April 25th
This morning, up and at em real early. We were on the road by 7:30AM on the way to the Canadian Border, Final stop for some slightly cheaper US gas at Shelby and arriving at Sweetgrass/Coutts at about 10:00AM. We were happy to see only a couple of vehicles ahead of us in the lineup, so we were through relatively quick. We had a fair amount of goods to declare as we had bought tires for both ELTORO and TOADONE. We tried to hide nothing and pulled over after talking to the officer at the booth and went inside and filled the necessary form, paid the $118, and were on our way. We may not have declared everything as it is difficult to keep a good listing when you have been so long away, but it appears that if you are as honest as possible and are agreeable to pay some GST over the $1500 you are allowed that, it goes a long way to appease them, and speed the process. Anyway were on the road again in short order. We had sent Tom and Linda a message when we would be passing Warner, but they were away at Linda's Daughters for Easter, so we did not stop. There was a slight breeze blowing, but we had another good weather day, so arrived home in High River before 1:00PM. Now started the work!! Unload ELTORO!! This is not one of the most desirable parts of a long trip, but after multiple trips back and forth had most of the work done by about 5:00PM
April 24th
Today we were on the road fairly early again. Took I 90 to Billings, a distance of only 40 miles, and then again branched off on State Highway 3, 12, 191, and 87. Our usual way is to go north from Billings, through Grass Range, Roundup and Lewistown to Great Falls, but of previous trips have noticed a lot of trucks turning south at a point west of Lewistown at Moore's Corner, so when we left Billings we decided we would try that route. It is a good route, following State Highway 3 and 12 to Harlowtown, then north to Moore's Corner. The passes are fewer than the other route and from Billings to Harlowtown we basically followed the Musselshell River, a very pretty drive, then north over a small pass to the Corner. Then on into Great Falls and to Dick's RV Park. We have stopped there in the past, as is quite central and easily accessible. Another 285 miles under our belts!!
April 23rd
This morning, up and at em real early. We were on the road by 7:30AM on the way to the Canadian Border, Final stop for some slightly cheaper US gas at Shelby and arriving at Sweetgrass/Coutts at about 10:00AM. We were happy to see only a couple of vehicles ahead of us in the lineup, so we were through relatively quick. We had a fair amount of goods to declare as we had bought tires for both ELTORO and TOADONE. We tried to hide nothing and pulled over after talking to the officer at the booth and went inside and filled the necessary form, paid the $118, and were on our way. We may not have declared everything as it is difficult to keep a good listing when you have been so long away, but it appears that if you are as honest as possible and are agreeable to pay some GST over the $1500 you are allowed that, it goes a long way to appease them, and speed the process. Anyway were on the road again in short order. We had sent Tom and Linda a message when we would be passing Warner, but they were away at Linda's Daughters for Easter, so we did not stop. There was a slight breeze blowing, but we had another good weather day, so arrived home in High River before 1:00PM. Now started the work!! Unload ELTORO!! This is not one of the most desirable parts of a long trip, but after multiple trips back and forth had most of the work done by about 5:00PM
April 24th
Today we were on the road fairly early again. Took I 90 to Billings, a distance of only 40 miles, and then again branched off on State Highway 3, 12, 191, and 87. Our usual way is to go north from Billings, through Grass Range, Roundup and Lewistown to Great Falls, but of previous trips have noticed a lot of trucks turning south at a point west of Lewistown at Moore's Corner, so when we left Billings we decided we would try that route. It is a good route, following State Highway 3 and 12 to Harlowtown, then north to Moore's Corner. The passes are fewer than the other route and from Billings to Harlowtown we basically followed the Musselshell River, a very pretty drive, then north over a small pass to the Corner. Then on into Great Falls and to Dick's RV Park. We have stopped there in the past, as is quite central and easily accessible. Another 285 miles under our belts!!
April 23rd
Got a reasonably early start today and headed north and west on I 90 as far as Belle Fourche, then branched of on Interstate 212 all the way to Custers Battlefield, then back on I 90 to Hardin, MT and to the KOA there. By taking the secondary highways we shortcut our trip from I 90 all the way around by Gillette and Sheridan by about 60 miles. This is a good option in good weather, but not recommended if it was snowing. The distance was our usual of about 275 miles, a distance we feel comfortable with. The day was good and we enjoyed an afternoon at the Hardin KOA relaxing.
