Close Encounters of the third kind! Then Wild Bill

Thursday

Yep today we visited The Devils Tower National Monument, with our geezer pass the whole car got in for free.

We left Rapid City around 9am and were here in about 2 hours at Mountain View Campground in Sundance, WY, yep the Sundance Kid is from here.  Its a nice place to stay to see the local sites.  Tomorrow we have a 400 mile drive to Cody, WY.  After 2 nights there we head through Yellowstone NP to stay in West Yellowstone for 4 nights.  We are taking the route around the Big Horn Mountains tomorrow which adds 90 miles and takes us into Billings, MT before we head south.

Here are a few of the pictures from today.

First view of the tower in the distance

Getting Closer its a bit hazy

Took this from in front of the visitors center

We walked around the base trail in two shifts so someone would be with Bonnie's Dad.

There are two climbers in this picture a man and a woman

The Native Americans consider this land sacred and these are prayer clothes

Love this heartwood pine, it beautiful when poly coated

Burned out Ponderosa Pine stump, from a fire.

This is a prayer bunch tucked in a crack in the rocks

Quick visit to Aladdin, WY general store

We all got a dip in the pool when we got back.

It was hot out in the sun today.  It helps that it is so dry here it keeps you somewhat cool.  The sun is behind the hill now and we have the windows open.  We are at around 4500 feet in elevation and it will be in the 60's tonight.

Friday

We were on the road by 8:30 this morning headed for Cody, WY.  We opted not to cross the Big Horn mountains at just over 10,000 feet in the pass, due to construction and gravel sections of the road.  Instead we took the interstate up to Billings MT. and came down thru the valley.  We had an uneventful trip and the route only added 88 miles and was about the same time.  We drove just over 400 miles and that brought our total to just over 2000.  We arrived in Cody about 5:30 set up and went to dinner at Granny's good home cooking.  Then mom wanted to go to the rodeo which is held every night so we did and got back home after 10. The wind came down from the moutains and about blew all the dirt out of the rodeo ring. Dad was in bed in 10 minutes maybe 5.  The rest of us are headed there as fast as we can get ready.

The mountains came into view

Finally a picture of the state welcome sign.  Montana

Bonnie with the bull Hollywood on the way into the rodeo.  Her eyes are shut because of  all the wind blown dust.

Bronc Riders

Barrel Racing

They had it all but the wind really made it hard on competitors and the fans.

Saturday

Slow start to today.  Bonnie slept in till after 10:00 this morning and decided it was a good day to do laundry when she got up.  We will do things later today she said.  High today is to be 82  and my thermometer shows 84 already.  But we have nights in the 40s to look forward to after we get to West Yellowstone.  Bonnie's brother and SIL are also traveling out in this area and we hope to meet them somewhere here in the Yellowstone area.  Last we heard they were in Montana.

We took off to look around Cody and see some of the sights.  We headed out to the Buffalo Bill Dam, highest in the world when it was built in the early 1900s.  A few years back they actually raised it 25 feet.  It was build to provide irrigation water and it continues to do that as well as provide hydro electric power from several power houses.  In the beginning I was the only one interested in the dam but once we got there everyone was glad we came.  They even give you a golf cart ride from the parking lot out to the dam and visitors center.

Shoshone River from the top of the dam

You can look straight down the dam face

These are all the floating logs at the top of the dam, the cleanup starts next week

This is one of the Power Houses

Beauty all around

The old winch that did all the work, now they bring in a crane on a barage

Original balanced valve, it was replaced with a similar when they raised the dam height

This ball is concrete and wood, it is the original and also was replaced with a like new one .  It was used to block the valve.

From the dam we headed back into town and looked around and stopped at a couple places to shop.  I ran into WalMart and picked up a couple flash drives to back up our photos.  I would hate to lose them.

Then a little after 5 we headed over to the Irma Hotel.  Its named after Wild Bill's girlfriend.  We bought 4 $2 chairs to watch the 6pm shootout from.  We had a fun time and Dad one a poster for being the oldest at the shootout.  The shootout is held every night and is done for charity.

The original hotel

Guarding the seats

Sundance Kid

Sheriff Wooster and Bonnie

Sheriff Wooster has an early discharge

Marshall Dillion and Doc Holliday

Sheriff Wooster gets the bad guys

Bonnie and Sundance

After that we headed to the coach for supper and to relax a little and prepare for tomorrow.

We head into and across the park in the morning.

Sunday

Up this morning and started to have breakfast, then the tire pressure alarm went off, left front tire on the car.    I checked it with a gauge and it was down a bit.  So aired it up and put the sensor on and it still read low.  The cars internal system was fine so we took off with that sensor reading a little low.  When I checked it tonight it was a little low again, so will check it in the morning and if need be have it looked at.  I will put the gauge on it again and move sensors around if need be.

We pulled out of Cody before 10am and headed over and through the pass to Yellowstone NP.

On the road to Yellowstone

Bonnie got a picture out the window

 We were in travel mode today so while we drove through the park we did not pull off much since we had the car in tow.  We did stop for lunch along a trout stream and watched the fishermen while we ate.

Pulled over near the trout stream

Bonnie went down to check out the water

Or was it the fisherman

We did not run into a lot of traffic but the speed limits are 45 or less so it ended up taking us about 4 1/2 hours with stopping for lunch.  We arrived in West Yellowstone and checked in to the campground for 4 nights.  We have traveled 2136.4 miles to date and we should be as far West as we are going.  Tomorrow we will start 3 days of touring the park.

