

We’re now in Gillette,Wy. We took our time this morning and pulled out of Spearfish around noon. We drove straight to the RV park that will be our home for the next 4 days. We got all set up and did some laundry before Mason, Amy, and our grandsons,Mason Jr and Ethan arrived to take us to the high school football game. We were there to watch Ethan’s team and the coach run across the field as the announcer called out their names. All of the elementary school teams were recognized. Later, we all went to dinner.We didn’t get back to our cozy little home until 10:30 which is way past our bedtime. Tomorrow, we get to watched both kids play in a game. Mason is 13 nd Ethan is 8.
It’s now 11:45 and I am sitting here feeling extremely full and very tired. In fact, I think I will finish this in the morning.
It’s morning alright. ..the dogs wanted out at 4:00. I wonder what this day will bring. I need more coffee.
Lesson of the day: Looks like you’re going to have this day anyway, just as well make it a good one no matter what happens🐱🐶🐶🐶
This stop over is definitely a keeper.
I had forgotten how beautiful Spearfish is. My Grandparents lived here many years ago and boy how it’s changed. A little over 11,000 people live in these unbelievably beautiful surroundings. I just can’t find the words, so I’ll let the pictures we took do the talking. Kip even commented that if he had to live in South Dakota, it would be here. Granted, it isn’t the dead of winter, but I’m sure it’s beautiful then too. We’re staying in the City Park and both mornings, we have walked the dogs along nature trails that pass by clear, bubbling, streams. We even saw several white tailed deer.
Later today we drove up Spearfish Canyon and saw incredible waterfalls and majestic rock formations.
Just a few words about our RV living…We have been eating great food and in 10 days we’ve only eaten out once. Well, except Kip’s sister Karlyce fed us twice and Dave took us out for breakfast. Never mind. We are too busy to watch television, even though this rig has 4 and most of the parks have cable hook up. One of our televisions is outside in one of the compartments. It’s on a slide-out shelf. That will be fun to watch fall football on. We talk more about where we’ve been and where we’re going. We (the dogs too,) are getting a lot of fresh air and excersize. It’s hard work, but oh so much fun.
The lesson of the day…We have been reminded every day of God’s work. Even the pine beetles that burrow in and stop the sap that nuture the tree are part of God’s plan.
Well we weren’t too upset to see Newcastle in our rear view mirror this morning.
When Kip was in college, he got a summer truck driving job with Haliburton. He said Newcastle’s beginnings were as a coal town supplying the railroad. Now it’s primarily involved in ranching and the oil and gas industries. I can tell you the trains are still running because the coal trains headed for Texas went by every hour last night and rattled our teeth 😆. It was so rough there we didn’t have to follow the normal dog etiquette…If you know what I mean.
We are now in beautiful Spearfish, South Dakota. We took the dogs for a long walk this evening on a paved walking trail where we saw beautiful, clear,
springs and even a little waterfall. We’re taking a drive up through Spearfish Canyon tomorrow, so I will have lots of pictures to post tomorrow evening.
Kip has appointed himself as the official Walmart rater…His lesson for the day is…No matter where you are or how super dupper the store is, they still don’t stock their shelves and never have what you need.
The lesson I learned today is…You’re never too old to have the time of your life. I will also add that being a good team player is very rewarding.
We had a long day…300 miles is about all we can manage in one day. We were hoping to make it to Spearfish,SD, but ended up stopping for the night in Newcastle, WY. We have to get set up before dark so we can walk the dogs and everything. I’m now cozy in my jammers and sipping my cup of herbal tea. Kip, the dogs, and the cat, are all sleeping.
It really was a nice drive up 85 without much traffic. It still seems a little strange to live and sleep in your little house, then just take it with you wherever you go. We do have the Jeep for running around.
We each have a lesson for the day. Kip has a new motto concerning the chores I am responsible for. The motto is “trust but verify.” What can I say? Sometimes I can’t remember all of the steps 😕. The lesson I want to um, “convey,” is; “it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it 😅.)
I’m really happy that our next two stops are for more than one night…
Oh, Kip wanted to tell you all that we saw antelope and the wind still blows hard in Wyoming😨.
I can’t believe we’ve been on this odissey 7 whole days. We are still in Loveland, CO and visiting Greeley where Karlyce and Dave live. . We went to Red Feather today to see their
Whoops…we jumped the pictures….cozy mountain cabin. It was 66 degrees there which felt wonderful to this Texan. When we got back, Karlyce fixed us dinner again. Did I tell you she is a wonderful cook😊.
One other thing…If you ever get to Greeley, Karlyce offers great shopping at her house. I came away with 3 purses, 2 wallets, a Panda bracelet, a homemade pepper mix, and earrings. Best of all, it didn’t cost me a thing.
Tomorrow, we’re headed for Spearfish Canyon for a couple of days before we go to Wyoming to see our grandsons play football. We’re loving life.
We’re writing day 6 on the morning of day 7. The kitty is sitting on my lap and we’re enjoying a good cup of Joe. Somehow, I thought we’d have more leisure time, but so far, it ain’t happening. We packed up in Limon and moved to Loveland, CO which is near Greeley where Kip’s sister and her husband Dave live. Let me just say that Karlyce is a wonderful cook, and yes, I’m still eating like I’m on vacation.
Karlyce and Dave have a beautiful home and our 3 dogs enjoyed good bones and Charlie, their, Scottie/Schnauzer. Did Charlie like them? Umm, not so much. Good thing we left the cat home.
For the most part, we have no idea what day it is. We did miss being in Church yesterday and all of our good friends.
We have learned that we can no longer cross the street without using GPS. Sometimes we still make a wrong turn or two. Did I mention that we forgot the new GPS we bought for See Ya? It should be fully charged by now.
The lesson of the day is: Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea.Take a look at yourself and you will look at others differently. Put your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee.😇
We had a great day…took 287 from Amarillo to Limon, CO, and didn’t have to round a curve or navigate an incline the whole way. It reminded me of where I grew up in SD. We had to wear our jackets to walk the dogs. We took them to the very nice dog run and after sniffing around for about a minute they layed down. This was reminiscent of our kids on a camping trip to Yellowstone. They didn’t want to walk all the way to Old Faithfull and they counted road kill for entertainment.
Lesson for the day…you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.🐶🐕🐶🐭
We’re starting this blog to let family and friends know what we’re up to as we venture out on our first long trip. Actually, this is only our 2nd time out. We managed quite well on our 38 mile, 2 night trip.
We’re travelling with our three pooches, (Cyndie, Sammie, and Pattie), and Dollie the cat is around here somewhere too.
We are on our 3rd day out and we’re now proud to say we’ve made it 193 miles. We’re having a wonderful time in beautiful downtown Wichita falls. There is a story to tell, but we won’t go into that now.
Thanks to our son-in-law, Brad, who set up the blog. He is in no way responsible for the content. I’m sure he is greatful for that.