We’re back!! We have really missed sharing our traveling adventure with you.

Now then… where do I begin? I’ll start with yesterday which was the 18th day. We left Sheridan Wyoming where we had a wonderful time with Kip’s sister Karen and her husband Lynn. We got there on Tuesday after spending an action packed 3 days with Amy, Mason, Mason Jr. and Ethan. I will tell you more about that in a separate blog. We have lots of great photos as well.

Our plan was to drive to Bozeman Montana, camp there, then head South towards the Western border of Yellowstone National Park.

It was a beautiful drive. We talked about one of the many things we have learned on our adventure thus far. We decided that each of the relatives were good for 2 days of really good food. We tried to think of a relative we might visit in Idaho or Utah so we wouldn’t have to eat our own cooking for so long. We came up empty there. We were trying to decide if it would be rude to ask for leftovers to take with us next time, when we pulled into the RV Park in Bozeman. We hadn’t made a reservation, but weren’t really concerned. We had reserved spots for the beginning of the trip and with all the kids back in school, everything was pretty much wide open. It’s also difficult to know how far we’re going to make it in a day. They were full…the whole town was. Apparantly there was a big deal rock concert in town.

We headed South on 191. We didn’t really have a plan because we were too busy trying to decide whose fault it was. You have to do that when you’re married you know. We were able to see some beautiful forest and rocky bluffs. The Yellowstone river is just amazing. Then it got dark, very dark. We finally pulled into a gas station in Big Sky and asked where the closest motel was. This is a very small town, but she told us there was a motel just up the street. $150.00 later, we were in a very nice 2 bedroom suite with all of the animals except the cat who stayed in the RV.

I don’t really need to go into the lesson of the day do I? We’re going to partake of the free breakfeast, then hit the road again.

We’re drifters…and a drifter’s gotta drift…

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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.

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.🐶🐕🐶🐭