Good Day to all the blog readers!
Yesterday (last Saturday) we spent a very long day driving into Yellowstone, so today(Last Sunday) we took a day of rest to shower (yes, that doesn't happen every night on a trip like this!) and do some much needed laundry! So here are 10 random observations, facts and moments from the trip so far! (in no particular order)
10. When we crossed into Wisconsin from Illinois I was greeted with a sign, "Welcome to Wisconsin, roadwork next 46 miles" While long, it was not terrible for a roadwork area, and it was good seeing roads improved!
9. A hot shower at Fishing bridge RV Park in Yellowstone costs $4.43. 2 Showers per day are included when staying there... Frankie was free!
8. It is 343 miles or so to drive across North Dakota. In Pennsylvania, the Turnpike is 358 miles or so. Now the turnpike does take this long upward loop around Pittsburgh and into Ohio, but it is crazy to think mileage wise it is shorter across North Dakota. Both do have one thing in common....a lot of nothing to see on the drive!
7. Frankie is an amazing travel buddy and great co-pilot! She has enjoyed sitting up front and watching the world go by!
6. The best meal we eat while camping is our homemade chili.
5. We were greeted by a Bison when we entered Yellowstone...what a great welcoming party!
4. When we arrived in Yellowstone, we found a truck parked in our spot. It was from the lady next to us. She tried to talk her way into keeping it there...she failed and she moved her truck.
3. 1000 miles in 2 days in an RV was not a good idea, wasn't overly fun, and will be remembered when making future plans!
2. Teddy Roosevelt was an amazing man, with an amazing perspective and outlook on our nation and the importance of National Parks. If you have time, I would suggest reading up on him!
1. One week into the trip and there have been so many great moments, a few bumps along the way, a couple of WTF moments, but in the end, it has been about fun and new adventure and that is what our our little family loves!
Thursday, June 21, 2018
Teddy Roosevelt National Park
Hello Readers out there! I am so sorry for the delay and lag in posts! Last week, on Wednesday night, Diana flew into Minneapolis to meet us on the trip. The next day, last Thursday, we drive a very long way (just over 500 miles) from Minneapolis to Medora, North Dakota and into Teddy Roosevelt National Park, where we stayed at Cottonwood Campground. We had zero connectivity at the campground. It was nestled in the valley between two mountain ridges, and our RV had zero hookups...no electric, water, or sewer. So needless to day, the posts were unable to occur. We then headed to Yellowstone right from Teddy Roosevelt, and again, zero connectivity. But I am here to save the day! I will post up a few blogs tonight and another few tomorrow to play catch up! Enjoy the reading!
So like I said, we have headed from Minneapolis to Medora, ND and spent 2 nights at the Cottonwood Campground in Teddy Roosevelt National Park. A little background on the park...this is where Roosevelt fell in love with nature and the west. He also found solitude there after his mother and wife died on the same day. He had a small cabin and a small ranch on the grounds. I must say that I have been to a few national parks, but this one, while not grand, majestic or very well known, was one of the most awe inspiring and powerful, moving, places that I have been. There was something in this land, a feeling that cannot be explained. I felt it driving around, waking down trails and watching the wildlife move so freely. There were few people in the park, which helped with this experience, but there is something in those grounds, in the air, that really made you feel like you were somewhere very special.
On our trip through the park we saw Prairie Dogs, Bison, wild horses and a lone rabbit on the trail. I have included some of the pics, although they don't do justice to them or the moment. The canyons, the river, the trees and the rock features were magnificent. We had a chance to do some small hikes as well, which was great to get off the main path of travel. Overall, a great spot, a great hidden gem in the park service and a great 2 nights in a great park! Saturday we will be up early to drive another almost 500 miles into Yellowstone!
So like I said, we have headed from Minneapolis to Medora, ND and spent 2 nights at the Cottonwood Campground in Teddy Roosevelt National Park. A little background on the park...this is where Roosevelt fell in love with nature and the west. He also found solitude there after his mother and wife died on the same day. He had a small cabin and a small ranch on the grounds. I must say that I have been to a few national parks, but this one, while not grand, majestic or very well known, was one of the most awe inspiring and powerful, moving, places that I have been. There was something in this land, a feeling that cannot be explained. I felt it driving around, waking down trails and watching the wildlife move so freely. There were few people in the park, which helped with this experience, but there is something in those grounds, in the air, that really made you feel like you were somewhere very special.
