Rock Island, Ilinois

Wanting to be off the roads, before everyone headed home, at the end a long weekend, we only did a short distance and were all set up at camp by lunchtime.  Quite a nice park, on a lake.  Just had a nice long walk around the lake, but the heat and humidity is a bit much for walking.  As you can see from the pictures we have a lovely view of the lake.

Newton, Iowa

Well, you see, all good things come to those that wait.  We have waited for a park with lots of trees and grass, we have found one, by sheer luck and determination.  We traveled from Albert Lea into Iowa, and are now staying at the KOA in Newton.  As you will see from the photos, the site we are on, has beautiful big Oak trees, which we need in this heat.

We started off in a site with no trees, but after being moved to another two sites, because we had no wi-fi, as they say in the classics, we landed with our butts in the butter.  We now have trees, grass, big site, wi-fi and TV.  So we have decided to stay put for the weekend, nothing to do but enjoy some R and R.

Albert Lea, MInnesota

Today we traveled from Sioux Falls to Albert Lea, Minnesota. We are sitting in the middle of the mealie fields, as far as the eye can see.  This being the start of the Memorial Day weekend, we have to be careful that we have a reservation for the night, so for the first time on this trip, we are making reservations for the next couple of days.

The weather has improved, it has been a gorgeous day, hope it stays this way.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Sorry folks, I don't have anything interesting to tell you today.  We traveled from Kennebec to Sioux Falls, still in South Dakota.
We are on our way back to Dayton, so all the exiting sites are behind us, as far as I know.

We spent the afternoon getting some provisions in and getting new windscreen wiper blades.  We have been very lucky not to have had any rain while driving the RV lately, as the blades have given up the ghost. 

We are in a very nice park, but unfortunately it is right next to the Freeway, so very noisy but convenient. 

Kennebec, South Dakota

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B-o-r-i-n-g, that is the road we drove today.  We were very lucky once again, as I told you yesterday, the weather wasn't great, but this morning it was the perfect day, but still a little cool.  This evening we heard that Rapid City, which was close to where we were, had a tornado pass through yesterday.  Anyway, we drove to Kennebec, another one horse town in South Dakota.  The difference in temperature between last night and tonight is amazing.  Last night heaters, tonight aircon.

 On the way we stopped at a place call Wall Drug.  We had been told to go and see it, but we didn't know why or what it was about.  The history behind it was that a Pharmacist opened his Drug Store in the town called Wall in 1931. His wife and himself gave themselves 5 years to make it work, otherwise they would have to find something or somewhere else to go.  Their five years was nearly up and their business had not improved, until one day the pharmacists wife had an idea to give travelers ice water for free, after crossing the hot prairies.  That was the start of a thriving business, that has turned into a tourist attraction. That was you history lesson for the day.

Mount Rushmore, SD

Awoke to a very gray day.  Would the weather improve or not, would we be able to see Mt Rushmore or not?  Would have to wait and see.  We were picked up at 7.30 by a very nice gentleman and we were his only passengers for the day, private tour!  We did all the sights of Sylvan Lake, what we could see of it, and on to Custer NP, good to see green prairies, animals and trees.  We then headed for Black Hills and onto Mt Rushmore.  By the time we got to Mt Rushmore the mist had closed in and we couldn't see a thing.  Went in for lunch and by the time we were finished, the mist suddenly cleared, Dirk rushed back to the car to get his camera.  From then it was a case of first you see it, now you don't, with mist, rain, fine hail, thunder and lightning.  The main thing was we did see Mt Rushmore and got some photos.

We then headed down to the Crazy Horse Memorial.  It was very interesting to learn about this memorial, as we knew nothing about it before we started.  This is a memorial that is still in progress and they estimate it will take another 40 years to complete.

The weather has not improved, actually got worse, but hopefully it will clear tomorrow, as predicted.  We can just be grateful that we were able to see Mt. Rushmore for those few minutes.

Custer, South Dakota

 After chatting to our helpful RV park owners this morning, we only got going at 9.00am.

We have always called this holiday "Our Adventure of a Lifetime".  Everyday brings another adventure, some a little hair raising, but an adventure all the same.  We only had a short distance to drive today, but it took us up some very narrow, winding, steep up hill and down hill roads.  It is one thing when you are doing that kind of driving on an interstate road, but quite another, when it is a single narrow road, with a drop off on the passenger side that just goes straight down for ever.  Pleased to report our faithful steed behaved really well today.

We are now in South Dakota, at a KOA near Custer NP, really beautiful here, amongst the trees.  We were intending to hire a car and do some touring on our own, but unfortunately, the only company that used to hire cars, is no longer in business.  So the next best option is to take a bus tour.  We will be leaving early tomorrow morning, so stay tuned for more pics of our adventure.