April 22ndWent down town at noon to meet Kathy for lunch, but to our surprise she had taken another day off, and was at home when we called her. So she drove down to meet us for lunch at Perkins Restaurant. While we at she invited us to her house for dinner, which we greatfully accepted. She headed home after lunch to put together her dinner and we went to the city center for some sight seeing. Rapid City is known as the Presidents City, and on each of the main corners, there are statues of the various Presidents.
Today was a cold nasty day, the reason we
stayed an additional day, but we wanted to
take photos of all of the statues. Denice
braved the cold to walk one 4 block section,
but declined to do the other two 4 block
sections. She waited in the jeep while I
walked and took the photos for her. Later
we went to Kathy's house for a delightful
dinner of meat loaf with all the trimmings.
Tomorrow looks like a good day, weather
wise, so it was with great sadness that we
bid Kathy a goodbye and returned to
ELTORO to pack for the trip tomorrow.
stayed an additional day, but we wanted to
take photos of all of the statues. Denice
braved the cold to walk one 4 block section,
but declined to do the other two 4 block
sections. She waited in the jeep while I
walked and took the photos for her. Later
we went to Kathy's house for a delightful
dinner of meat loaf with all the trimmings.
Tomorrow looks like a good day, weather
wise, so it was with great sadness that we
bid Kathy a goodbye and returned to
ELTORO to pack for the trip tomorrow.
Kathy took the day off work today to show us the sights of Rapid City. Although we have been here before, it is always nice to have a local to direct us to the best spots. And Kathy did that well!! First we went to Mount Rushmore and once more enjoyed the presidents faces carved into the mountain.
Then we continued on to "Crazy Horse" to see how much progress there had been made, since the last time we visited. A fair amount has been done on the mountain, but what is most impressive is the museum and tourist facilities at the viewing site.
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| Some Chain Saw Art in the Black Hills |
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| Mount Rushmore |
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| More Mount Rushmore |
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| And still more Mount Rushmore |
Then we continued on to "Crazy Horse" to see how much progress there had been made, since the last time we visited. A fair amount has been done on the mountain, but what is most impressive is the museum and tourist facilities at the viewing site.
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| Crazy Horse |
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| Art at Crazy Horse |
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| Bronzes at Crazy Horse |
April 20th
Packed up and headed east and north to Rapid City today. Another short day, so arrived at Rapid City KOA shortly after noon. We are stoping here to see another of Denice's cousins, Kathy Whorkman, who lives here. After setting up we waited until Kathy finished work at BHFirehall" for dinner. It was great, although maybe a little noisey, as it is a Pub and Restaurant. The food was good though!!
April 19th
Spent most of day putting together list of items to Claim when we cross into Canada
Went and spent an hour with Aunt Norma again
Broasted Chicken and Shrimp for dinner
Went and spent an hour with Aunt Norma again
Broasted Chicken and Shrimp for dinner
April 18th
A wet uncomfortable day. Light rain and snow flurries were the order of the day. At noon Dawnita and Denice took Aunt Norma for a short drive out to Ft Robinson and around town. After they returned we rested for a while and then went over to the bar. Part of the bar used to be a restaurant, but Kelly closed it down as too difficult to operate. However all the appliances and workings still exist, so Dawnita cooked us a great steak filet and crab legs dinner, again at Nebraska time of 6:30PM instead of the planned 5:00PM time. But no big deal!! We had a delightful visit with Aunt Norma, Dawnita and Kelly, and Kerry. And of course with the bar right next door, wine and beer and liquor was easily available.
April 17th
Weather outlook not that good so we delay moving on to Rapid City until Wednesday
Dawnita and Kelly pick us up in Dawnita's jeep and take us for a jeep tour. Went to the top of the bluffs. It was a great trip. I enjoyed, but Denice was a little less impressed as it was steep and narrow and scary for her, but she over rode her vertigo fears and seemed to enjoy. I know she never would have allowed me to take her over those roads, but since Dawnita was driving, she accepted.
After coming down of the mountain, we went to Ft Robinson and drove around the facilities there. It would be a good place to camp with an RV as it has all the amenities.
