her well.

Work continued to address the shrinking level of Canyon Lake. There was an additional 20' of concrete added to make sure that the fishing pier stayed accessable to the millitary personal able to use the Ft Sam Houston facilities. Hopefully they'll start to get rain to regain some water in the lake.

And so it was to come, the end of our visit with our daughter, Marshall and the family. We spent our last night with them at the resteraunt laughing and enjoying some more good food. What a great time we had with them these past months. We look forward to our next visit with them.








As a final note, one of our goals during our travels is to find unique dining places around the country. Besides Lucky's in Canyon Lake, we found Mrs. Bush's Pies near the damn and the there was Flapjack's in Sattler, TX. Pancakes like you've never had before. We'll definitely be back for more.

December 1 -2 - Ft Sam Houston, Canyon Lake, TX

Our move here was part of the game. Part of the rules imposed by some of the FamCamps is that you have a maximum time to stay without moving. Well, here the rule is 30 days. So we decided to move for two days so that we wouldn't have to start the New Year out by having to move from the Randolph FamCamp.

Ft. Sam Houston RV park is a little closer to fishing so it's not a bad move at all. Now it takes me all of two minutes to get down to the fishing dock. As you can see the fishing was great.

November 1 - 30 - Randolph AFB, Canyon Lake, TX

We came here to Canyon Lake, TX to spend the the holidays with our oldest daughter, Jean, and her family. We stayed at the Randolph AFB FamCamp. What a wonderful place. Our spot was nestled in the trees with great protection from the wind and cold.

It also was visited each day by a group of deer. It was so much fun watching them interact. They protect the young until a certain time. Then they are treated just like other adults. The dominent doe seemed to rule until "big daddy" buck came around.

There were also great trails to walk on anytime of the day. One would always be able see some deer grazing and only stopping to acknowledge your presence. It started to help get us back into shape. It's just too easy to sit around and do nothing.

This is the longest time that we planned to spend, so far, in one place since we started our Full Time RV travels. It gave us a time to reconnect with our grandchildren and their lives. They have turned into fine young adults before we knew it. Such a treat to see them.
Enjoying the sites, sounds and smells of this world is what we work each day to accomplish. One of the sights that we were privileged to witness was the Monarch Butterfly migration. The trails along the Guadalupe River were filled with the butterflys. They looked like "grape clusters" hanging from the trees. Absolutely awesome sights witnessed.

There was also the fall season changing of the leaves. We found out about the "Lost Maples State Natural Area, Vanderpool, TX. We decided to make the day trip and what a trip. The colors were really awesome. then there was the stopping for lunch and a great tasting piece of pie. I think that's the best part of all these travels, the food experience.

We were also able to reconnect with friends from our time in the early 80's that we spent in San Antonio. Chris and her "beau", and Roger & Marilyn to start with. Great times shared with great friends. It was really fun to see the kids and how they've grown up. It was wonderful to sit and share life's experiences with each and every one of our friends. What full lives each has lived thus far. So much fun reliving the old times, seeing how much has changed and how much is still the same. We are so grateful to our friends for sharing their time and lives with us.

Last but not least, I was able to do "some" fishing and enjoy the company of some new friends. It was sooooo nice being only five minutes from some great fishing. Canyon Lake is like all the rest in the area, low and getting lower. That area of Texas was 17" short of annual rainfall and the lake showed it. Just during the time that we were there, the was a huge drop in the lake's level. It's really sad to see it happen. Hopefully they will get rain up north so that the lake can recover. I was told tht last year it was really high and the drop I saw was just over the last year. Scarry when you stop to think how vital water is to our survival. All in all I caught enough fish to feed all seven of us many meals. The 22" catfish was just one of the many catfish, bass, crappie, & perch. We ate more fresh fish than ever before.

This was an exciting time for Roseann & I. November is a very busy month for us to celebrate much. This was the first time in many years that we were able to spend this time of celebrations with our family here in Texas. What a treat.

The first special occasion was Tim's ??? birthday. This one was extra special because it was the first one he celebrated as a retired person. Yes, he finally decided to "retire" but he'll still work when it comes his way. He's just not the type to sit around and do nothing.