Lusk, Wyoming

Not much to report today.  We crossed from Colorado into Wyoming, from Wellington to a small, small town called Lusk.  Never thought I would be sitting in a RV park in the middle of the local homes, well it has happened.

There is something to be said for the small town community.  When I phoned last night to get the physical address of this park, the owner was fascinated by my accent.  When we checked in today, she just wanted me to talk, so she could hear my accent.  I was doing the usual inquiries about how far are we from the nearest shops, she wanted to know what we needed, after explaining that Dirk was not well with a bad sinus attach, she decided we couldn't walk to town.  She got into her vehicle and drove me into "town" to get medication.  I then found out she is a Registered Nurse, so she was able to suggest what I should get.  When I went to pay for my parcel with my credit card, found out they were having a problem with their computer system, and I couldn't use my card and didn't have any cash on me.  Out came her wallet to pay for my parcel.  So, you see not only did she take me to town, prescribe the medication, but she had to pay for it, as well.  Would you get that service in a big town?

Wellington, Colorado

We had planned to travel from Gypsum to Loveland, today, with a back-up plan to stop at Golden if the mountain passes took it out of driver and vehicle.  Well, things went so well with both that we were able to travel to Wellington, Colorado.  As you can see from the profile, we did some major climbing. Leaving Gypsum we climbed from just over 6000 feet to 8500 in 40 miles, and then up to 10600 feet in the next 10 miles, dropped down to 9000 feet in the next 15 miles and then climbed to 11200 feet in 10 miles.  And then all the way down to 5000 feet.  Both driver and vehicle managed  admirably.  This was to get over two passes, Vail Pass and Loveland Pass.  Of course this is in one of the skiing areas of Colorado.

On Wednesday while waiting to have the RV worked on, one of the truck drivers told us he had just come through Vail Pass and it was snowing, they were expecting 8".  We saw the evidence this morning, the road was clear, but the snow was right next to the road.

One thing we did learn was to watch the truckers, if they come past you, pull in front of you and put their flashers on, it means either a very steep up hill or a very steep down hill, where they have to go slowly.  Read the truckers road signs.  Whoever did the signage for that area had a sense of humour.  The first sign will read, "Truckers: Steep grades and curves for the next 8 miles."  Next sign will read: "Truckers: you are not through it yet, still 4 miles of Steep grades and curves."  One sign just before an off ramp to a small town said, "Truckers: Your brakes fail? keep on I 70, do not take off ramp."  In other words we don't want you to wreck our town.  We even managed to pass one or two trucks, so our old steed ain't so bad.

So, as you can see, we were able to push on, and do just over 200 miles today.

Gypsum, Colorado

This is going to be a quick one, as we do not have free Internet access.  Had the radiator sorted out this morning.  Drove from Grant Junction to RV park called River Dance.   Very pretty, but the most expensive we have experienced.  More later.

Grand Junction, Colorado

The first picture shows where we spent our day and the second picture where we are spending our night.  We have at last found someone who is prepared to help us with our RV's overheating problem.  We drove from Arches this morning, got to Grand Junction Freightliner at 10.30 and waited in line until 3.00pm.  They have diagnosed the same problem as Dirk, but we have to go back there in the morning for them to clean the radiator properly, we hope this is the last time.

We are at a very nice KOA park in Grand Junction, with a view of the mountain.

Arches National Park, Utah

Those little dots are people.

One car Rental and off we go to Arches National Park for the day.   Arches doesn't have a shuttle bus, so the only way to go there is on your own steam and there was no way we were going to take the RV.  After driving through the park we are both very pleased we went by car.  The twisty, narrow roads are not meant for a 38 foot RV, although some people did do it.

Another beautiful park, but for Dirk and myself it didn't have the same WOW factor that we had at Bryce Canyon.  Maybe we have been spoiled.  Looking at the photos you do realize that the scenery is totally different.  As the name implies there arches and window here, made by the elements over time, (and not by Bill Gates!!)

Enjoy the photos

Moab, Utah

Another long, stressful day.  We traveled from Bryce Canyon to Moab, Utah.  We had to come to Moab because Arches NP does not have campgrounds for big rigs.  As you can see from the profile, there were many hills and dales, and as you all know our RV does not like hills with head winds.  So once again not much to report, just some photos.  The hills are stressful but the scenery is really spectacular.

Bryce Canyon Day 2

 

Today we went on a bus tour to the furthest point of Bryce Canyon.  So there are just more pictures, and not much else to say, except we are pleased we didn't have to drive our RV there.  The altitude at Rainbow Point is 9115 feet.  The cleanest air, but little of it. The Bikers travel everywhere, a few nice Harleys for Robert and Damian...

Bryce Canyon

Today, we traveled from Glendale to Bryce Canyon.  I think out of all the beautiful places we have seen so far on this trip, this has been the most beautiful and unusual.  I don't have enough adjectives to describe Bryce Canyon, so I will leave the photos to talk for themselves.