Great Falls, Montana

I got a little behind in my blogging so I’m using the next few days to play catch up.

We decided to implement a course correction and shave off 100 miles from our journey to Glacier National Park by heading north through Great Falls.  Due to reservations in the Glacier area which I necessarily made months and months ago, we ended up having a few days to just hang out and Great Falls turned out to be a good place to spend those few days.  The RV Park is located in town and so shopping was a hop, skip and jump from home.  I also took the time to have the oil changed and tires rotated on the Silver Fox (the Honda CRV) which was overdue. 

While hanging out in Great Falls, we took a few hours to tour the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center just down the road along the Missouri River.  It was very interesting and worth the stop.  It’s a good thing I didn’t live back then – life was hard.  No wonder so many died young.  Yikes.  We’re following a portion of the Lewis and Clark trail in our air conditioned motorhome.  Can you imagine not knowing exactly where you are going, traveling on foot and carrying everything you owned with you, braving the elements?   

We went to the Giant Springs Park which boasts the smallest river in the United States, a mere couple hundred feet long.   150 million gallons of pristine clear water flows up through cracks in the limestone every day and rushes down the little falls before dumping into the Missouri River.  The park was beautiful, green and cool.  There is also a fish hatchery on site along the bank of the river.  My nephew Connor, the fishing enthusiast of the family, would have been chomping at the bit to throw his line in the water of the Missouri I am sure.  It must have been a good spot since to fish since there were many people doing just that.  Heck, even the pelicans seemed to recommend this location.

 Lewis and Clark Mission Objective

 

 Boats they used to carry themselves and supplies

 

 Winston looks out over Giant Springs

 

Views of the Giant Springs Falls with the Missouri River in the background 

 

Billings, Montana

We stopped over for one night at the KOA in Billings.  It is the first KOA and flagship for the entire franchise.  My review: it was very nice.  The spaces were incredibly close together, but the amenities more than made up for it.  As with most KOA’s, it is very family oriented.  They have adorable little cabins to rent for those traveling without a home on wheels.  I have no idea what they get for a cabin, but if we didn’t have a motorhome, I would love to stay in one instead of a traditional hotel.  If you have children or pets, this would definitely be the way to go.  Although our stay was brief, it was enjoyable.  This was a pass through rather than a destination stop, so other than a quick Costco run and a trip through downtown on our way out, we didn’t see too much of Billings. Did I mention that the KOA rented recumbent bikes?  Guess who spent some time cruising around the campground?

 Next stop – Great Falls, MT

 

 

 

Sturgis, SD

We were here the week of the famous motorcycle rally.  Everything you’ve seen on TV is true.  People here definitely march to the beat of their own drums.  Sturgis is a small town of approximately  6,660 souls who host the biggest motorcycle rally in North America once a year.  Motorcycle enthusiasts come from all around (we saw Canadians, Texans, New Yorkers, Floridians, Californians and people from just about every state in between) to spend some quality time with one another cruising on their bikes through the hills of western South Dakota, party, drink, check out what’s new and exciting in the bike world, drink (did I mention that already?) enjoy concerts and basically have one heck of a good time.  There are literally thousands upon thousands motorcycles of every make, model and color.  From the extravagant to the ordinary, you’ll see them all here in Sturgis and the people that ride them are as individual as their bikes.  While never a fan of motorcycles, I admit after seeing all the bikes in Sturgis I am now wondering what it would be like to own a purple trike.  Hmmm.

We stayed at Shade Valley Camp Resort about 10 miles east of downtown Sturgis.  The campground was nice and would be a good place to stay if you want to distance yourself a little from the non-stop action going on in town, but still be close to the action.  The Eye Candy Saloon is located on site with free concerts every night and there is a restaurant offering outside dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a BBQ special offered every night.

The popular destination saloons in Sturgis include The Full Throttle Saloon which is billed as the largest biker saloon in the world, the Buffalo Chip, known for its nightly big name entertainment during the rally.  In town proper, you'll find the Easy Rider and Loud American Saloons among many others.

We were pleasantly surprised at the attitude of the crowd.  Everyone here is laid back, courteous and law-abiding from what we could tell.  I was a little worried about the chaos of driving to town with so many motorcycles on the road, but everyone takes it slow and is very respectful of one another.   The Sturgis police department does an excellent job and the locals are terrific.  A great time!

Rather than try to describe the rally to you further, I think I’ll let the pictures below tell the story…

 

 

 73rd Annual Motorcycle Rally

 

Main Street Sturgis

 

Bikes, bikes and more bikes

 

I think I need one of these

Apparently skin, paint and

electrical tape are the latest fashion.