Then we went to an old railway tunnel SW of Crawford at Belmont. It is not used any more as they have double tracked the route through a very deep cut adjacent to the tunnel, but it is still open and we were able to drive through. From there, after watching a couple of very long Coal Trains negotiate the 7% climb from the valley with the assistance of 3 additional "Push Engines" from Crawford, we continued down "Breakneck Hill" and down to Comeco's Uranium Mine. Here Comeco, a Saskatchewan company, has found what they call, "the mother load", of uranium and extract it by an in-situ process of hundreds of bore holes into the 600 ft deep zone and dissolve the raw product , bring it to the surface and process it into "Yellowcake", a useable form. Then we returned to Crawford, went over and visited with Aunt Norma for an hour or so. Dinner was broasted chicken and a shrimp basket from the local drive in
Dawnita and Kelly pick us up in Dawnita's jeep and take us for a jeep tour. Went to the top of the bluffs. It was a great trip. I enjoyed, but Denice was a little less impressed as it was steep and narrow and scary for her, but she over rode her vertigo fears and seemed to enjoy. I know she never would have allowed me to take her over those roads, but since Dawnita was driving, she accepted.
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| From the Bluffs above Ft. Robinson |
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| Same as last |
After coming down of the mountain, we went to Ft Robinson and drove around the facilities there. It would be a good place to camp with an RV as it has all the amenities.
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| The only tunnel in Nebraska |
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| Ft. Robinson, Crazy Horse Death and Bluffs |
April 16th
Over to the bar for cofee with Kelly and Kerry in the morning. Kelly's fiancee, Dawnita, arrived from Lincoln last night at about 10:30PM after a 6 hour drive, but was attending a funeral this AM. They had made arrangements with us to pick us up after Kerry finshed work at the bar at about 500PM, and take us for a drive and picnic lunch out to Dawnita's family ranch 15 milesfrom town. However everybody seems to work on "Nebraska Time" down here so no one showed up until about 6:00PM. Seemed a little late to us, but we went out anyway to what Dawnita called the pond. The family ranch is about 6000 acreas of hilly, badland type of terrain, but good cattle country. At he pond, is near where her parents and grandparents both lived and it was a lovely little fishing, swimming hole.
We lit a big bonfire, drank a little beer, ate some great broasted chicken, and had a great visiting evening until about 10:00 PM when it was time to return to town.
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| At "The Pond" |
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| At the Pond |
We lit a big bonfire, drank a little beer, ate some great broasted chicken, and had a great visiting evening until about 10:00 PM when it was time to return to town.
April 15th
Packed up and moved on to Crawford, NE today. Only a 127 mile trip on interstate 85 and 26. Arrived shortly after noon and parked right in front of Kelly's bar. Another tow of Denices cousins own the Bar. We went in and met with Kerry. Kelly joined after a while, then Kelly took us on a tour of the town and down to the park to find a parking place for ELTORO. We found one with live power. Then while we were driving around he mentioned that he had a space right beside the bar if we wanted to be there. We looked at the empty lot and it looked good to us, complete with power, so we parked there.
Later in the day went over to see Aunt Norma. She looks good for a lady of 88 years old. Spent an hour or so with her before returning to ELTORO for the evening
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| Kelly's Bar and RV Park |
Later in the day went over to see Aunt Norma. She looks good for a lady of 88 years old. Spent an hour or so with her before returning to ELTORO for the evening
April 14th
Sat tight another day as weather was not cooperating - Wind and wet - snow at Crawford, NE, where we plan on going next
Took Disco and Edie out for dinner at the "Lunchbox" Later Lindy came over to visit as well as some friends of Disco and Edies, Tim Lewis and wife.
Took Disco and Edie out for dinner at the "Lunchbox" Later Lindy came over to visit as well as some friends of Disco and Edies, Tim Lewis and wife.
April 13th
I drove around a little today -
Oregon Trail ruts, Signature Cliffs, National Guard target practice area, Airport, and down town
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| Oregon Trail Ruts |
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| More of the Ruts |
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| Old Signatures in Sandstone |
Oregon Trail ruts, Signature Cliffs, National Guard target practice area, Airport, and down town
Denice made diner and took pork roast ever to their house for Dinner
April 12th Did little today as weather was not the best again
Had prime rib at Edie and Disco's
April 11th
Travelled from Limon, CO to Guernsey, NE
Parked at disco's and Edie's an had dinner with them when they got home from work - visited until 8:30PM and then retired
Parked at disco's and Edie's an had dinner with them when they got home from work - visited until 8:30PM and then retired
April 10th
Traveled from Limon, CO to Guernsey, NE today to where a couple of Denices Cousins live
Parked in front of disco's and Edie's home, and had dinner with them when they got home from work - visited until 8:30PM and then retired
Parked in front of disco's and Edie's home, and had dinner with them when they got home from work - visited until 8:30PM and then retired
April 9th
Sat out the weather today
April 8th
Today traveled from Dalhart, TX to Limon, CO
April 7th
Traveled from Albuquerque, NM to Dalhart, TX today
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