June 18th Monday
1st full day at Beaver Lake Campground, Custer,SD... Up early, it is still MST, and it is a killer.. The Doggett's were coming over at 10 am and we were going to go driving through the park and site seeing. We drove the Needles Highway and it was so narrow going through the 1st tunnel.. we made it though.. Just beautiful scenery.
We did see some buffalo's and a donkey and of course a few antelope and deer. We drove up to Keystone and had lunch at a Pizza Deli...Came back to Custer and sat outside and then later we grilled steaks and had salad and baked potato and homemade rhubarb torte for dessert. After they left, I quick did the dishes and Dan took Herbie out for his evening walk, and I got ready for bed. It was a long day.....
We did see some buffalo's and a donkey and of course a few antelope and deer. We drove up to Keystone and had lunch at a Pizza Deli...Came back to Custer and sat outside and then later we grilled steaks and had salad and baked potato and homemade rhubarb torte for dessert. After they left, I quick did the dishes and Dan took Herbie out for his evening walk, and I got ready for bed. It was a long day.....
June 18th Tuesday
Up early again, and had breakfast. Dan had to go up to our friend Tom and Gerry Weber and repair a propane line that he had ruined when he had a flat tire on his 5th wheel on the way from Gillette to Custer on Sunday.. It took him about 3 hours and he was back and showered and we were on our way. Went through the park again and then went to see Crazy Horse Memorial. Not much was done since the last time we were there 2 years ago..
On the way back we went on the wildlife loop and we seen so many animals. We were really fortunate to see all these animals.. Herds and herds of buffalo, Rams, antelope, prongs, wild turkey's, and donkey's. What a riot we had with the donkey's. When we left in the morning I took a 3# bag of carrots. Oh they seen we had carrots and they all came running. We had our windows open and we all had carrots and they had their heads in the windows begging for more.. Alot of the animals had alot of babies with them and they were just so precious.
We got back to the trailer and had a happy hour and then we went out to dinner at the Cowboy Cafe...I had liver and onions and the rest had country fried steak. They had a nice gift shop also. After dinner Dan and I got back to the trailer and started putting things away so we could leave early in the morning. Then the rains started and it rained and thundered all through the night.
On the way back we went on the wildlife loop and we seen so many animals. We were really fortunate to see all these animals.. Herds and herds of buffalo, Rams, antelope, prongs, wild turkey's, and donkey's. What a riot we had with the donkey's. When we left in the morning I took a 3# bag of carrots. Oh they seen we had carrots and they all came running. We had our windows open and we all had carrots and they had their heads in the windows begging for more.. Alot of the animals had alot of babies with them and they were just so precious.
June 19th Wednesday
Awake at 5:30 and up at 6 PM.. I made a cup of Ginger Peach Tea and watched the sun rise. It was cold out 49 degrees.. Dan made the coffee and took Herbie out and I got cleaned up and dressed. We had made plans last night to meet The Doggett's at The Cowboy Cafe for breakfast at 8AM.. We thought that it would be easier to hook up and just leave from Custer restaurant. We had a nice breakfast and then said our Thank You's and Good byes, and see ya in Texas.. They were behind us when we pulled out and we took Hwy 16a to hwy 36 to hwy 79 to I-90. Pat called us and said that we had to pull over that something was dragging under our 5th wheel, so Dan found a place to pull over and went and looked and seen that our caliper bracket bolts and a weld broke and the caliper spun around a broke a brake line off. We stopped at a rest area before Wall, SD and he took the wheel off and removed the broken parts and we drove to Chamberlain with no trailer brakes. Once we got unhooked we went to Chamberlain NAPA store and he got some parts that he needed to temporally repair it until we get home.. Now we have 3 trailer brakes working at least. It is a blessing that Daniel knows so much about mechanics and can do his own repairs.
After repairs were done we went across the street and had dinner and came home and relaxed...
June 20th Thursday
We left Oasis Campground, Chamberlain SD around 8:30 AM.. Weather was a tad chilly and we had our jackets on for a shot while. We decided that we would stay at Albert Lea or Austin Minnesota, well I punch in LaCrosse Wisc, just to see what time we would get there.. Well then we decided that we would go into Wisconsin. We arrive in LaCrosse at 4:15 PM.. There were lots of State troopers in So. Dak and all across, Minnesota.. The corn crops were well over knee hi and the fields were oh so green. Weather was beautiful, not hot and a slight wind. Not much traffic either, but in Minnesota I-90, the roads were really Ruff. We chose Pettibone Rv Resort on the Mississippi River. We have never been here and what a mistake. It is going on our list of "Not Going Back".. It is a nice looking and kept up park, no sewer sites, Cable is available, but not guaranteed to work and does not work, 30 AMP electric and it is in a flood zone and luckily it is dry. With our Good Sam discount our bill was 35.00 plus change. Made leftover's for dinner and made reservations for tomorrow night at Riverside County Park in Menominee, MI.. That is one of our favorite parks and we are about 2 1/2 hours from home.. We need to get home and wash the truck and trailer. In the Black Hills we drove in rain for about 50+ miles.. It is so so dirty..
June 21st Friday
Up at 5:15 am and sun is shining in the bedroom window. There is "The Bass Master's Classic" fishing tournament and the boats, all 98 of them are running the river to get their fishing spot.
Stopped in Green Bay at Farm Fleet and picked up a few things. Then headed north to Michigan.
Stopped in Green Bay at Farm Fleet and picked up a few things. Then headed north to Michigan.
River Park County Campground, Menominne Michigan
Marinette Marine, on Menominne River
Had a nice ride to Menominne, MI, where we are spending the night at RiverPark, a city park.. We arrived around 3 PM and then went into Marinette and did some shopping and then went for Chinese food and now, we are chilling out..June 22nd Saturday
Arrived home around 12 noon.. "HOME SWEET HOME" As we pulled in the yard we seen that they grass needed cutting. We got the camper parked and Herbie hopped out and went a sniffing, Looking to see who was in his yard. I was surprised to see my flowers that are blooming. My peonies had bloomed and died already... I missed them.. I went and checked on Mrs. Robin who built her nest on the electrical box.. Well, it looked like she had an empty nest. I then walked on the side of the house and there was a baby that got out of the nest and was hopping around. I didn't know what to do, so I went in the house and looked out the window and seen MOM by her and she was feeding it and she gave it a nudge here and there..
I went and watered a few places and then I helped Dan bring in stuff from the trailer. Lots of Laundry...Dan changed his clothes and went out mowing. It took him about 3 hours... Yes, we have alot that we cut. It sure looks pretty when it is done. I started laundry, and did a few things. We just have to re-pack the trailer as we are going to go to Camping with our friends, Jim and Lou from Tomah and Ralph and Barb from Valparaiso, IN at Munising Tourist Park on Lake Superior. Munising has the best 4th of July celebration and fireworks that I have ever seen.... Everyone come home to Munising for the 4th of July. We had a very simple supper and then We hit our chairs to relax and unwind....
June 23rd Sunday
