Category: Uncategorized

North Dakota

20 June 2018

I was told there was nothing to see in North Dakota. The first stop was the Painted Canyon. After driving through fields of corn and flat prairie grasslands this is quite spectacular.

Then Theodore Roosevelt National Park has bison, prairie dogs, wild horses, gophers and foxes.

This is the cabin known as the Maltese Cross where Roosevelt spent a lot of his peaceful time set in the town of Medora in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Stopped the night in Glendive whose motto is Good people surrounded by Badlands.

A pretty mean sunset in the West.

Glendive Dinosaur Museum. This is for my Great Nephew Christian.

Yellowstone National Park

23 June 2018

This is where I stayed in Cooke City just 6 km (4 miles) from the East entrance of Yellowstone.

It’s embarrassing but all I knew about Yellowstone National Park was:

  • Yogi Bear and Boo Boo
  • Smokey the Bear
  • Grizzly bears
  • Lots of people visit

I did not realise this huge park:

  • Is set on a super volcano which has had some recent concerning activity.
  • Has 5 entrances
  • You can camp or stay in lodges or cabins in the park

Some tips which might be of interest:

  • The North East entrance area of Cooke City/Silvergate is a small community with buildings which require to be built with natural products to fit within the alpine landscape
  • When parking at Mammoth Springs go to the upper section up the road. Easier to park and a shorter walk.
  • The West City entrance is more commercial, and in my opinion, not as appealing and more expensive than the East side
  • I recommend entering Yellowstone from the East entrance. There are fewer tourists from that side
  • Even though there were many tourists I didn’t feel overwhelmed.
  • Highly recommend the drive from Red Lodge to Cooke City along the Beartooth Highway
  • Take binoculars
  • Take a chair and picnic to sit and watch the animals
  • Stop and ask people if they have seen animal activity
  • There are traffic jams when someone sights an animal and vehicles stop everywhere
  • Don’t drive too close to the vehicle in front as people people get excited and slam on their brakes when an animal is sighted

Visiting the Norris Geyser reminded me of my visit to the Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii which recently erupted.

The Porcelain basin at Norris Geyser is picturesque although the smell of the gas is not pleasant.

This is an album of some of the many faces of Yellowstone.

Mount Rushmore/Crazy Horse/Deadwood South Dakota

19 June 2018

Yay!! I got to see the Presidents at Mount Rushmore!!

After 5 attempts over 3 days I had almost thought that I would miss out on this great wonder of the world. It was truly worth the wait. When I woke this morning the sun was shining. I couldn’t get out of the hotel fast enough praying that the fog wouldn’t roll back in. I was stuck in the entrance traffic and got this shot hoping that it wasn’t going to be my only one as the fog did come rolling in.

And then it cleared to the gorgeous picture at the beginning!! Another off my bucket list. This is truly a magnificent piece of art. 400 people worked on this sculpture financed by the Government, and not one person died on this dangerous project.

Then I went on to the Crazy Horse Memorial. The man who started this project, Korczak Ziolkowski, a sculptor, known as the storyteller in stone, was approached by Henry Running Bear to build a memorial “My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know that the red man has great heroes also”.

Korczak and his wife, Ruth, with their 10 children worked together and many of their 23 grandchildren still work on this project.

This project is funded totally by donations and tourists with the Foundation rejecting any government funding. Still has a long way to go.

Next stop was Deadwood South Dakota, famous for Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane.

The Saloon 10 where Wild Bill’s poker hand of a pair of 8s and Aces became known as “deadman’s hand” after he was murdered holding these cards.

Calamity Jane’s grave is next to Wild Bill’s as he had wanted.

Red Lodge Montana

21 June 2018

I spent most of today driving 3.5 hours to Billings and getting my rental car serviced. I could have had it swapped instead of the service but it meant moving my wardrobe to another car and remembering to move everything. Last car I swapped I lost my hat and I am also used to driving this Toyota Corolla. Don’t need the stress of changing cars. After the housekeeping I discovered I am 3 hours from Yellowstone National Park so set off in that direction. One hour later I started to get weary and stopped in Red Lodge. Another gem!

