... HOLE!
Neighbors
Sadie's summer haircut
Basking Maddox
Falls
Canada, eh?
Today the girls got to go on their first visit to Canada. I've always noticed a distinct lack of humor in customs agents, but they really weren't too keen on my answer to, "Where do you live?"
"Well... it's hard to say right now. Kind of anywhere along I-90 eastbound... from Seattle to Boston."
Not amused at all. Then I had to answer the for what's in the rooftop box. Um...
Eastern Time
Today marks the passing of yet another time zone. I started out in Indiana, and drove through Ohio, Pennsylvania, and into New York. Tonight I'm camping on Grand Island, in the Niagara River. Tomorrow I'll go see the falls.
In my quick web search for where to go with the dogs, I learned two interesting tidbits:
- The Rainbow Bridge is not only a structure that connects the US to Canada, but also a metaphor for the passing of a beloved pet.
- The second most frequently asked question is, "Are the falls turned off at night?"
I'm not sure which of these discoveries bothers me more.
Boston, Ohio
Sounds weird to say it, I know. I think original place names were scarce in the early 1800s. There is even a Harvard Park in Boston. In Ohio.
Since I had taken a wrong turn that put me within 3 miles of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, I figured I'd stop in and feed my obsession. The Boston Store has been converted to a visitor's center, and the ranger directed me to the nearby Brandywine Waterfall that I could walk to with the dogs.
Midwest Rain
This is the difference between Seattle rain and Midwest rain... with Midwest rain - and wind and thunder and lightning - it seems like the world is ending. With never-ending Seattle rain, you just wish it would hurry up and end already.
Turns out my tent shelter isn't really built for Midwest rain. It very nearly blew away, since someone didn't think stakes were necessary.
Beach, Pizza, and Daiquiris
We spent more time at the beach this afternoon. It has been so long since I had to worry about getting sunburned. Or wore anything without sleeves. Or thought it reasonable that wet fabric should become dry when hung outside. Now I'm sucking down a daiquiri at Gelsosomo's while I wait for my spinach stuffed pizza to bake.
Lake Michigan
We all went for a dip in the GREAT Lake Michigan this morning. It was cool and refreshing... we may have to go back in the heat of the afternoon, too.
Sadie fetching
Maddox makes sand angels
Good thing Mom packed the eye drops
Back to camp and eating doggie ice cream in the screen room
Indiana Dunes
I made it! Today saw 5 states... left South Dakota this morning, and cruised through Minnesota (stopped for gas near the biggest porn shop I've ever seen... was a little scared), Wisconsin (stopped for cheese), Illinois (got flipped off in Chicago traffic- feels like home already!), and ended in Indiana. I rolled through Chicago at about 8 PM Central, and was set up at camp by 9:30. Now I'm feeling rather decadent with my facial mask, glass of wine, air conditioner, and HBO on the iPad. Is this still in the realm of 'camping'? Does it count more because I have some inconveniently located bug bites?
Sioux Thunder
I got to Sioux Falls around 4 pm yesterday, which gave me enough time to walk around Falls Park with the girls and pick up a burger and onion rings on the way back to camp.
My hopes of getting a good night's sleep before the long drive to Chicago went sideways when thunderstorms rolled in. Three distinct bouts of thunder and lightning had Maddox curling up close to me for protection. Sadie seemed unphased.
Minnesota welcomes me.
Gas tank is full.
David Sedaris audiobooks queued up.
Only 587 miles to go.
BAD! Lands
I got the girls safely inside the room at the Badlands Inn during the crazy thunder and hail storm this morning, only to turn around and lock myself outside. UGH!
Once I got a hold of someone who could let me in, I found that it was raining right through the closed window, and about four feet into the room.
The kicker? My little camp trailer stayed perfectly dry inside.
Stormy sunset view from the new second-floor room
Yellow mounds
Whoo hoo!
Paleontology lab
Beasts
Prickly pear
Badlands National Park
Wall Drug
The signs along I-90 start many MANY miles before the exit.
I like to buy my pharmaceuticals and dead animal heads in the same place.
Oh good... I needed a new flask.
Like a small town inside a town.
Water! The famous start to the Wall Drug story.
Girls stare down the beast.
Mount Rushmore
Sturgis
Chopper
Biker Bar
Memorial bricks
Keeping it classy.
Hulett, WY
"Where?" Fair question. This is where one heads when the gas light comes on in the parking lot at Devil's Tower. Sure, it's downhill... but that will only get you so far. But it was worth the extra couple miles detour off I-90 to see these remarkable establishments. I'm pretty sure the sign read, "Population 352." Good thing there are two saloons on Main Street.
Great branding here at Bank. Not to be confused with the other building, Not Bank.
Cafe. I'm seeing a noun-based pattern here.
Trading Post, complete with antlers.
Wait... did I say antlers?
Devil's Tower
Day 5: Sheridan to Mt Rushmore
I arrived in Sheridan, Wyoming after the campground office closed, but before everyone had gone to bed. I ended up having beers with a family who had just come from Mt. Rushmore. They gave me a tip on a lesser-known campground, since the KOA had been booked when I tried to reserve there. I left early the next day, and crammed in a bunch of sight-seeing:
- Devil's Tower
- Random western town of Hulett, WY
- Spearfish Canyon scenic drive
- Black Hills National Forest
- Deadwood
- Sturgis
- Mt Rushmore evening lighting ceremony
Rolling green hills of Wyoming
Cooling our paws in Spearfish Canyon
Ice cream for all the girls
Red rocks & soil
Little Bighorn
Evening history lesson
General Custer Fell Here
Little Bighorn Memorial
Sun set for so many
Pictograph Cave State Park
Cool rocks and cave paintings. Maddox went berserk over bunnies.
