Wind Cave, Grasslands, Badlands, Oh My!

Into Wind Cave National Park this morning. It is cool after the rain. It is heavenly. And it was other worldly in the sixth longest cave in the world. We spent an hour in the cave with Ranger Andrew learning about the geology and history of the cave. 1500 LED lights to light the way. Wet concrete carried down by the CCC guys for steps and walk ways. Can't say Ruby was impressed, but Reese loves learning anything new. After lunch, getting ready to head out to the Badlands he asks 'is there ethanol in this gas?' Paying attention, that boy is.

Our adventure into the Badlands involved an eight year old map, and tear off map from the KOA and google maps. We traveled across and into Buffalo Gap National Grasslands via a dirt road, driving off meadowlarks and my first ever Lark Bunting in summer plumage. Rich was in heaven. The hillsides glowed in yellow and green with yellow sweet clover. The yellow sweet clover has accompanied throughout the western part of Wyoming, in any grasslands making it suspect as an invasive. Ranger Andrew said it wasn't considered as such yet. The best part of its company is its sweet smell, only experienced due to our lack of air conditioning. By the way, today has continued to be cooler, so that the lack of AC is bearable.

We are battling a head wind headed west to Rapid City, another KOA much later than anticipated. Can't seem to get to camp before 7pm. We jammed through the Badlands, which are spectacular and reminiscent of Bryce Canyon. Although not to Reese, he didn't remember Bryce. If you pay attention to pictures he is already sick of them, doing what he can to mess them up. Hopefully, tomorrow, back on the road with AC!

Mount Rushmore and More!!!

July 6th. I had to check. The days are running outside of the Gregorian calendar-any calendar for that matter. A sign of vacation for sure. We are slowing down, more patient with the children. It is fascinating to me that we strive to be in the moment when children are naturally in the moment. This drives us crazy as we can't see the need to take so much time to buckle or unbuckle, put shoes on, or transition from vehicle to outside. Definitely an awareness and respect issue that the adults can work on.

One night at the KOA was just enough. Showers, a pool, sleeping with doors open. The location was perfect for a morning hike around Devil's Tower, learning about the history and spying multiple climbing groups making their way to the top. Last night we witnessed a few making their way down the Tower in the dark. Headlamps appearing to fall in the dark.

South Dakota has mountains! They call it the Black Hills, but it feels like mountains and has ski areas! The first highlight for Reese was a tour of an old gold mine. Ruby slept and later played Spot It! with me while Rich and Reese toured the mine. Reese is ready to be a gold miner now. July 7. Yesterday was jammed packed. Mount Rushmore, and even leaving more of an impression, Crazy Horse Memorial. Unfinished, enormous, and privately funded. The master plan is a testament to the promotion of Native American culture. Very impressive, and more emotional than Mount Rushmore. The kids were better, with ice cream as a carrot throughout the day. We rolled into Custer State Park at dark with enough time for the kids and Rich to catch part of a ranger talk. Reese answered a question correctly, which no one seems to remember, and received a life saver. It is quite the topic of conversation despite being unable to remember the question.

We woke in the middle of the night by a tremendous thunderstorm, nothing like we experience out west. Continual lightening, driving rain loud enough to drive Ruby to the bottom bunk. We typically sleep an adult with child unless I can somehow get out of it. Most ferocious storm either of us have experienced. It raised the question of tornado in my head. Into Wind Cave National Park this morning. It is cool after the rain. It is heavenly.

Out of Yellowstone!

July 5. An hour from Gillette, Wy where we hope to have the brakes looked over. We are noisy, most likely fulfilling people's preconceived notions of Vanagons. We stopped for grub in Cody, where the whole world seems to come play for the Fourth before pushing into the Big Horn Mountains. It was beautiful!!! Open areas awash in purple lupine with splashes of yellow, a moose siting necessitating a stop with the binocs, and a drop in temperature. After Cody we assumed our personal swamp coolers, tying a kerchief soaked in cooler water around our necks. Sweaty Butt Betty Bus had been living up to her name!!!

Through the Big Horns we inadvertently discovered the kids threshold with out mind numbing electronics. Squeals of delight and laughter mingled with screams of pain and tattle taling which we successfully ignored for the most part. As we came into Buffalo, the heat hit us as the kids starting spitting at each other, signaling their three hour limit of being in the car. The pen, over which they had been fighting had appeared to be their source of tattoos, of which Ruby had one sleeve and two leggings. We cross the Powder River, let'er buck!, spy our first Wall Drug sign, and barrel toward Gillette, one step closer to Devil's Tower, showers, and a pool!! Outta Gillette, after warning the teen age Qdoba worker bees that I would be sharing a form of birth control with them due to Ruby's awful behavior. I assured them I wouldn't charge them as a clinic or drugstore would. She mellowed a bit, I got an update on the World Cup and waited for the Big O verdict. Just as I was readying to leave, Rich showed up with a clean bill of health for the brakes and the new knowledge that a shock had been hanging by a thread. So off we go again--headed toward our destination and days away from air conditioning. Hopefully!