On our trip through the park we saw Prairie Dogs, Bison, wild horses and a lone rabbit on the trail. I have included some of the pics, although they don't do justice to them or the moment. The canyons, the river, the trees and the rock features were magnificent. We had a chance to do some small hikes as well, which was great to get off the main path of travel. Overall, a great spot, a great hidden gem in the park service and a great 2 nights in a great park! Saturday we will be up early to drive another almost 500 miles into Yellowstone!
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
A Whirlwind 3 Days
Greetings my Blog Readers!!!
It has been quite the three days, and I apologize for the delay in posting! I will resume back at Monday morning when we tried to leave South Bend. For those who are not familiar with Rv's, we have what they call a "Slide." This slide moved out, sticks out the side of the RV to create more room inside. So Monday morning roll around and I start to pull the side in, and it only comes in halfway!!! So now I am stuck. I have no idea why the side will not work nor any way to remedy the situation. So I left messages for 4 different RV repair services at 10am. Finally at 145pm, one arrived to the campground. There was a great deal of poking around, trying different things, until we found the issue. Now, this is where my "The simplest answer is probably right" had left me completely and I did not try the answer right in front of me. The RV had become unlevel over the course of the night, and the slide would not close because of that. So a lot of time and a few bucks later, we were finally on the road to Wisconsin Dells!
We arrived late into the Dells on Monday night, and of course the KOA there is awesome and the town of Wisconsin Dells seems very cool too. So I pulled an audible and changed our reservations. We were supposed to spend 2 nights in Minneapolis, and instead decided to spend the extra night in the Dells instead. A good description is Myrtle Beach meets Niagara Falls meets Northern Exposure. Franke was quite excited by this because they had a playground and pool with a small water play feature as well!!
Tuesday the sun came up on a glorious day! We started off with air hockey in the game room, time at the playground, then we walked down to the town to partake in some Mini Golf. On the 2nd Hole, Frankie took a spill that reminded me of other famous falls that some family and friends have taken. She tripped over the brick coping around the green. The ball went flying and was never recovered and the club went flying as well! Frankie ended up with a good scrape/bruise on her shin, and some tears, but she continued on and finished her 18 holes, with my golf ball! LOL!
We then grabbed lunch and headed to the Dells Lumberjack show. This was a lot of fun for us and we got to see some pretty lumberjack competition. Frankie had the chance, along with other kids, to actually use the 2 person saw! She also got picked for the YO HO competition, which is what we yelled for our team! She also got a wood "Cookie" that they had cut in the competition, and all the lumberjacks signed for her. While our team of 2 didn't win, we had a lot of fun cheering them on! It was a highlight for sure!
Frankie sawing away!
YO HO!!!
Frankie and Willie
Once that wrapped it was back for some quality pool time, more playground time, some more air hockey and dinner. After a disastrous Monday, Tuesday was much needed and well spent!
Today we left the Dells and headed NW to Minneapolis! It was a quick 3 1/2 hour drive and after a stop for some food, we arrived at the campground. To Frankie's delight, there were monkey bars at the playground! We quickly hooked up and headed over. After 20 min, we had monkey bar blisters and had to return for some first aid. We then hopped a ride to the Mall of America,
I had been to the Mall of America 18 years ago, and I must say that I love the renovations that have been done since. I wish we had more time, but we made the best with Frankie riding the swings, small coaster and a "Kid" free fall, each 2 times.
She won a prize at the games and was a happy camper! We added to our Piggy and Gerald Books (fantastic reads, if you like pig and elephant humor) and then went to meet Mommy with the Crazy Hair at the airport. We found her, thank goodness, and we all rode back!
It has been a very busy, crazy and exciting 3 days. It is never a good trip to you have a few stories under your belt! Hope all is well, where ever you are reading this! I am not sure what our connectivity or availability will be over the next week or so. We should have some connection the next day or 2 (fingers crossed) but we are staying literally in the middle of Yellowstone and I am not sure what the internet will be. So Please be patient with posts as I am not sure when the next ones will be! Stay tuned and thanks for reading!
