Summer vaction in the SNOW

Yes, that's right snow. And not an Alabama snow but a full fledged, in mountains snow. We left SD early to head to Yellowstone. On the way we stopped at Devil's Tower, it is an 895 feet tall volcano shaft. We can give you the geological explanation but then we would have to kill you. The Indian story is much more interesting and you should google it. After leaving there we drove up into the Big Horn Mountains. It was while climbing the 8300 feet mountain passes that we encounter a foot of falling snow to add to the foot that fell the night before. It was very foggy and at some points it felt like a white out. During our summit the temperature outside dropped to 27 ( this was a 15 degree drop)We stopped to have a snowball fight in our flip flops and the kids where blissfully unaware of my white knuckle grip in the steering wheel. All in all after accomplishing this Mary and I believe we can do anything.

We made it to the East Yellowstone entrance by about 7pm. Just in time for amazing wildlife. While driving to the Old Faithful Inn on the Grand Loop we stopped to watch an Elk in the birthing process. She was surrounded by 10 other Elk. As we watched a gray wolf stepped out of the woods and began to approach the Elk. Most of the others crossed in front of us and while two other females stayed to protect the mama to be. We have since learned that seeing a gray wolf is very rare and we were very lucky.

We arrived at the Old Faithful Inn and it was lovely. Our room overlooked the geyser. We explored the 105 year old building and one of the bellmen told us a ghost story. For full details of the story you need to ask Geer or Grace.

.....more to follow

Making the last day in SD count....

Saturday was our last day in SD and it started with a Wild West adventure (OK maybe just a photo shoot but getting all of us to smile was an adventure). Mary's mom made a great Madam in the photos but man she needs better looking working girls, Grace is the only one worth a plug nickle. Both boys loved the guns they got to hold and it was a lot of fun.

Velma left after our shoot and headed home. We ate a great lunch at a restaurant called Desparados....it had a boot rigged to kick you in the ass on your way out of the door. All of the kids did this several times.

From there we headed to Wind Cave National Park. If you haven't heard of this before check it out on the web it is really cool. There are over 200 miles of cave in a 1 mile square area. We went down about 200 feet and saw the amazing boxwork, frostwork and popcorn. To think a young man at the age of 16 explored the same cave with only a candle, it was awesome.

After the cave tour we drove to Hot Springs, SD (misnomer since the spring is only 87 degrees much to our dismay). In Hot Springs there is the Mammoth excavation site. Man the Mammoth were mammoth.

.......more to follow

Internet at last.....

For our faithful blog reading friends (all 7 of you) we apologize for the delay. I am sure you have been worried, anxious and awaiting our next post.

To catch you up...

Wednesday we made it to the Badlands and did the scenic drive through. It was humbling and amazing to see the beautiful landscape. We stopped at a sod house frontier original home. After stalking the prairie dogs for photo ops, Mary and I got advice from a worker to take the hike at the Window and Door scenic stop. It was a short hike that led to a ladder of logs and cable. We climbed up about a 100 feet and stood on the side of a mountain. It was exciting, terrifying, and remarkable. Mary fretted on the way up and I cried on the way back down. From the Badlands we drove on through to our resort. The Garmin lied to us and we were wandering about the Black Hills, in the dark, on dirt roads, do you hear banjo music.

Thursday we got up early and went to Bear Country, this is a great place to see wildlife up close. Because of the bugs on the bumper a bear licked our car and then gnawed on the bumper. This year they had 21 baby bears who tumbled and played and were sooooo cute. We then briefly visited Mt. Rushmore it was a place of awe and disbelief. Then we went a took the 1880 train from Hill City to Keystone. We spent a couple of hours in Keystone and the highlight there was fabulous taffy. The train ride was really cool and very relaxing. Read here, the adults all had trouble not using this as a nap time, and Velma flat out snored a time, or two.

Fun facts we learned on the train. The train whistle at crossings is Morris code for the letter Q because the Queen's ship toots this signal when it comes into the harbor for other boats to clear the way. 90% of the fawns this year will be born this week. The train we rode was in several movies and documentaries. The seat backs on the train flip, so that you can face forward, no matter which direction it travels in.

