"This means something..."

I have seen the Badlands and all I can say is... well, I don't know what to say. It was like going to the surface of the moon. It was desolate and beautiful at the same time.

We decided that we just had to see Devils Tower (do-do-do-do-do). In the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" they say "This means something." After seeing it for myself and hiking around it I see what they mean. It is a sacred place to the Sioux. To me it felt like being in a cathedral. Lots of souls there. That one is for Renee and Kari. 

What a trip!

On Wednesday we left Camp America  in Salem and ate at the Cookie Jar resturant. This place must have had 400 jars. That's alot of cookies. We traveled west and saw some interesting stuff. Fields and fields of sunflowers. More corn and then all of a sudden the badlands on the left and the grasslands on the right, pretty cool.

34 years ago today Mark and I stood in front of a judge (no, we did not get arrested) and became Mr and Mrs. Crazy to think back to those days (and I really would if my memory wasn't shot). Anyway on to the present. We went to see Mt. Rushmore. It was sort of surreal but really beautiful. I know it sounds corny but pictures really don't do it justice. Then we went to Custer State Park. Really incredible scenery (reminds me of CA), buffalo, antelope, prairie dogs, and donkeys. Yes I said donkeys. Natalie that one is for you. 

What a great summer!

Home Sweet Home

My Motley Crew

Living in a trailer may sound a little weird   (ok, so there is no "may" about it) but that is what I have been doing since March. First it was parked in my sister-in-laws driveway (not as bad as it sounds, she has a great place with a pool). We stayed there until June then we headed up to Illinois to spend the summer with kids and grand kids. I had a great time. It was the longest amount of time I have had  with daughter Jen since she went away to college. I spent a lot of time with grand kids, Jack, Ben and Emma, too. All in all a lovely time but all good things must come to an end and on August 21st Mark and I headed west.

Our first night was spent in Kellogg, Iowa. We spent the night in an RV park behind a gas station/cafe. The cafe was called "The Best Burger Cafe in Iowa". Now you would think that a name like that would induce me to have a burger but I am trying to cut back on beef so I had something called a pork tenderloin sandwich (what can I say, it was the special of the day and a buck cheaper than a burger).

On the 22nd we headed for South Dakota and for the last two days we have been in Salem, SD. Apparently it was named after it's namesake to the east but has none of the fantastical baggage of that other famed city.

Tomorrow we will head for the "Badlands". I have no idea what that is but I am about to find out. Pray for me.