Hello Wisconsin!
The welcome bear at Mc Donalds
The Butterfly bench at the playground!
Minnesota comes calling!
It has been quite the three days, and I apologize for the delay in posting! I will resume back at Monday morning when we tried to leave South Bend. For those who are not familiar with Rv's, we have what they call a "Slide." This slide moved out, sticks out the side of the RV to create more room inside. So Monday morning roll around and I start to pull the side in, and it only comes in halfway!!! So now I am stuck. I have no idea why the side will not work nor any way to remedy the situation. So I left messages for 4 different RV repair services at 10am. Finally at 145pm, one arrived to the campground. There was a great deal of poking around, trying different things, until we found the issue. Now, this is where my "The simplest answer is probably right" had left me completely and I did not try the answer right in front of me. The RV had become unlevel over the course of the night, and the slide would not close because of that. So a lot of time and a few bucks later, we were finally on the road to Wisconsin Dells!
We arrived late into the Dells on Monday night, and of course the KOA there is awesome and the town of Wisconsin Dells seems very cool too. So I pulled an audible and changed our reservations. We were supposed to spend 2 nights in Minneapolis, and instead decided to spend the extra night in the Dells instead. A good description is Myrtle Beach meets Niagara Falls meets Northern Exposure. Franke was quite excited by this because they had a playground and pool with a small water play feature as well!!
Tuesday the sun came up on a glorious day! We started off with air hockey in the game room, time at the playground, then we walked down to the town to partake in some Mini Golf. On the 2nd Hole, Frankie took a spill that reminded me of other famous falls that some family and friends have taken. She tripped over the brick coping around the green. The ball went flying and was never recovered and the club went flying as well! Frankie ended up with a good scrape/bruise on her shin, and some tears, but she continued on and finished her 18 holes, with my golf ball! LOL!
We then grabbed lunch and headed to the Dells Lumberjack show. This was a lot of fun for us and we got to see some pretty lumberjack competition. Frankie had the chance, along with other kids, to actually use the 2 person saw! She also got picked for the YO HO competition, which is what we yelled for our team! She also got a wood "Cookie" that they had cut in the competition, and all the lumberjacks signed for her. While our team of 2 didn't win, we had a lot of fun cheering them on! It was a highlight for sure!
Frankie sawing away!
YO HO!!!
Frankie and Willie
Once that wrapped it was back for some quality pool time, more playground time, some more air hockey and dinner. After a disastrous Monday, Tuesday was much needed and well spent!
Today we left the Dells and headed NW to Minneapolis! It was a quick 3 1/2 hour drive and after a stop for some food, we arrived at the campground. To Frankie's delight, there were monkey bars at the playground! We quickly hooked up and headed over. After 20 min, we had monkey bar blisters and had to return for some first aid. We then hopped a ride to the Mall of America,
I had been to the Mall of America 18 years ago, and I must say that I love the renovations that have been done since. I wish we had more time, but we made the best with Frankie riding the swings, small coaster and a "Kid" free fall, each 2 times.
She won a prize at the games and was a happy camper! We added to our Piggy and Gerald Books (fantastic reads, if you like pig and elephant humor) and then went to meet Mommy with the Crazy Hair at the airport. We found her, thank goodness, and we all rode back!
It has been a very busy, crazy and exciting 3 days. It is never a good trip to you have a few stories under your belt! Hope all is well, where ever you are reading this! I am not sure what our connectivity or availability will be over the next week or so. We should have some connection the next day or 2 (fingers crossed) but we are staying literally in the middle of Yellowstone and I am not sure what the internet will be. So Please be patient with posts as I am not sure when the next ones will be! Stay tuned and thanks for reading!
Hello Wisconsin!
The welcome bear at Mc Donalds
The Butterfly bench at the playground!
Minnesota comes calling!
Sunday, June 10, 2018
Getting some sightseeing in!
Hello everyone!
Yesterday's drive from Pittsburgh to Toledo was very usual, and not much to report The drive went well, there was rain to be had, but we did get a chance to take a quick jump in the pool!
