Hermosa, South Dakota (25 miles from Rapid City)

We are spending one week in Hermosa, South Dakota because we are taking advantage of all the free or nearly free parks we can stay at in this area while we enjoy driving around in our new crossover to see the various sites.

Stopping in Custer State Park

The weather looks great on that picture. But, we have been experiencing severe thunder storms about every 3-4 days. Lots of wind (up to 60 miles per hour), heavy rain and our third hail storm. Luckily, we are able to follow the storms on our cell phones and our NOAA radio with its frequent warnings. The temperature is 87 degrees now and expected to get to 101 degrees in the next few days. Needless to say, our air conditioner is on from noon on most every day.

Last weekend, we went into Rapid City for their Summer Festival. Since we don't purchase much these days (except food) -- as we can't carry anymore in our motorhome -- we merely walked about and saw the various vendors with their amazing crafts.

Summer Festival in Rapid City

We also drove in to Deadwood last Saturday to attend their Wild Bill Hickok Days. Only problem was that we arrived in the morning and most of the activities were scheduled for late afternoon and evening. And, it was too hot to stick around. 

Street blocked off in Deadwood, South Dakota for events later in the day.

Coming back from Deadwood, we stopped along the way to take more pictures before the rain came.

We found this combination of rock, greenery and small creek interesting.

But the most fun and excitement we had was driving through Custer State Park again. This time we didn't just see a couple of buffalo. We saw hundreds. Sorry for all the pictures, but we had fun capturing them on camera. Jerry also got some cool video. 

Buffalo all over the place in Custer State Park.

You can see all the cars stopping along the way to see the buffalo.

There were lots of little ones.

Chanti checking out the situation. We taught her never to bark at deer.

So all we had to say was "deer" and she just observed the buffalo

without barking.

Now they all decided to take over the road. Glad we were

in a car and not on a motorcycle.

From there we climbed to the highest peak in the Black Hills. The views were spectacular.

And this is what we saw!

This is where we stood to take the pictures. 

I tripped on the way coming down but was able

to protect my camera while getting a few bruises.

TV and cell towers on the very top of the mountain.

Jerry is working on his book these days and I'm trying to improve my photography techniques. We are both enjoying this life -- doing what we want. Retirement is great. 

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL THE WONDERFUL DADS

WHO PLAY SUCH IMPORTANT ROLES IN OUR LIVES

Jerry is having a great Father's Day this year. First, he got a new cell phone (Droid 4 because he likes slide outs). Second, he got a new car. Before I go any further, the new car purchase was not on our agenda -- but we didn't have a choice in the matter.

Let me explain. The transmission went out on the Tahoe when we were in town (about 10 miles from the RV park). We were very lucky that it happened in town rather than when we were out exploring the hills around here. So the Tahoe gets towed to the local Chevy dealer and the dealership gives us a ride back out to the RV. Three days later, we get picked up because all the work is done on the Tahoe (new transmission, along with other work Jerry requested such as new front brake calipers and pads, steering box, lube and oil, and 4x4 system check etc.). Total cost -- just over $4,000. Ouch!

As we were leaving, the mechanic decided to check if the Tahoe is a towable vehicle. Now this was something that was thoroughly checked out before we started towing the Tahoe a year and a half ago. Turns out that the new Tahoes are towable, but not one that is 15 years old. Long story made short -- the transmission went out because we towed it. Too bad, because Jerry wanted to run this vehicle to one million miles (it has 179,000 miles on it).

What to do! No choice but to trade it in on a new car, which is exactly what we did. We are now driving the Chevy Equinox. And yes, it is a towable vehicle.

New Chevy Equinox

Other than that little bit of excitement, we have been driving around the black hills, checking out places, went to see a movie (Best Little Marigold Hotel -- definitely a movie for old folks), and catching up on things in general. We have a list of 10 things we want to do and see while we are in this area and are working our way through the list. Also, Jerry was a guest speaker on a small business radio program here in Rapid City the other day.

Here are some pictures we've taken along the way. 

This is the view out of our RV front window 

(taken with cell phone camera)

Taken on Sunday at the Pactola Dam and Reservoir

Gives you an idea of how fast the weather changes around here.

In fact, we have lived through two hail storms with winds up to 40 miles per hour so far. More to come I'm sure.

Taken on the bike path near the RV park. 

Until next time, stay safe, happy and healthy.

Rapid City, South Dakota

Well at least we are out of the tornado areas of Oklahoma and Nebraska. Saw on the news that they are still experiencing them in those areas. But, our weather here in Rapid City for the last two weeks is interesting to say the least. It can turn on a dime. One day the high is 60 degrees and today we have 87 degrees. The wind comes and goes from 5-10 miles per hour to 35-40 miles per hour. One thing we are enjoying is all the pretty clouds -- something we don't see that often on the west coast.

Parked at Rushmore Shadows RV Resort

On Monday, we have moved on to Hart Ranch, a beautiful RV resort here in Rapid City. It is huge with lots of amenities.

We have made a list of the different sites we will visit while we are here. We made one trip through Custer State Park, but the weather that day was overcast and rainy. Will will go back and hopefully can take better pictures. But, here are a couple of pictures we took that day just to show you the beauty of the rocks and hills.

 First, one more picture of a buffalo near the road.

Custer State Park

Rocky hills in Custer State Park

Stopped to eat our lunch along the way.

