Monday, May 17 - Kansas City

Saturday, we drove over to Cablea's. After a couple of hours of touring Cabela's we decided to try and find "Oklahoma Joe's" Barbecue. Thank goodness we had a GPS, we would have never found it. Even when the GPS said we were there I couldn't see it. Sitting at the intersection there was a Shamrock gas station on one corner and old grocery store and a couple of other older buildings. I noticed a small sign on the gas station and many cars. As we pulled in I noticed there was no parking, the place was packed, an employee happened to be outside and told me I could park out back. When we walked around the corner heading to the entrance the line was outside the building and down the side walk. After 45 minute wait, we ordered, got our order, set down and thoroughly enjoyed some great barbecue.

Mule Bronze outside Cabela's

World record Mule Deer

Very nice Bull Moose

The menu at "Oklahoma Joe's"

"Oklahoma Joe's" one of the 13 places you need to eat before you die.

Saturday, May 15 - Kansas City

We arrived at our RV park in Oak Grove, Mo. Thursday afternoon. They recently had 3" of rain so it was pretty wet. After setting up the Creek we spent time visiting with our friends from Tennessee and hearing first hand about the flooding in Nashville.
The RV  park is nice and the people are very friendly and helpful. Friday was beautiful, sunshine and very warm. We visited the Missouri Welcome Center, Bass  Pro Shops, Nationwide RV,  a large Costco and had dinner at a small family owned barbecue. Dinner was very good. Today we plan on going to Cabela's and visit with my contact there, going downtown and of course finding some more delicious barbecue.

Where the Kansas City Chiefs football team and the KC Royals baseball team play.

New Cedar Creek Touring Edition at Nationwide RV.......WOW!

A custom Cedar Creek

Rows of Cedar Creeks at Nationwide RV. Our chariot parked in front.

UH OH!  Bass Pro Shops

Looking out the large windows down on to Bass Pro Shops ponds

Inside Bass Pro Shops, quite the outdoor experience when shopping at Bass Pro.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - Sioux City

We left the Black Hills of South Dakota in pouring rain, light snow flakes and poor visibility. After we're on I90 we made our first stop at Wall Drug. Although we were looking for some specific items we had a good time being tourists, enjoyed lunch and hit the road. We spent Tuesday night at Mitchell, SD. After getting the Creek (our fifth wheel for you non-Creekers)set up we had to go and tour Cabela's and naturally we found a couple of items we couldn't pass up. We left Cabela's filled up the truck with diesel and then found a nice Mexican restaurant. Yes, in South Dakota and yes in was pretty good. Not New Mexico level but pretty good for the north. After dinner Carol says she wants to go see the Corn Palace, to see what it looks like after dark. It looks like it does during the day except it's all lit up. After the Corn Palace we returned to the Creek. This morning we left Mitchell around 10:00 AM, rain and wind.......what's new? We stopped at a couple of nice rest areas and then stopped for the night in North Sioux City. Our first RV site we sunk in the mud and had to put truck in 4 wheel drive to pull out. The spot we have now is OK. South Dakota is flooding everywhere and is soaked. We visited the "Lewis & Clark" interpretive center here in Sioux City, very nice.
Tomorrow we'll make it to Kansas City now that the weather is supposed to start improving.

Top Photo is of course "Wall Drug".

Below is a little of the wildlife at Wall Drug.

Carol and new friend at Wall Drug. At least he won't argue with her.

Me with the saloon gal........she needs to get some more sun.

The "Cowboy Orchestra" singing Johnny Cash.

The "Corn Palace" at night

Lewis & Clark Interpretive center

Next posts will be from Kansas City.

Monday May 10, 2010 - Mt Rushmore, Hill City

Sunday was beautiful!.....Thank goodness, we finally had a nice day. Today, Monday morning however, is a another story. Raining and cool and no change in forecast until tomorrow morning. Today we plan on visiting a couple of wineries and a couple of stores Carol scouted out. Tuesday we'll hook up and head for Sioux City.
Visiting Mount Rushmore was and still is inspiring.  So much as changed it felt like it was my first visit. I feel the changes were for the good.
After leaving Mt. Rushmore we visited Crazy Horse. I respect the attraction and admire the artistry but my thoughts are this a commercial enterprise utilizing the legends of great Sioux Chief and hero of Native Americans. We won't see the completion of Crazy Horse in our life time or our grand childrens.

Carol at Mount Rushmore. Yes! that is blue sky.

These two photos were taken from the Presidential trail.

Looks like George is peeking around the corner.

Crazy Horse, the actual model. The mountain work is in the back ground

Goats near the parking lot.

 

Buffalo at Custer State Park

We'll try to stay dry today....more later!

Sunday, May 9 - Mt Rushmore

Happy Mothers Day!

After enjoying breakfast at Carol's mothers home we hit the road for South Dakota. I enjoyed the drive, except for the wind. It was nice seeing the places and reminiscing of our youth, football games, school, work, family and places we used to park (I wonder if kids still park?).

Strip coal mining or excavating just east of Gillette.

The new and the old..... an old still functioning wind mill for a livestock water tank and in the background a coal train pulling into WyoDak coal mine to fill up cars of coal to transport to the west coast for export overseas.

Devastating forest fire in the Black Hills north of Custer, South Dakota

More remains of fire. New growth was abundant as well as mule deer.

Crazy Horse monument as seen from the highway. We plan on visiting today.

Friday, May 7, 2010 Buffalo, Wy.

Today we left Billings around 10:30 AM and drove to Buffalo, Wy.. Set up the Creek (our fifth wheel) and went to visit with Carol's mother. After a nice visit we decided to go have dinner at the Winchester Steak House. Very nice dinner. In the morning we'll meet for breakfast then Carol and I will leave for Hill City , SD. Doesn't sound like the weather will be very nice. Oh Well!...could always be worse.

Grandma and Drew working on a puzzle.

Drew enjoying his chocolate donut.

Bighorn Battlefield south of Hardin, Mt. 

Little Big Horn River down below.

Well at least we finally see the sun. Buffalo, Wy. had over a foot of snow on Wednesday night.

Setting up home in Buffalo.

More down the road.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

We left Wednesday morning on another journey. Looking out the window I can see winter hasn't left us yet. After fixing a 12 volt problem on the fifth wheel (our new home), we finally hit the road. South to Missoula then I90 to Billings. We plan on staying 2 nights in Billings visiting Ryan, Tricia & Drew.

Heading up Homestake Pass...........Yippee!...... no snow

We pass this truck hauling this huge raft combo aluminum river or some kind of water craft. It was probably 30 feet long and had 3, yes 3, 300 horse power Mercury outboards on the back. WOW! that thing will haul.

This was our view most of the way. Low visibility, snow or rain and HIGH winds. We had to make an unexpected stop in Anaconda for fuel. I think we would have ran out if I had tried to make

 it to Rocker(Butte).

Surprise! 3" of snow this morning (Thursday) and it's still snowing.

More tomorrow!