August 8, 2008
We are on our way home after meeting up with Gene’s sister Charlene and his brother-in-law Joe in Iowa. We stayed at a Harrison County campground near there home that was beautiful and empty. It was a great visit.

We dropped our rv off in Indiana and are heading straight for home.

Our daughter Marci was in an auto accident in April and has been suffering with terrible headaches. She has gone through all kinds of tests and treatments and now the only thing left is surgery. Tuesday she will have C4,5,6 vert. fused. at Plano Presbyterian hospital and we will be there.

The trip has been a big adventure and we plan to be off again in September going to New England. but it will be hard to compare to what we have seen.

Aug. 8 -

August 8, 2008
We are on our way home after meeting up with Gene’s sister Charlene and his brother-in-law Joe in Iowa. We stayed at a Harrison County campground near there home that was beautiful and empty. It was a great visit.
We dropped off our rv at the Dutchmen dealership in Indiana this morning and are heading straight for home.

Our daughter Marci was in an auto accident in April and has been suffering with terrible headaches. She has gone through all kinds of tests and treatments and now the only thing left is surgery. Tuesday, the 12th, she will have C4,5,6 vert. fused at Plano Presbyterian hospital and we will be there.

The trip has been a big adventure and we plan to be off again in September going to New England. but it will be hard to compare to what we have seen.

Aug 2,3

Aug. 2 & 3
Drove all day to Mitchell, SD. I was so tired by the time we got in we decided to stay another day and tour the Worlds only Corn Palace. The Corn Palace is the center of attention in Mitchell whose founding fathers hoped that constructing a palace of grain would draw interest to the region’s agricultural capabilities. It has drawn over 500,000 a year. It was originally were settlers displayed their agricultural bounty. The building is famous for the huge colorful murals on its sides, which are redesigned every year with scenes depicting life in South Dakota. The theme this year is everyday heroes. The murals require thousand bushels of corn, grasses, straw, milo and sourdock. It is really very interesting and unique.
We then visited the Dakota Discovery Museum. There are buildings, machinery, etc. from the Homestead Act of 1862, which said that anyone, at least 21 yrs. Old and the head of a household, could lay claim to 160 acre parcel of land. The condition was that the homesteader had to “prove up” on the claim, such as plowing & planting between 10 & 15 acres, and construction of a dwelling. The museum shows what life was like in the shacks, which often were a meager 12 ft by 14 ft, the minimum requirement by the government. There was also an art exhibit of Oscar Howe who was a full blooded Indian and his art is magnificent. I bought a small picture.
One thing we find unusual about the campground were we are staying, the cable tv only carries FOX news, No CNN or any other news channels. They get 50 channels, disney, hgtv, cooking, marathon, etc.

july 30-aug 1

July 30-Aug 1
We are camping in a large field with a bunch of motorcyclist. There is a rally, we found out, in Sturgis S.D. that brings in over a half million people. The town of Sturgis has a pop. 0f 6,000 so they are spread out for miles at every campground for miles. The rally does not start till Monday. All the bikes are shined, spit and polished. Of course all the motorcycle dealers are set up to display there wears on anything to do with motorcycles and of course the beer companies are well represented.
We met up with Gene’s nephew Kenny and his wife Carol. They took us out to lunch and then we took a ride past Mt. Rushmore, we have been there before, and to Crazy Horse Monument. We had been there 20 or more years ago and it was great to see all the progress. It is considered one of the many wonders of the world and when finished the largest and a great tribute to the Native Americans.
About 60 yrs.ago Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear asked Boston Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski to create a monument in the sacred Black Hills of Lakota warrior and hero, Crazy Horse. The Indians wanted “the white man to know the red man has great heroes, also.”
We also went to a local winery for a taste test and of course bought a few bottles.

July 30

July 30
On ward we go. Did not leave Sheridan as early as we wanted to because Gene decided to put the spare tire on the 5th wheel to replace another worn tire so we did not get out till 11am. I saw Devils Tower National Monument on the map and it was not to far out of the way so we headed off I 90 and took Route 24 up to the monument. What a beautiful drive. We really enjoyed watching the vegetation & geology of the area change.
Devils Tower was the first national monument created under the Antiquities Act of 1906 buy President Theodore Roosevelt. His action made Wyoming the home of our first national park … Yellowstone in 1872… and our first national monument.
Over twenty American Indian tribes have a cultural connection with the Tower. They have lived in the area at some point in their history and it is revered as a sacred place to them. The towers name is the white mans incorrect translation. The Indian word for the tower should have been translated into “Bear Lodge”. Some of the Plains Indian tribes have objected to the name Devils Tower, considering it offensive to site they regard as sacred. A monument name change would require legislation and congressional action. It has been done before, but at this time no such action has been taken. With permission climbing is aloud. There is a voluntary climbing closure in June out of respect for the American Indian beliefs. This affront to the Plains Indians really bothers me. I got to change the subject.
Geologically the tower is an igneous intrusion, but geologist have three different theories of how it came to be.
Prairie dogs live in their “town” near the monument entrance. They are fun to watch.The drive to South Dakota on the back road was great. We went through towns (?) with the population of 5 or 50. I guess its all in the family.
Another great day in a adventure. We have gone 9754 miles.