 

  Partying at night

 



The Full Throttle rocks

 

Loved this metal sculpture

 

 

 

Hill City, SD Nearby Attractions

We’ve been seeing the sites near Hill City, SD for the past few days.  It sure is pretty country here and the roads make it a pleasure to drive along and see the sites; precisely why this has been the spot for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally forever I am sure.  More on that topic later. 

Mount Rushmore is no doubt the one place every visitor to South Dakota puts on their list of things to see and do and we were no exception.   Gutzon Borglum and 400 workers created the sculpture of the four presidents (Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln) using dynamite and jackhammers to carve the granite on the hillside.  The project took 14 years between 1927-1941 and cost approximately 1 million dollars.  Each presidential face is 60 feet tall. 

Democracy is the meaning of Mount Rushmore .  How apropos.  Did you know that the sculptor’s vision included a hall of records to be carved into the vertical wall behind the presidential faces which was intended to house The Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights?  Worked started on the Hall of Records in 1938, but ultimately the U.S. government did not approve funding for the addition and work stopped after carving only a doorway and small hallway. 

Although the hall was never built, in 1998, Borglum’s daughter was part of a team that buried a teakwood box in a titanium vault at the entrance of the Hall.  The box contains 16 porcelain panels bearing the words of the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.  The panels also contain presidential biographies and information about how and why Mount Rushmore was carved. 

Also at Mount Rushmore is the Avenue of the Flags with a flag for each of the 56 states, districts, territories and commonwealths of the U.S.  So that’s your history lesson for the day.

Then, it was off to Custer, SD which is the site of the Flintstone’s Bedrock City.  Of course, we stopped at the Bedrock Drive-In Diner for lunch.  I had a Chickasauras sandwich and Mark had Brontosauras Ribs.  Unfortunately, Fred and Barney were hard at work at the quarry when we stopped.   Oh, and for Denise…Bamm Bamm’s pet’s name was Hopper.

Our last tourist attraction around Hill City area was Cosmos Mystery Area.  Okay, I really am at a loss as to how to describe what this is.  A guide escorts you up a hill where you encounter “the force” where the laws of gravity seem to go berserk.  Water flows uphill.  People shrink or grow depending on where they stand.  A ball which appears to be sitting on a slanted board remains in place rather than rolling off.  It’s just plain strange. 

Next stop, Sturgis, SD.

 Avenue of Flags

 

Mount Rushmore 

Those noses are 20-21 feet long!

 

 Did you know Bedrock was in South Dakota?

 

Mark places our lunch order

 

Winston and Dino bond

Winston waiting for our tour 

 Mark's a little lopsided....or is he?

 

 

 

Hill City, South Dakota

We are back on the road!  After parking YOLO in Rapid City, South Dakota for a few weeks and flying to Arizona to spend some quality time basking (more like melting) in the Valley of the Sun, we returned to South Dakota and breathed a sigh of relief – it’s so cool here!  Winston was thrilled to be able to walk during the day without scorching his paws and wilting in the unrelenting sun – and so we did and have been walking to make up for lost time.   In AZ we restricted most of our short walks to early morning and evening in the spirit of self-preservation.  But I still love AZ!

Upon returning to South Dakota, we discovered that Rapid City had a serious hail storm (golf ball size hail) last week which caused all kinds of damage, especially to vehicles.  That explains the shattered windshields on the rental cars parked at the airport.  Fortunately, Mark was insistent that we park YOLO in an inside storage facility and I am so glad we spent the extra money to do just that.  In the long run we saved a lot of money and time not having to deal with damage to the RV.  Yup, when we picked YOLO up, she was in pristine shape just lounging indoors all cool, clean and happy. Whew, dodged a bullet there.

We are staying at the Rafter J Bar Ranch this week which is just outside of Hill City, SD.  Rafter J is a beautiful campground with lots of trees and wide open spaces, a sparkling clean pool, heated spa, arcade, playground and store.  Very kid and doggie friendly.  This place has everything you could need.  Last night Winston and I were outside and it was pitch dark with a clear sky and we were treated to an amazing view of the twinkling stars overhead.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Rafter J has BBQ night at the outdoor dining hall!  We will definitely be chowing down on that tonight for dinner while Cowboy Roy performs live country western music.  Yeah, this is roughing it.  Seriously, this is a very nice place to stay and I would recommend it if you’re ever in the area – it’s also centrally located to all the major attractions.  Check out the campground photos. 

Stay tuned for the scoop on what’s to see and do in this area in blogs to follow.

