The quin·tes·sen·tial American farm....

Once we left Colorado and headed into Wyoming on our way to Custer, South Dakota... passing through the legendary wide open spaces, we passed it. The quintessential American farm. Red barn and all. It was beautiful... and it wasn't the only one. There were many. I really got a kick out of it. Maybe because those wide open spaces were a bit tedious and unnerving!

Overnight at the Pines...

Did I mention the pet bunny?

The Pines was in Newcastle Wyoming...which is the middle of nowhere. But the Pines was a small, family-run motel that was lovely and a great respite after our very looooong and uneventful drive the the largess of the West. We met up with Vernon and crew there and had a great night. I was a little put out though because brother actually got a better deal! We had a perfectly lovely (well appointed : ))two room suite with a small kitchenette for $90. And I was pleased with it until my brother took me down to his place...they got a whole cottage for somewhere in the $80 range! What?! How can that be? Bro got a better deal! Just wait til we go on vacation together again. I WILL NOT BE OUTDONE. ; )

Four Mile Outpost

One of the fun things about the trip was all the unexpected places of interest to stop and discover. With two restless boys, it was good to look for one every couple of hours. Just outside of Custer we found the Four mile outpost...a ghost town that is run by Poker Alice and her daughter. You got a tape player to take around the town for explanations of the various buildings. Eventually, the two of them showed up dressed as women in the temperance movement playing their roles to the hilt. The other fun thing out this place was the unfettered access. We were free to roam and explore all of the buildings unencumbered. This is one of the things I found fun about this part of the country -- Big Brother isn't everywhere saying you can't go here, can't do this. Wait until you see the park we visited next!

CC got an idea at Four Mile....

CC got an idea....

I didn't like it..
but then I got an idea,

and I liked it!!!

What CC Does Best at Four Mile..

CC doing what he does best.

Like father, like sons....

It was a great stop....

Kalani made a new friend...

Keona showed us how to talk to an Indian...

In South Dakota, we stayed in Custer State Park, which was close to many sites....and was a site in itself. We saw lots of animals you don't see in Virginia Beach. Most notably, the buffalo. Custer State Park has a heard 15oo strong. I believe we saw them all one day when we were rushing to catch the train. I'm sure all 1500 of them decided to cross the road (several times) following each other tail to nose, so we could admire each one's beauty.
And it really was quite magnificent to see them coming over the hill and lumbering past. They didn't even take notice of the line of cars waiting for them to pass...

and waiting............

and waiting............
and waiting...............Really, didn't they know we had a train to catch?

And sometimes we were close enough to hear them breathe...LOUDLY

And they were BIG....REALLY BIG.

The Pinnacle of Kalani's Trip

Since last Christmas, Keona has been captivated with the Polar Express and he was really excited about the idea of riding a steamer while we were on vacation, so I found one and put it into the plan. However, in the end, it was Kalani who was most excited and absolutely flipped out. He's been nuts about trains since we got back. When we first sat down in the train, my baby actually refused to sit in my lap. He pushed himself off and perched on the edge of his seat -feet dangling-- in delighted anticipation. He had a great ride, laughing and giggling all the time. Keona enjoyed it too, but wasn't nearly as impressed as Kalani. I think he was a little disappointed that there were not stewards singing in the isles and delivering hot chocolate. He soldiered on though and did manage to get some enjoyment from it.

The Playground at Flintstone's Park...straight out of the 60's

Here was a fun park. I haven't seen a playground like this since I was a kid.... Cement, iron bars, dark tunnels, and "dizzying" heights...and a train!

Keona Explains it All...

"Mom? Do you know why the ocean tastes salty?"

"Well...uh...(I know this one)...not exactly...but we'll study that and find out!"

"No, I know. All drains go to the ocean (we KNOW this from Finding Nemo)...so when we all go pee pee in the potty, it goes down the drain and into the ocean....and that is how the ocean gets salty!"

"Oi!...how do you know...never mind...it's enough for one day. Thanks for filling mommy in."

And now that I've been there.....

maybe I'll remember that the four heads on Mount Rushmore are Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln. It was pretty impressive to this mountain that had been transformed into a sculpture. It must feel absolutely amazing to come up with such and idea and bring it to reality. Wow...
Our flat traveling friends were impressed too.

I really wanted to climb them....and go sit on the tip of a nose, but no one is allowed near them. I guess I'm not the first to think of that!

But if Rushmore is impressive......

Wait til they finish Crazy Horse. Thehead was dedicated fifty years after it was begun in 1948. The sculptor didn't even live to see that. When it is completed it will be 60 stories high. The 4 heads of Mount Rushmore will fit in the hair that flows behind Crazy Horse's head. One of the other impressive things about the memorial is that they have refused to take one dime of government money. They have built a beautiful visitor center, which is completely supporting the project. Learning that took a little sting from paying $25 to get in! I hope I am alive to see it finished....