Today's trip was a very shot one, just going from Toledo to South Bend. This was the planned stop because how can you drive by South Bend and not see The University of Notre Dame....you can't right? So after a quick drive this morning, we pulled into our campground around Noon and grabbed an Uber at 130 to head over to Notre Dame. We braved the rain, as it has been raining here for 7 days straight! But once we arrived at Notre Dame, the skies parted and sun shone down on us as Frankie and I spent an hour and a half walking the campus, then of course getting some ND Swag! The campus, the people and of course standing outside of the football stadium were the highlight of the day! I had spent last night watching Rudy to get ready for the visit today. I will return again to either see a game in person, or take a tour of the stadium. Until then, I stood drooling outside the gate, the field in the distance. Please enjoy the pictures!! Tomorrow will just be another day of driving, so I will post either tomorrow or Tuesday! Hope it was a good weekend and stay dry everyone!
A Few Items of interest:
1. Yesterday, I saw a van broken down on the road...it said "Reliable Shuttle Service"
2. Frankie is a great travel buddy
3. The Campground today gave us free cookies...very nice touch!
4. Holy Bumpy Roads Batman!! I don't know where Indiana is spending their toll road dollars, but it certainly isn't to maintain the road....I thought we were going to lose our car right off the dolly today! I am not looking forward to the 77 miles or so to get out of the state tomorrow!
5. Thank you Ohio for your great turnpike road!
6. I also watched Sneakers last night...love that movie!
My Co-Pilot!
Hello Ohio!
Lunch Break!
Team Kevin Harvick at the Rest Stop
Indiana welcomes us, rain and all!
Waiting for the Uber
Doing some art appreciation
Helmet Display
"Running" Off to College already!
Beautiful Campus
The Basilica
Mestrovic Pieta
Cardinal O'Hara's Burial site
Main Building
The Grotto
Lighting a candle for Baba
Main Building
Outside the Hesburgh Library: The "Word of Life" Mural
Notre Dame Stadium
RUDY!!!
Yesterday's drive from Pittsburgh to Toledo was very usual, and not much to report The drive went well, there was rain to be had, but we did get a chance to take a quick jump in the pool!
Today's trip was a very shot one, just going from Toledo to South Bend. This was the planned stop because how can you drive by South Bend and not see The University of Notre Dame....you can't right? So after a quick drive this morning, we pulled into our campground around Noon and grabbed an Uber at 130 to head over to Notre Dame. We braved the rain, as it has been raining here for 7 days straight! But once we arrived at Notre Dame, the skies parted and sun shone down on us as Frankie and I spent an hour and a half walking the campus, then of course getting some ND Swag! The campus, the people and of course standing outside of the football stadium were the highlight of the day! I had spent last night watching Rudy to get ready for the visit today. I will return again to either see a game in person, or take a tour of the stadium. Until then, I stood drooling outside the gate, the field in the distance. Please enjoy the pictures!! Tomorrow will just be another day of driving, so I will post either tomorrow or Tuesday! Hope it was a good weekend and stay dry everyone!
A Few Items of interest:
1. Yesterday, I saw a van broken down on the road...it said "Reliable Shuttle Service"
2. Frankie is a great travel buddy
3. The Campground today gave us free cookies...very nice touch!
4. Holy Bumpy Roads Batman!! I don't know where Indiana is spending their toll road dollars, but it certainly isn't to maintain the road....I thought we were going to lose our car right off the dolly today! I am not looking forward to the 77 miles or so to get out of the state tomorrow!
5. Thank you Ohio for your great turnpike road!
6. I also watched Sneakers last night...love that movie!
My Co-Pilot!
Hello Ohio!
Lunch Break!
Team Kevin Harvick at the Rest Stop
Indiana welcomes us, rain and all!
Waiting for the Uber
Doing some art appreciation
Helmet Display
"Running" Off to College already!
Beautiful Campus
The Basilica
Mestrovic Pieta
Cardinal O'Hara's Burial site
Main Building
The Grotto
Lighting a candle for Baba
Main Building
Outside the Hesburgh Library: The "Word of Life" Mural
Notre Dame Stadium
RUDY!!!
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