The next special occasion was Thanksgiving. My mom, Eleanore, came to visit from Albuquerque for a week over the holiday. We are always glad to have her with us. She had a special time feeding the deer each day. She couldn't believe that they would come so close to the RV. The deer would wait for her each morning and night. If she was late, they would stomp their feet in the hopes that she'd hurry up with food. A treasured moment for sure.We spent the day at Marshall's sisters house and ate and ate and ate. Such great cooks, Christy & Marshall. They'll never starve, for sure. This is Jean, grandma & Marshall enjoying the moment together.
Then came our wedding anniversary, 44 years. We have been so blessed during that time. Up & downs but great times never the less. A special day and time for sure. I'm definitely still in love with this special woman.

October 20 - 31 - Ft Hood, TX

Sunrise from our RV at Belton Lake, Ft Hood, TX was a beautiful site. Ft. Hood, so I was told, is the 2nd largest Army base in the U.S and I believe it. This place is massive. It's also a pleasant place to visit. When passing through the gates, you are greated by the guard with "Welcome to a great place". When shopping, the same greeting and thanks is given by the cashiers. They make your stay very pleasant.


Then at 0100 hrs, when you hear the "sound of freedom" at work, you don't mind so much. Yes, we awoke one night to the booming sound of ordinance going off in the distance. Bombs, missles, or gernades. We couldn't tell except that they were there and we could hear it. We just listened for a few moments and then rolled over a went back to sleep.



We took some time to visit the Army's museum complete with tanks and helicopters. As I laughingly told my retired army friend, Col. Arnie Sargeant, here we are at the home of the calvery and I didn't see one horse except for the iron one's.



We also attended a say for retiree's. They had a very complete health fair with all types of screening. Rose found out that I really am part deaf and not just tuning her out. I sure was greatful for that bit of news.



They had a very well equipped gym that we used too. It was nice to get into the water and swim. One day we may be able to swim as far as our grandchildren. I have a lot of work to do, for sure.





I also got to try my hand at some fishing at Belton Lake. My 1st days catch wasn't a belly filler but it was a start. We wound up full meals of perch and more than enough catfish for us. It's a fun way for me to reconnect with the kid inside of me.

If you ever get the chanch to come through here during the holiday season, be sure to check out the holiday lights. We were able to watch the setup and testing and it sure is impressive. I was told that this time of year is a high spot in the lives around Ft. Hood. It brings people from all over to see the display.

October 17 -19 - Lake Whitney, TX

Part of the reason that Roseann and I are on this journey is to look at other areas of the country for a possible retirement spot to settle down. We are trying to keep a list of places that are interesting and fill our other requirements for a place to lower our RV jacks for a final time. One place that had been recommended to us is Lake Whitney, TX so we decided to see for ourselves. Our friends were right. This place has possibilities. Great fishing, quiet, and still close to children, for right now.

You can get information about the site at http://www.lwrvcommunity.com/LWRVmain.htm and see for yourself why we like it. We were able to attend an owners community meeting and learn more about the people and the community.

Then there's the other part of the reason for our travels. To reconnect with friends and that we did. Lorne & Shelly Waters came down from Dallas to visit for the day. Their son Blake had other ideas for having fun than to sit down with us "old folks". What a wonderful day. We look forward to seeing them and traveling with them in the future. Never a dull moment.

Sept 17 - Oct 17 - Canyon Lake, TX

Life at Canyon Lake has been good. We are 9 miles from Jean & Marshall's house so visiting has been great. Jessica is a lot better now and back in school full time. She has a lot of catching up to do.

Roseann and I are settling into a daily routine of waking up to the sights and sounds of the beauty of the surrounding area. Morning walks around the park have been very enjoyable. During the week we have had this place pretty much to ourselves. The only other people here have been a few other retirees like ourselves and the workers. It's been good for the spirit to be free of the stresses from our past working times.

Besides all the new people we've met, we have our daily visit from our park residents. We've had as many as 11 deer in our backyard at one time. Being that we've lived in the city all our lives, this has been a real treat for us. It has been very interesting watching them interact as a group. It'll be fun to see how much they will have grown by the time we leave here in January.

We've been able to reconnect with some of our friends from when we lived here before. We spent a wonderful evening with Roger and Marilyn Parker of Whimberly, TX. It was a time for catching up on all the family happenings and happenings there were. They moved into their home from the cabin we last stayed in. Roger and Marilyn did a superb job designing and building it. From the second you walk in you know you are welcome in a house the God helped build. Truly great friends.