I went for a walk down the main street Broadway Avenue and bumped into this dear. I am hoping to see a bear as the locals said they wander around as do Elk.

I had dinner in a new seasonal Italian restaurant Ox Pasture, where the chef owner and his workers are from New York but from Italy. The atmosphere is festive.

Red Lodge have a songwriters festival this weekend and I enjoyed their open Mic night. I filmed a little of Yasha video.

Musician Tom Walter spends half the year in Austin Texas and the other half in Red Lodge Montana.

Beartooth Highway Montana/Wyoming

22 June 2018

I decided to take the scenic road from Red Lodge to Yellowstone National Park. How can one road provide so much stunnning landscape and changes of temperature!

Beartooth Highway climbs up to almost 3,300 metres (11,000 feet) with several switch backs in the road for the steep climb and descent.

Driving into Red Lodge I saw the snow on the mountains but had no idea I would be driving through the snow areas. There were people skiing in some spots.

Video of lake. It is summer here but need to remember it is very high up on the mountain.

On the way up this lookout had chipmunks. Another animal I can add to my list of sightings.

I found a room in a quaint cabin in Cooke City which has a population of 90 all year round and is 6.5 km (4 miles) outside of Yellowstone National Park. Because of snow, the road on the east side of Cooke City (which takes you to the North Eastern entrance of Yellowstone) is inaccessible for 5 months. Can you believe Yellowstone has over 4 million visitors in 150 days.

I drove 20 minutes into Yellowstone to have a look at what I might find tomorrow as it was too late to drive around or across the park and explore too much.

In one spot, Lamar Valley, there were people who had huge telescopic cameras set up on tripods. At the moment I arrived you could see mountain goats. Down the road there were some bison.

I saw a moose and a dozen marmots but I was not able to stop to get a photo. But this deer posed for me.

Devil’s Tower Wyoming

18 June 2018

Woke this morning to heavy rain and thick fog. I rang Mount Rushmore and visibility was nil. I didn’t want to waste a day but I don’t want to miss out on Mount Rushmore so I went for a 2 hour drive to Wyoming.

I stopped at a cute town called Aladdin with a population of 15. The 125 year old general store has five rooms of collectibles to purchase.

In fact, if you have $850,000 you can buy the whole town.

Devil’s Tower is the USA’s first national monument and set in the Black Hills. This monolith is considered sacred by Native Indians and is very popular for rock climbing.

How cute are the prairie dogs!!

And this cute deer who crossed my path.

Tonight I am staying in Keystone a cute historical town at the foot of Mount Rushmore.

I went up to Mount Rushmore as it is 7 minutes from Keystone. However, visibility was still nil.

I returned to Keystone and had dinner in Ruby’s Saloon.

Then I again went up to Mount Rushmore where I remained for 2 hours just waiting for the fog to clear for just a few seconds so I could see the Presidents. Not much to see tonight.

The whole monument is so beautifully set out.

The only thing you pay for is $10 for parking but it is valid for a whole year. I will try again in the morning and will decide if I should stay another night to capture a glimpse of this great monument. It is costing me money and time I had not planned. Hopefully the fog will lift. Rain is predicted for another 2 days though. There are people from all over the world who have missed out and I hope I am not one of them.

“Wall Drug” Wall/Rapid City, South Dakota

17 June 2018

On my way to Rapid City South Dakota I stopped at Wall Drug in the town of Wall on the edge of the Badlands of South Dakota. So many people told me that I must stop there but I didn’t expect it to be such a commercial tourist attraction, although the many signs throughout the beautiful countryside should have alerted me. Many people do enjoy this tourist spot as evidenced by the big crowd of people there, in the middle of nowhere and pouring with rain. I saw it as “just” another shopping centre, however, the history behind the original store beginnings and how it has become a mega tourist attraction is interesting.

It was set up as a pharmacy in 1931 by Ted and Dorothy Hustead and business was not going well in Wall, known as the town “in the middle of nowhere”. Dorothy decided to put up signs on the highway to attract customers to their store by offering “free ice water” or “cold root beer”. This was so successful that they continued to expand the pharmacy to include food, clothing and this town in the middle of nowhere caters to 2 million tourists each year.

