Just absolutely gorgeous!

Those are the words going through my head as I'm driving down ID-28 once I hit the mountains. Whoever built the roads built them to follow the rivers and the rivers here are gorgeous. So, Len, when you drive the roads I'm talking about please pull over to peruse the scenery or you'll definitely drive off the road. Some of these roads you either up against a mountain wall watching for rocks coming down on you on one side and inches from getting a car wash on the other. Simply thrilling!

And the minute I'm ready to declare ID-28 in the mountains one of the most beautiful drives I've been on, up comes US-93 along the Salmon River. Yep, just as gorgeous and then I hop on ID-55 which follows the Payette River. Wow! I think this just may be God's country.

Enjoy the pics.

Salmon River

















Lemhi River






























Payette River

Back to the Real World

Well, my real world anyway. I've had a fantastic last few days and most of the time I didn't have internet or phone service but intermittently. Thus, the few phone calls or blog entries.

From Devils' Tower to the laundromat I'm sitting in now I've camped three days and enjoyed a multitude of nature's beauty. I've also discovered to camp sites that anyone would enjoy; one along Silvee Lake and the other along side Jackson Lake. And actually at the Jackson Lake one I did have some internet and phone access but who wants to spend time on the internet when you have all of nature to explorer.

Two of the more exciting moments came at Silvee Lake and while driving through Yellowstone.

At Silvee Lake I parked the Jeep and started walking around the lake when over to the right there was a family of moose. Minding their own business munching away on the trees and the grasses. I was able to get pretty close and noticed the bull had spent plenty of time scrapping the felt cover off of his horns. Here's some pictures of the moose.





The second incident was while I was driving through Yellowstone. I came upon some buffaloes and of course they decided to cross the road right as I was coming up. Well, at least that was I thought!! To my surprise they turned up the road and started walking right towards me but in the lane next two me. Yep, they walked right past me; heck, I could almost reach out and touch them they were so close. Here's the video. Be sure to have your sound on!!!



I also recorded two other videos: one of Old Faithful but it is too big to post here, and one of the Upper Falls. It's pretty cool so I'll add it to my next post. It takes forever to upload the videos. Wow!! I'm sure Dairy Queen appreciates my patronage though! lol

130 = 250

Took off from Devil's Tower for Buffalo, WY today after spending some time with Len and Kristy. It's only a distance of about 130 miles. I made it 250+.

Len and I went on a hike around Devil's Tower. What a magnificent structure. I would have taken the elevator to the top but they forgot to build one. Dang!!! lol





So, what does a guy do that has more time on his hands that he knows what to do with, he decides to go North toward Canada (not quite getting there) and take a round-a-bout way to Buffalo, WY. You just set the navigation systems to avoid freeways and off you go. lol And man am I glad I did. The trip was absolutely gorgeous and eventful. Somewhere going North on 58, either in Wyoming, more likely Montana I driving down the road and there on my right are mounted missiles. Yep! You read that right. Three missiles loaded and ready to take off. Hmmmmm, wonder who they are pointed at?

Tons of dear, my only regret was that I wasn't quick enough to get a picture of a beautiful stag - easily with 4 points (8 if you count both horns). Magnificent!! Also got pictures of some buffalo, a herd of dear and a beautiful mountain. See, going out of one's way isn't a bad idea after all. Even if I did have to pay 2.929 for gas!! Yikes!!

Mt. Rushmore / South Dakota

South Dakota and Mount Rushmore are now in the past. Moving on to Wyoming for probably the next week although I took a diversion into Montana earlier today.

While in South Dakota I enjoyed Custer State Park, Mt. Rushmore and not nary a golf course. maybe I'll catch one on my way back East. Maybe?!?

I have to say the most enjoyable point of South Dakota's journey was my brief stay at Sylvan Lake and the first hike I took of Sunday Gulch. The many streams and creeks and the shiny trail were the best. And the two lovely ladies that kept me company coming down from Harney's Peak made that hike much more enjoyable.

Mt. Rushmore had its good points but overall, except for the majesty of the monument itself was a little too commercial - National Monuments and Parks should be free to "the people". I did particularly like the fact that I purchased an annual park pass only to find out I'd still have to pay another $10 to enter Mt. Rushmore. Seems "they" get you coming and going. More on that in another blog. Here's are a few of the pictures I took along the way.

Last Two Days

The last two days have been a microcosm of opposite experiences. Yesterday was a complete high; today just the opposite.