Then there was our picnic day with Chris Hassen and her work mates from Ft Sam Houston. Chris and Roseann go back to the days at Incarnate Word College and Santa Rosa Children's Hospital. It seems like forever ago but then again only yesterday. We've known Chris for about 25 years now. We've watched her family grow to include grandchildren and the joys they bring. It was a great time to catch up on all the happenings in her life and listen to her dreams for the future. We've been blessed having Chris be a part of our lives.

We are looking forward to catching up with other friends in the San Antonio area and being with Cris and Roger & Marilyn again during the coming months.

September 18th - Texas Style Bar-B-Que

We are now in New Braunfels, Texas for a while. Our granddaughter, Jessica, had recently been ill and in the hospital in Houston. We decided that we were coming down here to see her and help out. She also had the excitement of riding out Hurricane Ike in the Houston hospital's ICU. According to her, that's one thing definitely off her bucket list. She's doing a lot better now.



Jean, Marshall, Mac & Jessica belong to the New Braunfels Schuetzen Verein Shooting club. It was originally organized July 4, 1849. They took us out to a practice shoot Friday, Sept 18th and I was introduced to what I believe to be the best grilling machine ever made. It's made from an old propane tank with a lot of ingenuity.










I was also able to try my hand at shooting. My hat is off to Marshall. He's a great shooter and teacher. These guys take this sport real serious. I was amazed at some of the guns they had. To check out their activities, go to http://www.nbsv.org/

August 29th - Sept. 4th - Pendaries RV Park

The gathering of friends took place in Pendaries RV Park. We stayed for a week and just tried to get ourselves to stop and smell the roses and everything else around us. This place really allowed us to start to realize just how fortunate we are to have chosen this life style. We are seeing things that for so long we just took for granted. We were traveling through life at break neck speed and not realizing all the wonders around us.

We found this neat little restaurant in Mora, NM and saw a sign with this life's motto. We had a good laugh with it. There is a point of truth to it though. No would of''s, could of''s or should of''s when were done. They sure serve great burritos there. The chili is tasty & spicy.

There was a neat fair held on Saturday and Sunday at the old mill. Lots of good things to try and buy. I was amazed at the history of the Mora Valley. Besides the beautiful scenery, a lot of things happened there in the early days of our country's formation. Choke Cherry Jelly was the purchase of the day.

Time to Relax

It's been a long drive this summer. We covered 5,200 miles and are ready to just park and go no where for a while. We are looking forward to having the wheels quite. We are parked at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque for the time being and are planning to sit here until the end of the month when we will go with friends to Pendaries RV Park in Rociada, NM (that's near Mora).

Right now we need to catch up on a few things here and get some small maintenance items completed. With all the traveling this summer, I've let a few things go and now need to get them done. This is really the first time since we took off that we've not had someone with us.

We've been asked to give a short one hour talk at RV Sales & Service in Moriarty on our Full Timing experience . Rose will cover some of what we've learned so far and I'll go over how to best say "yes dear" and stay out of sleeping in the truck. :)

August 2 - Albuquerque

We made a quick stop n Moriarty, NM at RV Sales to say hello to all our friends there. It was good to see how well things are going for them with all their changes.

We're back in Albuquerque at Kirtland AFB Fam Camp for a short stay. It was time to turn the grandkids back to their parents. It sure is quite in the RV now. Ahhh! The sound of silence.

We'll finally get to really experience our life of Full Timing in the RV.

August 1 - Santa Rosa, NM

We're back in New Mexico and staying the night in Santa Rosa. This was a long drive today and all everyone wants is a cool dip in the pool. We're staying the night at the Santa Rosa Campground and there is a pool. First stop though is Blue Hole for a cooling dip. William also wants to try the jump into Blue Hole he'll have to when he get certified in Scuba next year.

It was then back to the campground for a good long playtime in the pool. What a great way to bring a summer of travel to a close. We spent a long time just chasing one another and having fun getting wet. What memories for us all. Thanks to all who contributed to the experience.

July 31 - Dodge City, KS

Dodge City, KS and it's Cowboy Days. We're only here at the Water Sports RV Park & Campground over night. It's 104 degrees so we're looking forward to getting back to Albuquerque and the cool high desert air.