July 4, Happy Independence Day! On the road at 8:40--a record for us. Our intention was to get up early (inspired by the super human Boerners---you know who you are) but we are joining a train of humans touring Yellowstone. Though we strive to be different we blame our kids for mediocrity as we join the international human train. Thank goodness the kids are excited by steam pots, sparing disappointment so far. We saw another Vanagon! Our existence was affirmed! We whooped in delight and conferred on how we wanted to stop and share and be part of the Vanagon family. After walking Norris Geyser Basin the kids were more than reluctant to visit the springs at Mammoth. Crying, balking, all methods were employed to not go. Not to be ones to pull out bribery until forced to, we offered up ice cream after dragging through the first half of the walk. Needless to say, it worked.

Reese: I got to see the largest geyser in the world. It is called Steamboat Geyser. It was erupting, but not as high as it can. It can go 380 feet high. The last time it went that high was July 31, 2013. I got to go on a boardwalk at see lots of geysers. The coolest one used to erupt but it doesn't now because people threw garbage in it. Ruby: We got to see the geysers. We stopped to see a bear but it was gone after we stopped. Mom and Dad think it was a grizzly bear.

And then we did see a grizzly bear! On our long drive around the park, hitting the highlights we put our new binoculars to good use. It was amazing, and so was the traffic jam the grizzly unknowingly created. It wasn't long before a park employee was out directing traffic. Bridge Bay was where we laid our heads, along with 400 other campers. The mosquitoes were ferocious. Not that kids didn't already look like they had the pox. We broke our home made, permithrin soaked garments and that helped keep them at bay. As did our new door screen. Two victories!

Second Day

July 3. Yellowstone. Great night at Henry's Lake despite arriving in the dark. Crowded with gulls in the morning.

In West Yellowstone Rich investigated A terrible sound coming from right rear wheel---something to do with the brakes. By the time we got into the park, hiked and lunched, he let me know he wasn't too worried. The parking brake was maladjusted. Nevertheless we have a Big O scoped in Gillette, WY. Hopefully they are open over the weekend. After wearing out the kids, seeing Old Faithful, we are headed to camp. Rich says: 'We haven't seen any Vanagons on the road'. My reply 'Why do you think that is?' We both laugh. It will be alright. It's vacation! Although the kids keep asking about the air conditioning being fixed!

And We're Off! Like a herd of Turtles

11:53 am. Here we go, pulling out of town on the way to Henry's Lake Horn honking despite Rich's dogged efforts to repair the bleating beast. It doesn't sound off often, just enough to remind us it has a will of it's own. Heading down Broadway toward the interstate we make a terrible discovery. One which I refuse to believe. The air conditioning is not functioning. 2:32 pm. Not gone yet!!! Back to the house to get Rich's billfold. After doing some in depth analysis of the air conditioning system it has been determined dead. No parts to be had in town. So off we go with that which I had dreaded the most. Traveling long distances without AC. We are planning on having a new compressor ordered somewhere, at some point and fixing the beast. The kids are rolling with the punches making it a bit easier. Reese says 'not fun'. Wish us luck! So far we haven't been getting enough of it! 3:01pm. We did it! We are leaving town! Did I mention the AC doesn't work? I have vacillated between raging grumpy pants mom to apologetic mom, to reading mom, to 'Why did you just do that ?????' mom. The van isn't the nice, neatly packed home I envisioned. But hey! Henry's Lake! Here we come!!!!!

Our Route, As Far as We Know

Rich and I are on different spectrums, as far as traveling is concerned. As I have aged, I like to have a plan, stick to it, and cram as much in as I can plan. Rich is more fluid, allowing the wind to blow him where it sees fit. Folks have asked about our route, and the only fixed part is the beginning. Visiting National Parks and Monuments in the summer necessitates reservations. But after that we don't need to be anywhere until the 19th of July, where we check into a house on Coast Guard Beach, Nauset Cape Cod. I want to fill our time visiting friends and family along the way, but we'll just have to see how it all shakes out.

It is the night before take off, we are still tying up loose ends; loading movies and books on iPads, putting music on phones, paying random bills. Piles of 'to be packed' are scattered on the way to the van. I still need to get upstairs and fill my own bag, and it is ten o'clock, which is past my bed time. It looks as if we will get out of here before the heat settles in and head to Craters of the Moon, hopefully to explore some Lava Tubes. I'll have to check the heat index before completely signing off on that adventure. Reese is finally asleep after begging for company for over an hour. My hair is shorter for the trip, one of the last tasks to be completed. Wish us luck!!! Here we go!!!