We have been hoping to see Bonnie's Brother and his wife while we were out on this trip and today was the day.   We have been in touch via text and voice the past couple of days and it worked out so that they are here in West Yellowstone tonight.  They picked up pizza and came to the campground.  We shared the pizza and pictures we each have taken and had a good visit.  Bonnie's folks were real happy that we were able to make the connection, another great memory for all involved.

We were all able to get into the picture

Lots more Yellowstone pictures to follow

Well thats it for this week, Thanks for Checking in.

WOW! What sights to behold

Monday

Wow is about all I can say about the day.  We started off with a slow morning as we did not need to leave Wall until 11am.  Bonnie and I went to ACE hardware and got bags for the vacuum and belts.  Then next door to pick up a gallon of milk.

We got on the road just after 11 and had a short 65 mile run to Rapid City, SD.  We pulled into the visitors center and went in there for a while and gathered some local info.  Then had a slow lunch in the parking lot.  Finally we headed for Rushmore Shadows for our 2pm check-in.  This is a membership park and when I called to check on staying here they offered us 3 nights for $31.60 including tax.  The catch is we have to take a 90 minute tour.  We lucked out and our appointment is for 9am tomorrow so it should not mess up our day.

We got set up and jumped in the car to tour the area.  What a day we had.  First we drove past Mount Rushford and snapped a few pictures.

Washington in profile.

Then we entered Custer State Park and drove the Needles Highway, what great things to see.

Got this pretty lady to pose for me

Went thru 6 of these today

The Needles Eye formation

I finally got in a photo

Then we took the wildlife loop thru Custer State Park.  We saw deer, prong horns and finally the Bison.

The famous donkeys

This was a big fellow who got pretty close

Then back to Mount Rushmore, to attend the evening program.

View thru one of the tunnels 

At the entrance

It was a neat program and I was able to join about 100 Vets on stage at the end of the night for the flag lowering ceremony.   It was a neat experience.  It was after 10 when we got back to the coach and everyone else is in bed, and I am headed there also.

All lit up at night

More tomorrow.

Tuesday

Bonnie and I attended our 90 minute tour which turned in to 3 hours.  It of course was a sales pitch to try to sell us a membership.  I stepped out and called Don a friend of ours who knows all about Coast to Coast and he advised this was not a good deal.  We said no and they still gave us 2 tickets for a chuck wagon dinner show in addition to the 3 nights of camping here for $31, thanks Don.

After lunch we are headed to see the Crazy Horse memorial.

First view

I must admit I was a bit disappointed at first.  There is so much more to do.  However after awhile you realize how much rock they have already moved.  I think they have a few more years to go.

The view with a little bigger lens

What it should look like some day

Huge museum on site several buildings with lots to look at and Native crafts

I got a hand woven jacket to keep me warm.

This is all beadwork, did not really say what it was for maybe for a bride at a wedding

Scale model of the face 1in = 1 ft

We had som Sioux indians dancing for us

 Then we headed to Jewel Cave, the second longer cave in the USA.  When we got there all the tickets were gone for the day.  We watched the video and looked around the visitors center.

Mom tried to pick up a Ranger in his fire fighting gear.

From there we headed back to Mount Rushmore to see the videos and other displays that we missed yesterday.

And I figured out why the soldiers were all around the Memorial.  They are musicians and play throughout the day, they are very good.

Good duty

Thats about it for today.  We are calling it a day.  Oh I caught another mouse this morning in the wet bay, I believe that makes 7.

Wednesday

Todays is Women's Day.  We are going shopping.  First to where they make Black Hills Gold, which is a design that features grapes and grape leaves.

Lots of Gold here

 Then over to the Sioux Pottery to look at the pottery.  Boy its another hot one today.

Well we were able to take tours at both places.  The first at the gold factory was guided and they kept  a close eye on you while we were in there.  Yes the ladies both made purchases.  Then on to the pottery where they just allowed us to walk through and talk to the workers.  I really enjoyed that and several of the workers took time to talk to us and show us what they did.

This was quite a big facility

This is the dirt the native pottery is made from

Taking wedding pitchers out of the molds, we watchers others being poured

Opening the molds

Cutting off the extra

Then we headed to WalMart to restock the pantry.  Its in the 90s again here today so we are taking it easy for a few hours in the MH with the AC going.  Later this afternoon we are heading to a ChuckWagon Supper and show.

Several of the buildings were used on the set for the filming of Dances with Wolves and purchased and moved here.  There were a lot of little shops around and we enjoyed visiting with the folks working in them.  The supper was really good I had the chicken, Bonnie had the beef, plus a baked potato, beans, a biscuit, and spice cake for dessert.  We were all full.  There were a lot of people but the lines for food moved quickly.

Then the Wranglers put on a great and varied musical show that lasted well over an hour.  Other people at our table were from Minnesota and Alberta, Canada.  We all had a good time and we were treated to a lightening show on the way back to the coach.  Now a line of storms is going past and so far a few rain drops and lots of wind.

Fort Hayes Supply House

We met Earl and he made us two plates and engraved them.  He has a toy hauler with a hot tub in the back.

Making a rope the old fashioned way

Fort Hayes HQ Building

The line for food

Ready for the show after a great meal

The Wranglers have been together for over 17 years

Even Elvis (aka Earl) made an appearance

Well its raining now the first rain we have had on this trip.  I will get this published and head to bed.
Tomorrow we head to Devils Tower and by Sunday we should be in Yellowstone NP after a brief stop in Cody, WY.

Thanks for Checking In.