We got a late start so we had enough time to set up and get supper fixed. It was then off to bed because tomorrow is a long day. Ugh!

Sunrise was really beautiful over the lake here. It's great hearing the birds sing and watching the rabbits begin their day.

July 29 - 30 - Smith Center, KS

Now you may ask, "What's in Smith Center, KS?" Well, it's the home of Peterson Industries, the manufacturer of the Excel 5th wheel. We're here to get a tour of the factory and also some get some minor warranty work completed.

Wouldn't you know it. Mel & Karol Nefzger are here also. They came from Idaho to also get some work completed. The service area is first class. They have a lounge that is open for clients 24 hours per day.

The factory tour really impressed us all, especially William. It's amazing how it all comes together. Now we know why this is such a great 5th wheel. It confirms our decision to go with the best. The people working there really take pride in their work. It sure gives one a lot of confidence in their product. Thank you to everyone at Excel for all their work.

July 27 - 28 - Offutt AFB, NE

Offutt AFB, where we stayed, is just south of Omaha, the home of our niece Amanda Price, recent dental graduate husband Jason, son Jaden and the newest addition, daughter Jordin. What a fun time we had at Dave's Barbecue. They are getting ready to move so seeing them was a real treat. Our granddaughter Anna especially liked holding the baby.

William found a great playmate in Jaden. They really got into the DS play system. Almost didn't know they were at supper because of the intense play between them.

We had to do laundry and thankfully we were at the base. They usually have very good facilities and Offutt was no exception. The commisary was where we picked up some great corn fed beef. You could cut it with your fork. Oh soooooo good.

July 25 - 26 - Des Moines, IA

Well, we leave Savage, MN and sure enough the weather man was right. We just finished hitching up Endeavor II and the rain started. It was pretty heavy to start but then ended when we crossed into Iowa. We're headed to Des Moines for a two day stay at Cutty's Des Moines Camping Club.

They were celebrating Christmas in July here. There was an exchange of gifts and other celebrations. Something different, for sure.

This is the largest park we've been at yet. They have 525 sites. We found five other Excels here too. It rare to find one other Excel so five was unheard of. The park afforded all amenities including the beloved swimming pool for the grand kids. They had a great time swimming and playing minuture golf.

The best part was the fresh corn from the stalk. It was so sweet. I'd forgotten how good fresh corn is. We're glad we stopped here.

July 21 - 24 Savage, MN

We decided to come back to Savage, MN and check some things out. Our time here before was too short for doing some of the things we wanted. We went back to the Town & Country RV Park and really enjoyed ourselves. So far on the trip, I'd have to say that this has been the best park.

There is a very peaceful trail behind the park, if you can tolerate the mosquitos. We used lots of special formula repellant. It worked pretty good with only an occasional bite. It's a great place for quite thinking.

We were unable to connect with John & Mary Jelinek again but did meet up with Howard & Barb Schacht for a great evening meal in St Paul. Howard turned me on to a the author Lee Child and I was able to return three of his books after having them for just ten days. He is a really good writer of the type of books I enjoy.

This week was just for doing research on some possibilities for travel next year. Most of our questions were answered and it looks like we'll be back here for the summer. We met with David & Jill Olmstead, RV park owners, and found a friendship in the making. We look forward to seeing them again next year.

The weather has really held up for us so far. Rain is forcasted though on Friday when we're scheduled to leave. Oh well, it'll help wash Endeavor II, I hope.

July 6 - 19 - Great Lakes NavalTraining Station, IL

Wow, it's been 45 years since I passed through these gates for the 1st time as a new recruit. I felt a relief knowing that this time I was only a visitor. I have to admit though that there was also a great pride knowing that I had completed a "journey" that changed my life forever.

We are scheduled to stay here for two weeks to attend a wedding in Chicago on July 12th. The campsite was about 100 yards from the Lake Michigan looking south east. Morning sunrises were spectacular over the water. We were actually able to see a portion of the Chicago skyline from the beach on a real clear day. There are great breezes coming off the lake too. They help to beat the humidity.