Friday I woke up in a lot of pain and Velma took me in to Rapid City. There she and I took a tour of the Rapid City ER. Confirmation of a kidney stone and great pain medicine later we reconnected with Mary and the kids. Mary had taken the 3 kids on a horseback ride, played miniature golf, jumped on a trampoline and rode cool banana bikes. Her comment about that whole experience was, "My knees are too old for this shit!" We then went on a safari jeep ride through Custer State park....all I can say is WOW! The buffalo were within 3 feet of us. You know your close, when you can smell them. The sound they make when our jeep comes between the cow and her calf is primal. There were fields of buffalo, picture Dances with Wolves movie scenery, and we were there. We really saw "Where the deer and the antelope play" and we sang it a few times. This trip ended with a chuck wagon diner and cowboy entertainment. I danced and sang until the cows came home.

Go West Young Man

For everyone who has their atlas out, we have taken that all important left turn, which has us finally going straight west on I-90. In exactly 30 miles we will change times and get to live this hour all over again. Looking forward to the scenic route through the Badlands, though it's pretty darn scenic here. Mary's mom Velma left Wyoming this morning to meet us and help even up the odds, then it will be one adult per child. Diana has not had nearly so many wineries to whine about not going to on this leg. Although we had a scare at the gas station because it also had a casino. Mary was lucky to get her back in the car. We believe South Dakota's state motto may perhaps be, If there's room for a billboard, slap one up. It has served however to get us pretty excited about what's to come.

Badlands Bound

For those of you following "The Great Adventure" via atlas, we are northbound on I-29 headed out of Kansas City and into Omaha. And we know you all have your atlas out waiting with baited breath for our location.

Quote of the Day:
Geer: "On The Road Again"
Mary: "Hey, that's a song, let's sing."
Grace: "I'm Bored!"
Diana: "No more 2 Scooby Doo movies in a row."
Elias: "Are we there, yet?" at 9:28AM.

Okay guys we are just at the beginning of day 3 and need a bit of encouragement/laughs. Tell us stories of your best/worst road trip memories.

Off to enjoy the lovely Missouri scenery, farmland and farmland and farmland.

Missouri Mitchener Style

For those of you following "The Great Adventure" via atlas, we are northbound on I-29 headed out of Kansas City and into Omaha. And we know you all have your atlas out waiting with baited breath for our local.
Yesterday's events list:
Diana flew a kite for the first time
Geer and Elias went to Tunnel Town (courtesy the most patient man on Earth, Uncle Glenn)
Banangram-o-thon with Mary's three sisters and Sunny, her niece
Homemade/Fresh picked from the garden Strawberry Shortcake
The World's Best Aunt Scottie's Cold Slaw. Yes, we have the recipe, and yes we will share it.
And Grace learning way more than she should about her mother's childhood.
Diana learning how life can be a musical, as the Mitchener women have a song for every occasion and aren't afraid to use. (Who else knows every word to I'm in Love with a Big Blue Frog?)
All in all, fabulous day with great people. Missouri is not a misery at all.

Waking up in....Missouri

Good morning and good day from Missouri. Last night we arrived at Wheeler's Landing. Mary's sister Laurah and Glen live on 16 acres with a catfish pond, Vstohl ultra light airplane, strawberry picking, tractors, filds of fire flies, night vission scope and the worlds best Aunt Scotties cole slaw. How could we go any further than this?

Quote of the day Elias - "This rocks!"
Quote of the day Grace - "Pick more strawberries."
Quote of the day Geer - "ZZZZZZZZZZ" ( He is still asleep)
Quote of the day Mary - "Take a picture of that..."
Quote of the day for Diana - "My butt is still sore."
Quote of the day Laurah - "Hope the rain holds off."

More to follow later and I will post pictures.

Hey thanks for the song and car ideas.....I will let you know how they go tomorrow. (12 more hours in the car....shhh don't tell the kids)

Is the "s" silent in Illinois?

We have now crossed through Tennesse and tipped Kentucky. We are on the road going through Illinois. Elias has learned to read a map, Geer is still plugged in and Grace is snacking. Mary is driving again and weare over half way on the first leg of our journey. Road trips are different with a TV, gameboys and IPods....no more alphabet game or sing alongs. I'm not sure if I am nostalgic or sad.

Strike that Mary has assured me we WILL have alphabet games and sing alongs....I'm better now.

Post us song ideas.

We are off....

Rules of reading my blog:

1)No spell check
2)No grammar check
3)Only nice comments...

Mary and I are off on "The Great Adventure" with Geer, Elias and Grace. Our first destination in Kansas City to spend the night with Mary's sister.


Quote of the day from Grace - "We are off like a herd of turtles."

Quote from Mary - "We will be counting the snack bags...limit yourself."

Quote from Elias - "What's a quote?"

Quote of from Diana - "What was I thinking?"

Geer is too plugged in to quote.

We will post more later.....Donna MIFI is AWESOME!!!