Day 1 of 3 in Rapid City, SD

We have arrived at Rapid City, South Dakota.  Ken grew up here and still has family and friends here.  Ken and Garnet worked up an itinerary for us to see much of this beautiful country as possible.  My sister Carol and her husband Garrett, Garnets brother, arrived by plane this morning and will tour with us in the Black Hills and then travel on home with us in our truck/trailer.

On top of 1  of the hills in the city there is Dinosaur Park.  Fun models of dinosaurs and a 360 degree view of the countryside.  The road runs along the ridge so we had quite a view of the area.

After a stop at winery, tasted, bought some wine for later and then on to Sylvan Lake for a picnic lunch.  A beautiful lake where Ken and his family came.  I think he also came here with friends because of the stories he told of jumping off the rocks into the lake.

We drove the Needles Highway.  Very scenic.  Rock spires and narrow tunnels.  Most of us walked thru the tunnel

Rich made his way thru.  It was very narrow and he had to pull in his mirrors to make it.  On the return part of the loop road we came thru more tunnels.  These were placed so we could see Mt Rushmore as we drove thru the tunnel.  No photos

Mt Rushmore behind the avenue of flags, for each state.  It is grand as ever.  

We enjoyed the Presidential Trail, walking up closer to the sculpture.  

We timed our visit to see the presidents in the day light and then stay for the ranger presentation, the lowering of the flag and lighting of the monument.  This was a very patriotic themed evening with a video of many historical places we have been on this trip.  The flag lowering ceremony is special, they invite active and former military people to come on stage.  Rich Rooney, US Navy Ret. joined a large group of men and women.

Day 72 Nebraska to South Dakota +267=9646

Our view from the trailer when we woke up.  Scotts Bluff is a remarkable landmark.

We stopped at Carhenge near Alliance, NE  Installed in 1987 by Jim Reinder and his family.  This place made me smile.  People are so creative.  He wanted to recreate Stonehenge and decided to use what was available, old cars.

Next stop, The Museum of the Fur Trade near Chadron, NE.  This is a beautifully done educational facility.
Fur trading has been conducted for thousands of years in all parts of the world.  Also, fur traders were on the north American continent long before the settlers. 

Native Americans traded furs for beads.  They made beautiful beaded garments.

These furs came from Siberia.  They were traded for beaver and buffalo hides.

Calico fabric was traded for furs as well.  What a way to pay for your fabrics.

Day 71 Scotts Bluff

A beautiful drive across Nebraska.

Today was the day of Imaginative Names.  The Emigrants and fur traders named many of the landmarks along their route.  This is Frog Heads Bluff.

Ash Hollow named because of a grove of Ash trees.  The wagon trains often stopped here for respite and repairs.

Chimney Rock.  This was the most noted landmark in the diaries.  It had several names.  The Indians named it Elk Penis but the emigrants didn't like using that name so changed it or refered to it as EP.

A suggested list of necessary items to fill your wagon.  Many people brought along furniture, pianos, books, china, much of which was discarded along the trail.  Often those traveling east would pick up the discarded items and take them back to Missouri where they would sell it to new travelers that didn't know it would make their wagon too heavy for the oxen.

                                                 Courthouse rock and Jailhouse Rock.

Scotts Bluff  This marked 1/3 of the trip behind the "overlanders" or emigrants.  This is beautiful but if I was walking, hot, windblown I would want to just keep going.

More of Scotts Bluff.   There are Five Rocks of Scotts Bluff.  This is Saddle Rock.  There is also Sentinel Rock, Eagle Rock, Dome Rock, Crown Rock.  We are camped on Five Rock Road with a view of these Rocks.

There are cap stones on top of the rock that have kept these rocks standing.  Here you can see the erosion that is taking place.  Also there was a rock slide that has closed the hiking trail up the bluff.  It most likely will not be rebuilt as the slide undercut the area above the trail.  Gravity and the elements are having a time with these rocks.

Day 70 North Platte, NE +150=9192 mile

The city of Kearney, NE maintains this wonderful interpretative center.  It centered on transportation west with the wagon trains, went on to the pony express, stagecoaches, trains, cars over a period of 170 years.  The narrative was from journals of the travelers.  All of these people went through Kearney.  

The Archway spans I-80.  The Great Platte River Road, The Oregon/California/Morman trails, US 30, now I-80.  

From wagons to RV's and semi-trucks.

When we left we decided to backtrack so we could drive under the Archway.

Day 69, our TADA day

Missouri river Basin Lewis & Clark Interpretative Trail in Nebraska City, Nebraska

Lewis had a New Foundland that made the trip with them.

                                                            More barn quilts today.

Our TADA day.  We got the 49th state on our map.  We toasted with wine Rich bought from Nebraska.  

Day 68 Pittsburg, KS to St Joseph ,MO +191 miles

Kansas state flower is the Wild Sunflower.  We saw many of them along the highway.

Pittsburg, KS was a coal mining area.  The coal was mined in pits that have been left and have filled with water.

At a rest stop near Kansas City there was a semi truck load of piglets.  We talked to the driver to learn where he was transporting baby pigs.  When the piglets are old enough to be separated from their mothers they are put in a nursery where they spend about a week to make sure they can eat regular pig food.  Then they are transported to a "finisher" or "Hog Confine" where they spend the next 7 months growing to 250#.  You know what happens next.  Along the way we saw what a 'hog confine" looks like.  It is a big climate controlled barn.  Hogs don't have sweat glands so the barns keep them cool.  Hog raising is big business in Iowa.

On to St Joseph, MO.  We visited the Patee House Museum.  This is a beautiful sleigh but I also liked the license plates since we have been collecting fabric ones.  Haven't been stopping at quilt shops any more because the Row by Row Experience is over. 

Beautiful lace.  How do they keep track?

Some of the Wagenblast family came west to Oregon on a wagon train that left from St Joseph, MO  

St. Joseph,MO is also the beginning of the Pony Express

Day 67 8673 miles, 3 more states on the map

On our drive through the country we saw many chicken houses.  We have seen lots in Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas.

Once again we are historic route 66

Last night Gary put on Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.  As you see the only state left is Nebraska.  That will have to wait 2 more days.  Tonight we are back into Missouri, will go to St Joseph to see where the Pony Express started as well as many wagon trains.  Then we will follow the trail all across Nebraska.