Every morning we were awakened by the cadence call of the sailors out for their morning run. I sure was glad I wasn't part of that run. The final hill was a killer for sure. Then there was Tim G on the beach. He was a recent graduate of the Basic Underwater Demolition School and getting himself ready for the rest of his training as a Navy Seal. I'm not too sure about the running with an arm full of a large tree or the doing push ups in the cold water of the lake. According to the women with me, he sure was in "good shape".

Then there was the real reason we were in Chicago. The marriage of Jason, our nephew, to Jamie. It was held at the Palmer House and was a real fun time for all. This will truly be a day for them to remember.

We have now picked up our grandson. This will give us some good quality time which is very hard to come by these days. It'll be a great time for us seeing them exposed to new experiences.










Chicago was Chicago. Big city with $25+ parking, traffic, traffic and more traffic. Oh yes, there is Millennium Park. Chicago has done a great job of changing things for the tourist. It's a lot more interesting than what I remember. Then again a lot changes in 45 years.








Seeing the family was also a great time. We were able to go to 6 Flags Park with my sister, Marge, and the boys John & Nick. It was more roller coasters and high rides. The best part was when my grandson wanted to go on the Giant Drop. It's a ride that climbs 200 feet into the sky before dropping riders into a high-speed free fall. Well, two thirds up the ride, he says, "Papa, you know I'm afraid of heights". Talk about being committed with nowhere to go but up and then down. He made it through OK. Needless to say he did not want to go again.


Then we had Roseann's mom, sister, Mary, and nephew, David, out to the base for a visit of our "condo on wheels". We shared some very fresh lake salmon and a great time was had by all.

Wednesday we were able to meet up with old friends from Albuquerque, Al Mason, Joan Carter and their son Jeffrey. It's what our journey is all about. Reconnecting with people who have touched our lives along our journey of life. We'll see them again for sure.

Laundry day and clean up the RV. Rain is coming down with a vengeance. We haven't seen this much rain in a long time in Albuquerque. I hope the RV floats. :)

Friday brought our niece Jennifer out for a visit. It was good to see her and hear about her life's dreams and aspirations. We wish her the best. She was able to share in attending a USO concert given by Lt Dan's Band, Gary Sinise of CSI: NY fame. What a thrill. Picnic supper on the parade grounds, Navy trainees all around and great music. What a way to spend a Friday night. We'll remember that for a long time for sure.





Can't believe it's already Saturday. Two weeks have just flown by so quickly. Time does fly when you're having fun. Time to pack things up and move on down the road tomorrow. It's been great.

July 20 - Portage, WI

Stayed at Sky High Campground & RV Resort last night. What a great place except for the "bumps" in the internal road. It caused the RV to pitch a little more than I would have liked. All is well though.

They have everything that will keep the kids occupied. It's a place built for entertaining families. This is only for a night so the pool is the place to hang out.

I can't believe the road conditions. I haven't seen this many pot holes and rough spots in a long time. Thank goodness for Air Lifts. They really help smooth things out. Northern IL and Wisconsin have been the worst so far. I hope they don't have rough winter.

July 3 - 5 - Wisconsin Dells, WI

The trip to "The Dells" was the toughest so far. The roads were the roughest and then we got stuck in accident traffic. Took us over an hour to go just 8 miles. Seems that a large truck had run off the road and burned. This was the 1st accident we've seen this trip. There have been a lot of tickets being given by the highway patrol in all the states. They have been on the lookout for sure. All in all, the driving has been smooth and stress free.

Belonging to the FT'ing RV family has the benefit of meeting new friends. We had the pleasure of spending time with fellow FT'ing Excel owners, Tom & Donna Clapham. It was a great way to celebrate the 4th of July, hamburgers, hot dogs, beans, potato salad and some drinks. Fun for all. We look forward to seeing them again down the road.


Roller Coaster, Roller Coaster & more Roller Coasters and after all that there is always the Wave Pool. That was the order of the day at Mt Olympus Park. As with any of these parks, you arrive early (0930) and then stand in line to get on the rides. The parking attendant was very nice though. He made me park over 4 slots to make sure that I wouldn't be "trapped" in the parking lot. We also ran up the stock price of the sun screen makers for sure. I felt like a grease pit at the end of the day but no sun burn.

