Category: postslider

We continue to head east. We finished packing up in the cold rain….and did we say mud? We headed off to Illinois and specifically Starving Rock State Park – Only 429kms today. Most of the travelling was on the interstate. We usually travel 60mph, but the limit was 70mph. That meant the trucks where whizzing by us quit fast. The wind also picked up.

We made it safely to our site and settled in for the night. There were not a lot of people here. The facilities at this park were also rustic. All the washrooms were pit toilets, although they had a small shower facility in each section.

Today we lucked out on the weather. It started as cold and rainy -9c. By the afternoon it was very sunny and 30c.

We explored the area including the small town to the south. We found the fairgrounds and a small museum on the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and about the POW Camp that was on this site. The museum was closed, but when we went to leave a gentleman pulled up in his truck and asked if he could help. We said we were looking around and found the museum closed. He said with a smile, give me two minutes and I will open it for you. He was one of the volunteers coming in to do some work on the internet. For the next hour, with his help wed had the building to ourselves. The only request he had was that we sign his visitors log. We also left a donation.

Pine Lake State Park, Iowa – Site 106 (actually site 104)

Arrived at this park in the rain…..John had made a small error in the booking. We were not scheduled to arrive here until October 8th.

We decided to put an empty reservation tag on our post explaining that we had already paid online, but not for the two days we were actually staying there. We hoped that the Park Ranger would understand, but in the end did not have to worry about it because we did not see them the entire weekend.

The park here was in a nice area, but the facilities were a little rustic. Our site had a great view of the river.

Because of all  the rain the area has had lately, there is a lot of water pooling in the grass, and along with that MUD. We were very careful putting the camper in place as not to make too many divots.

On the move to Nebraska. A long day of driving – 573km. The state park is awesome. Cement pads for every site, and hardly anyone here. It was cold and windy but sunny when we arrived.

A very rainy day today. But more surprising, the truck was covered with ice! A great day to visit Rapid City. Starting with a visit to the South Dakota Air and Space Museum. The displays were pretty good.

Then a trip to Camping World, laundry, the bank, then WalMart (to buy Stephanie an electric blanket)

It stopped raining by the time we got back to the site, but it was too cold to have a campfire.

We continued with our tour around the National Park today. We found out when we arrived the other day that we missed the annual Bison Roundup. They round them up every year to do a general health check and to see how many cows are pregnant. When they determine the amount of forage (food) that is available for the winter, they will decide how many to keep (about 1500) and how many will be moved to other parks. Also took a quick trip to Wyoming to pick up a geocache and have some lunch.

Day 2 – Custer State Park – Site 20

Today was awesome! The temperature reached 28c with a very blue sky. We visited both monuments, Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse, travelled a portion of the needles highway and saw lots of wildlife.

Custer State Park – Site 20

22c today!

A quick travel day for today. Only 162km. After setting up we visited the General Store, picked up some firewood, then enjoyed dinner outside and a campfire. The first since Sault Ste Marie.

Day 3 – Cedar Pass Campground – Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Our last day in the area. We decided we would return to the Minuteman Missile Museum and visit the Launch Control Centre and an actual missile site. It was very enlightening. We continued to Wall to have lunch. this time we only spent 5 minutes in Wall Drug (picked up some postage stamps). Then traveled the opposite direction around the Badlands Loop.