They even have a Harley Davidson store.

It is a popular spot to stop on the way to Rapid City and Mount Rushmore. There are apparently signs all over the world depicting the distance to Wall Drug including signs put up by American GIs around the world during WWII. Wall Drug Signs

Later when I arrived in Rapid City I did a walk around town and they have statues of a USA president on each corner.

I just photographed some of my favourites, not necessarily politically. There isn’t one of Obama yet and that should be unvieled around September.

A couple of Rapid City buildings in the historical centre.

I then went to a pawn shop looking for some Indian tribal paintings and the gun section shouldn’t have surprised me but it is disturbing.

I then went to Mount Rushmore, although I wasn’t expecting to be able to see anything as a thick fog hanging around all day got worse. Hopefully it will clear tomorrow.

Little House on the Prairie

16 June 2018

For all the Little House on the Prairie fans, I stopped off at Walnut Grove, Minnesota.

Laura’s family travelled 1500 miles to various towns including Walnut Grove, Sleepy Eye and settling in De Smet South Dakota. I cannot imagine what that would have been be like in a wagon over rough terrain.

This is the Ingalls family homestead in De Smet, South Dakota.

Last stop today was Mitchell South Dakota. The most popular tourist attraction is the Corn Palace, famous for its corn murals which change every year. It reminds me of the displays at the Sydney Royal Esdter Show.

Red Wing/ Northfield/Mankato/Sleepy Eye Minnesota

15 June 2018

Goodbye to Red Wing from the Memorial Bluff overlooking this town. In the distance you can see the red dragon on the houseboat, in the marina, I was introduced to an incerator toilet.

Red Wing shoe Company was founded in the town of the same name.

On to Northfield famous for the infamous Jesse James’ and the bank of his last bank robbery. You have to imagine horses and not cars out the front.

The Cannon River flows through Northfield.

Reconciliatin Park in Mankato is dedicated to 38 Indian Warriors who were hanged near this site in 1862,by the government. The buffalo repreesnts the spiritual survival of the Dakota people.

Down the road is Minneopea Falls where I appreciated the spray of water as it was quite hot in Mankato 37C (98F).

The Minneopea State Park has a reserve with bison. I did find them but wonder if you can see them.

I found a lovely airbnb in a town called Sleepy Eye, named after a Sioux, Chief Sleepy Eye (he had a droopy lid). The town did not habe much to see as lmost all the roads were being dug up, but I stayed in the best Airbnb home eve. My hosts Janet and Bruce have the most beautifully decorated home I have enjoyed. I thank them for their wonderful hospitality.

Wisconsin

13 June 2018

I discovered the Great River Road (GRR) which runs alongside the Mississippi from Minnesota to Louisiana through 10 states. It is known as Old Man River, Father of Waters, “body of a nation,” Big Muddy—by any name the mighty Mississippi cuts a mythic figure across the American landscape.

I have driven through all those states but not along the GRR. However I am glad that I will have driven through Iowa, Wisconsin and Minesotta along the GRR.

The Effigy Mounds are in Iowa and I stopped to do my 10,000 steps through this national monument park. I did not expect to see my favourite river with a Turkey Vulture flying in front of me.

The mounds were created by Native Indians and built in the shape of animals and some are burial mounds. Interestingly the shapes of the mounds can only be seen from above and to this day the meaning and origin remains a mystery.

Walking through this beautiful National Park, I did not like the snake I almost stepped on. It was only about 30cm (1′) long and 20mm ( 3/4″) thick but it was a snake, and scared the S..T out of me. I later found out it was a Garter Snake which is not harmful to humans. Regardless, it’s a snake.

Earlier I had a different fright caused by a bambi who ran out in front of my car and I nearly hit it. Thank goodness mum wasn’t with it.

Magestic homes in the Mississippi town of McGregor.

I

was expecting John Wayne to come out of one of these.

I stopped at st Feriole Island Prairie du Chien Wisconsin for this photo of Villa Louis where you can experience the Victorian lifestyle of the 19th century.

I finished off my evening with a free concert in Riverside Park La Crosse Wisconsin. A stunning spot on the Mississippi.