Don't think our motorhome could make it
through this tunnel in Custer State Park.

Took a 6-mile bike ride on a path near the RV park this morning
and passed some beautiful areas. This was one of them.

Have a great week, everyone.

Rapid City, South Dakota

They improved this Rushmore Shadows RV Park since we were last here in 2008 -- paved lots of the roads. Sure makes it more pleasant to be here.

On Thursday, we decided to check out the South Dakota Badlands, a 60-mile drive from where we are staying. Must say, they are nothing like the North Dakota Badlands. But, we enjoyed the day and the scenery. Even took along sandwiches which we ate out in a park area near the Visitor's Center. Should have taken a picture of it as we drove right by it before we realized that the small building with no signs was the Visitor's Center. Had to back up.

Taken at the start of the drive.

About the highest peaks we saw.

And more.

Taken on our way out.

Just had to include this one. (Hey Pat and Bill -- we have the 

husband of a niece who moves houses for a living. Should we contact him?)

Weather has been quite windy, raining off and on for two days, and between 68 and 84 degrees (45-55 at night). Sure beats the heat we left in Texas and Oklahoma.

Have a great week, everyone!

Hot Springs, South Dakota

So we made it to South Dakota after driving 360 miles in one day. Actually, it wasn't that bad. Saw lots and lots of long train cars filled with coal while driving through Nebraska.

Train cars filled with coal in Nebraska.

And lots of open space.

We spend the weekend at the KOA in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Felt really good to be back with the trees.

Parked at the KOA in Hot Springs, South Dakota

On Mother's Day, we drove with the Tahoe onto a gravel road (used the 4-wheel drive) to try to see the buffalo that roam wild around here.

And, there they were!

Hey, Shan, here is where I was when I took your phone call.

Today we drove 60 miles to the Rushmore Shadows RV Resort. We've been here before (2008) and really like it. We will be here for two weeks before we move on to another RV park in the area. The weather is suppose to be in the low 80s during the day and 45-55 at night for the next 10 days. 

Have a great week, everyone.

Elm Creek, Nebraska

Actually, the 300-mile drive on Monday from Kansas to Nebraska was uneventful. Of course, we always enjoy moving-on to a new place and look forward to what we will see when we get there. When Jerry booked this place called the Sunny Meadows Campground on the internet, he thought that the place looked fine with lots of trees. We should have known. Any RV park with the name "Campground" in the title is not your typical motorhome RV park.

Sunny Meadows Campground in Elm Creek, Nebraska

We drove into Kearney, about 16 miles away on Wednesday. It is a city of 30,000 with all the usual eating and shopping places (but only one Starbucks).

Tomorrow, we leave early for Rapid City, South Dakota -- another 300-plus mile drive. The weather looks promising. Speaking of weather, it is 84 degrees out now. 

Yes, we are parked right next to what looks 

like a corn field and next to a "classic" RV.

Once we get to Rapid City, we will not be updating this blog on a weekly basis. That is because we will be there for eight weeks and will only update the blog as we visit the various sites.

Take care everyone.

Halstead, Kansas

Left Oklahoma on Monday and spent the week in Kansas outside a small town called Halstead (in the central part of the state). Until we get further north, we are constantly focused on the weather. Unlike California (when you get a fair amount of warning), the weather in these central states can change on a dime. Yes, they try to forecast it, but there is no way they are able to predict actual tornadoes. That's why we keep our NOAA radio on at all times these days. Even though I posted this on FB, here is an example of what I'm talking about.

I captured this on my cell phone on Monday. That was the night our NOAA radio alarm went off every 15 minutes warning us of tornadoes in the area. Luckily, this park also has a couple of storm shelters.

Other than experiencing high winds for a good part of the week, the stay here as been nice. This park, called The Spring Lake RV Resort, is billed as the largest RV park in Kansas. 

The Spring Lake RV Resort in Halstead, Kansas

When we are in a new area, we always ask: "So, what's to see here?" Sometimes our neighbors in the park give us information on what we should see while we are here, and at other times, we just check it out on the internet. In this case, our neighbor told us that we must visit the "health clinic" and the "100 year old hardware store" in Halstead. And that is just what we did on Wednesday. 

First, we visited the Kansas Learning Center for Health

Here, we found a great learning experience about the body -- especially for school-age children. We watched a short movie that discussed the various organs of the body while at the same time observing lights go on in the model designating the organ being described.

With the muscles gone, one is able to see each organ, 

the blood vessels and nerves in the body.

Early orthopedic saws. Ouch!

There were large replicas of various individual 

body parts in the center, also.

Gross! One pound of fat that you will gain if 

you add 500 calories each day for a week.

From there, we found the 

100 year old hardware store. 

Turns out, it is now an 

"antique hardware store." 

Did I mention that Halstead is a very old small town (pop. 1,800)?

When have you last seen a coblestone street?

Wheat Pasta Prima Vera made by Jerry

This Park is loaded with families of geese. 

Some have only two little ones, 

others have five, six or seven.

The basement of that building contains 

one of two storm shelters in this Park.

Just part of this large Park.

A look of our weather earlier this week.

Tomorrow we plan on driving 300 miles into Nebraska -- though still not out of this unpredictable weather pattern. In fact, the prediction is for 25-30 mile an hour winds. We don't like wind!!!!

Have a great week, everyone.