View of our camping spot

 

View out of our window

 

View out of our window

 

Winston catching an afternoon nap

 

Playground at camp

Devil's Tower National Monument, Wyoming

We arrived at Devil’s Tower National Monument on June 22^nd.  What a beautiful drive!  Green grasslands backstopped by red rolling hills and ponderosa pines.  On the way here, I saw several groups of motorcycle riders, black leather, cool bikes, etc.  Many had pulled over to snap some photos of each other with the tower in the background and I was reminded of the 2007 movie Wild Hogs (you know, the one where John Travolta and his pals are feeling a little manopausal [yes, that’s how I meant to spell it] and decide to buy motorcycles and ride across country).  Seriously, I didn’t see one biker who was under 55.

In 1906, Devils Tower was designed as our nation's first national monument by President Theodore Roosevelt.  Indian legends hold that the Tower’s rough vertical grooves were caused by a giant bear clawing the sides as he attempted to climb the Tower to get the little indian girls at the top.  And, that is exactly what it looks like.  Because of the grooves, it is a popular mountain climbing site among the "crack climbers".  Another claim to fame, the Tower was featured in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the Spielberg science fiction adventure movie about a group of people who attempt to contact alien intelligence.   

We no sooner got situated at our campsite when the skies opened up and it poured.  And what’s a ton of rain without a lightening show and really wicked winds that blow the branches off the trees and on to the roof of your motorhome?  By the way, when rain, branches, or anything hits the top of a motorhome, the sound is amplified quite a bit.  During this particular storm, the rain was so loud Mark and I had to yell at each other just to be heard.  But never fear, Winston takes these storms in stride.  He is unflappable.  At this very moment, he is lounging on the driver’s seat fast asleep while the rain pounds us.  

We stayed at the KOA right outside the gate to the Devil’s Tower National Monument.  It is a lovely park, lots of nice trees, level parking spots, full hookups, a million dollar view, and a nightly movie.  Tonight’s movie (and the movie probably every night)?  Close Encounters of the Third Kind, of course!

 

The Devil's Tower National Monument is spectacular.  I will let the pictures speak for themselves.  This is a definite must see if you are ever in north eastern Wyoming. 

 

Scenic drive

 

"Wild Hogs"

 

What a storm!

 

View from campground

 

Entering the park

 

 

 

 

 Check out the grooves

 

A favorite of crack climbers

 

Looking down on the valley

 As the sun rises over the tower

 

Gillette Wyoming

We attended our first motorhome rally, the 88^th Family Motor Coach Association Rally in Gillette, Wyoming this week.  What an experience.  I’ve never seen so many motorhomes in all my life.  Literally, there were thousands of motorhomes – conservatively I would estimate there were over 3,000 there based on the number of attendees.  Everything from little Class B (van type motorhomes) to million dollar rigs with marble floors and granite countertops.  It was hard to keep our mouths from hanging open when we toured some of the new models on display.  Plush!

The rally lasted five days.  Each day seminars were held on every topic imaginable.  Mark and I had to split up to get the maximum amount of information.  Armed with your new information, you then could trudge on over to the vendor hall where stuff was on sale – everything from things you thought you needed to things you didn’t know existed but now that you do about them, you need those too.  We had a ball shopping and YOLO is now tricked out to the max!

The Buckinghams (Kinda of a Drag) provided entertainment one night and there was another headline entertainer, but we left a day early because we were approaching maximum overload.  Winston was a big hit at the conference.  He now has 500 new fans and thinks he’s all that and more.  While at the conference we experienced more of the famous Wyoming weather – no consistency whatsoever from day to day.  The first day we were there it was blue sky and sunshine.  The second day, the wind blew like crazy all day and night.  The third day it stormed – complete with motorhome shaking thunder, tremendous lightening, hail and torrential rain.  The last day it was cloudy with intermittent showers. 

We went into town for a look see – but not too much in Gillette to see.  Apparently, Gillette’s claim to fame is being the energy capital of the U.S.  We did spy some huge coal mining operation along I-90 as we headed eastbound toward Devil’s Tower National Monument.  Kind of disturbing actually.  The train cars are lined up as far as the eye can see waiting to be filled with coal and then they are off to deliver their load to the 37 states Wyoming supplies.

 

 Yolo and the Silver Fox at the Rally

 

Motorhomes as far as the eye could see

 

 All different makes, models, sizes and types

 

 Vintage motorhome bus

 

 Seminars where we learned all kinds of interesting stuff

The Buckinghams entertain the crowd

 

Coal mining operation near Gillette

Wyoming supplies 35% of our nation's coal