Our Exciting Summer Adventure...

The days before our trip have finally arrived...and we are all excited and immersed in preparations. I've been working to put this trip together for months and now I'm nervously combing through details. I look forward to when the boys are older and more can be left to chance and they can travel longer distances at a stretch.

Admittedly, I'm a little jealous that Vernon gets to plan things like horseback riding. However, the prices are daunting. Imagine a full day trail ride for a family of four....$800 dollars. What's up with that? That's how much it costs for roundtrip airfare for a family of four. Come on; does it really cost that much for horsefeed and scooping up poop? LOL; so maybe I'm not so jealous afterall! In the end, I think we have a nice itinerary set up and we'll all have a good time. The West will still be there for us to return and go horseback riding in the Rockies -- and, oh yes, AFTER we've won the lottery.

I can't wait to see the MOUNTAINS. I have always loved the Blue Ridge Mountains, but I am thrilled to finally be going to see the Rockies and enjoy the GRANDEUR! We will also be visiting the Black Hills in South Dakota and Nebraska.

I compared the elevations for the Black HILLS and the Blue Ridge MOUNTAINS; they are the same. LOL The highest elevations in the Rockies are 14,000 plus feet. I will still love the Blue Ridge, but, WOW, I look forward to seeing the Rockies!

There's a lot of driving, so I'm putting together a travel pack to entertain the boys. And we are mulling over whether or not to take our own car seats. Daddy is not thrilled with this idea, but I think in the end we'll be happier if we do.

The bitter sweet reason for this trip is to spread the ashes of my Mother and Ron in the Black Hills of Nebraska. I have mixed feelings about leaving mom there, but it is what it is..... Wherever her remains are, she is at peace now and the trip has brought us the opportunity for a wonderful adventure. It will also be great to see where Ron came from; he was a good man.



Wednesday, June 27th
Fly to Denver.
Drive to Estes Park (@1 hour)
Castle Mountain Lodge • http://www.castlemountainlodge.com/
Wish we had more time here!

Thursday, June 28
Castle Mountain Lodge borders Rocky Mountain National Park

Spend the day in Rocky Mountain National Park
http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/kids.htm
nap
evening
http://estesparkcvb.com/activities.cfm?mode=listings&listing_cat_id=1140

Friday, June 29
Check out of Castle Mountain Lodge
Drive to Cheyenne For lunch and site-seeing
At naptime, drive to Newcastle, Wyoming
Check in Pines Motel, eat dinner, swim
http://www.rtconnect.net/~icarter/

Saturday, June 30
Check out Pines Motel
Drive to Custer State Park, South Dakota
http://www.custerresorts.com/resortsLegionLake.php

Sunday, July 1
Custer State Park
Fishing and exploration

Monday, July 2
Custer State Park
Mount Rushmore

THIS will be a dream come true for Keona....
http://www.presidentsslide.com/

Tuesday, July 3
Custer State Park
Exploration

Wednesday, July 4
Check out of Custer and drive to Ft. Robinson, Nebraska (@2hours)
Check in Ft. Robinson
http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/parks/guides/parksearch/showpark.asp?Area_No=77
Dinner, fireworks

Thursday, July 5
Ft. Robinson
Ceremony for Mom and Ron

Friday, July 6
Ft. Robinson
Leave Ft. Robinson
Check in Little America Hotel; Cheyenne, Wyoming

Saturday, July 7

Check out Little America
Return to Virginia


An invaluable website that was used in some of the planning of this trip was http://www.tripadvisor.com/ Great information here. Next time, I'll use it more.

Duck...egg...sad...AGAIN

Well, we were so excited that we'd have some babies around here, but it is not to be. The dove and her babies met a tragic end. Culprit unknown. I came out to find masses of feathers and eggshells...dead babies (uneaten) and not much left of mom. It was sad. In K's immortal words.."dove"...eggs....sad.... Somehow I felt like I had let her down. We eyed each other daily and I think were reaching an understanding. Then I discovered mother duck in our front garden and I kept a wary eye on her and her eggs. She knew there was a predator in the area. She had built up her "barrier" of pinestraw to hide herself and her eggs, leaving only her beak protruding between the branches of the bush and never leaving. I was daring to be hopeful. But it was not to be. This morning mother is gone and there are more eggshells on the back porch....duck...eggs...sad...fade to black.. I don't think Keona actually believes eggs hatch anymore.

I ain't never birthed no birds before!!!

And thank goodness mother nature does not depend on us. Our new little baby doves have entered the world. Right in our own coop (well, it does look like one!) And out front we have another mother waiting for her ducklings.... I think it will be soon because she has been sitting on them 24/7 for the past couple of days. Until now, she has disappeared all day.