The "Dells" have been hit hard by the recent rains. One of the lakes got drained by a broken levy. We saw a sign renting a pontoon boat for $0.95 / 4 hrs. The only thing was there was NO WATER and it was stuck in the mud. Funny but sad. The town wasn't really busy for that weekend holiday. At least not like I expected it to be. There were lots of deals to be had from the local merchants and the parks. Two for one sales abounded every where.

So far the weather has really been our freind. We're just trying to used to the bugs and humidity again. The air conditioning has been running more than ever. Then one steps outside and you feel like it's time for another shower.

Up early and off we go to our furthest East destination, Great Lakes, IL.

June 30, July 1 - 2 - Pine City, MN

We moved to the north side of Minneapolis to Pine City. Here we were able to meet up with our other friends, Barb & Howard Schacht. They were gracious enough to guide us to the shopping mecca, "Mall of America". Not being a super shopper myself, I was still impressed to see so many stores under one roof. It is an "experience" that one should have one time. I'm not sure about a second visit.

We were able to spend a quite evening with them at the RV Park sharing supper and catching up on all the happenings. Being nurses and also military, there were lots of stories to be told.

Driving around through all of the construction really wasn't too bad. Then again our travelling was limited to mid day. I'm not so sure I'd venture out during rush hour here. The I-35 bridge is almost complete. It's my understanding they're looking at September for an opening date. That should help out a lot.

June 28 -29 - Savage, MN

After finishing up business in Sioux Falls, SD, Roseann and I decided to move on and stay in the southern part of Minneapolis at the Town & Country RV Park in Savage, MN. I would definitely recommend this park any day. The people were really friendly and helpful. The facilities and grounds were very well kept. It's quite and still close to everything with easy access.

The biggest thrill was meeting up with high school friend John Jelinek and his dear wife Mary. What a surprise & treat when they suggested we go with them to the LPGA US Open golf tournament. We watched Anika Sorrenson on the 18th hole fire an eagle from 197 yds. out. I'm not a golfer but I sure did enjoy the day. The lake salmon dinner was a great topper to an already fantastic day. We'll be back for a longer visit. We' look forward to seeing them again.

The worst part of the stay was our reintroduction to mosquitoes, ugh! We'd forgotten what pesky pests they can be. They grow them big here too.

June 25 - 26 - Sioux Falls, SD

Stayed at Jellystone Park for three nights. Sioux Falls is really geared towards the tourist. Lots to do & explore around the town. Lots of things for the kids to do at Jellystone too. Now it's off to Savage, MN to visit a long time friend.

June 25 - Wall, SD

We're on the way to Sioux Falls and just had to stop and see the famous "Wall Drug Store". We stopped for breakfast and a look around. They had a real good buffet. Unfortunately we didn't allow enough time to see everything. I guess we'll just have to go back and spend a few days just browsing through all the history there.

June 24 - Wild Life

Today was an up early day to check out the wildlife of South Dakota. We were not let down at all. The day started gently with deer grazing in some of the biggest fields I ever saw.

Then came the biggest surprise ever. We rounded a bend and there in the field was a herd of what I thought were buffalo. Then I read the sign (Double click the picture) and thought that Texan's don't have the biggest of everything and New Mexican's should never complain about their prarie dogs again. Truely these are magnificant animals and to think we almost lost them. We MUST protect our environment for the future.

From there we traveled to Hot Springs, SD to see the Mammoth Site. Fascinating to say the least. I feel as though I've entered school again. According to the guide, they will be digging there for another 20 years.

June 23 - Mount Rushmore

As we travel the winding road and admire the scenery, we see a sign that tells us the buffalo are dangerous. Watching intently for our first sighting, we come across a heard of wild donkeys that are begging for food along side the road. Oh well, maybe later for the buffalo. The scenery along the way is awesome and GREEN. That's something we haven't seen in New Mexico for a long time.




Then we're at Mt Rushmore. Awesome!! The work is more than impressive. The dedication needed to complete this work will be forever appreciated by those who stand in admiration of this testament to freedom. We sure do appreciate it. From there, it was lunch at the Alpine Inn in Hill City, SD. Then through a rain & hail storm, it was back to Hermosa for a rest from the drive through the winding roads. Having the dually on some of these roads is really "eye opening" to say the least. I sure was glad that we didn't have the 5th wheel with us. Tomorrow it's going to be the "Wildlife Loop" in Custer State Park.