I made it up to Custer and on to Sylvan Lake yesterday. The drive was great with many beautiful scenes along the way. The road from Custer to Sylvan Lake was especially beautiful with some parts of the road just barely wider than my Jeep.



















Definitely neat not only going through but watching other cars and motorcycles squeeze through.

Once I reached Sylvan Lake I pulled out my hiking gear and took off on an ambitious challenge of hiking Sunday Gulch (3 miles); Harney Peak (6 miles) and Little Devil Tower (2 miles). I quit after Harney Peak. I probably should have stopped after Sunday Gulch; it was truly 1.5 miles down and 1.5 miles straight back up. Ugh! But except for the peak of Harney Peak, Sunday Gulch was the more beautiful of the two hikes. Sunday Gulch had a stream that trickles along most of the path while Harney Peak was dry except for one small creek in which we passed over.

Like I mentioned above, Harney's Peak was really beautiful once on top of the mountain. 7,152 feet to the top. The small disappointment was that the tower built many years ago was now dirty and there were a ton of flies everywhere. Couldn't stay in the tower and enjoy the sights but there were plenty of boulder to climb on.









Today however was a completely experience. First, the hotel that I reserved so I'd have a nice rest before my round of golf tomorrow is only an hour from the golf course. Yeah, yeah, I should have done a bit more research but I made the assumption that Hotels.com knew what they were doing. When I put in "around Hulett, WY" I didn't expect them to give me hotels not in the near vicinity. An hour away, now I have to get up at 6am just to get to the course without having to rush. Sheesh! The things I have to do to enjoy my leisure.... lol

Then I went to Deadwood thinking I'd be visiting an old cowboy town, NOT!!! Nothing but casinos and trinket stores. What a waste! The thing is that everything you go to see takes a long drive to get there. I could go into more detail but I'm tired for now and I've already way more than I normally do.

Time for sleep and a great round of golf on another beautiful (hoping) course.

Carhenge???

Why do people do the things they do? I guess I'm the perfect person to ask on some things. Look at me gallivanting across the country for no other reason than to enjoy this great country of ours. But somethings are just strange. Take for instance Carhenge, a replica of Stonehenge made out of old cars. Why would anyone want to do this? Maybe they are just eccentric or maybe they thought the same thing as in the movie "Field of Dreams"; "Build it and they will come." Heck, why not? I bet he/she has made a mint from people like me. Good thing I got there after the place was shut down for the day. Ha!

BTW - If you're ever up in the Scottsbluff area of Nebraska 93.3 KMOR is a great radio station.

Well, enjoy the pics!!

The Heartland of America

I can truly understand why they call the Mid-West the Heartland of America; I honestly get a feeling of peace driving down the many roads and seeing miles and miles of corn, barley, wheat, soybeans, whatever there is. There are literally thousands and thousands of acres of this stuff in every state from Indiana to Nebraska thus far and I'm sure many more states yet to have driven. Every human, cow, pig and anyone driving on bio-fuel should be thankful for all the growth.

And speaking of bio-fuels; since when is low grade (87) unleaded less expensive than mid-grade (89)? It is all over Iowa! Wonder if the Iowa Corn Council (not sure there is such a thing) is behind the pricing scheme. As I understand it, it actually takes gasoline to produce less bio-fuel. Oh well, my Jeep seems to run well on it.

BTW - the sky here in Iowa is gorgeous for many reasons. I've attached a few pictures that I took while driving down the freeway. Gives you an idea what I'm talking about.

Looking to my left:


Looking straight ahead:


Further down the road:

Shoulder and Out On the Road

Not sure if I've told everyone but I recently have been experiencing pain in my left shoulder so I went to the doctor and had an MRI performed. Turns out I'm turning old!! I actually have a build up of something that the doctor is hoping a shot of cortisone will take care of; we'll see. But it's not enough to keep me from my journey I just can't do any heavy weight lifting on my shoulder. So I'll keep the weights light and do more reps.

Anyway, I'm heading out tomorrow toward Yellowstone National Park via Mount Rushmore and many points in between.

Had a great stay in Indiana visiting old friends and of course staying with my son. I'm sure he'll be glad to have his home back to his own again.

Resting In Indy

Made it up to Indy for the ASGA Indy-Cincy Challenge and have been hanging around until I take off for my next travel adventure. I was planning on taking off this coming Thursday but I've ordered a few items online and found out I am due a refund check from the apartment complex I was at so I'll stick around until the items and the check come in. But I do have to take off sometime next week.

My plans seem to change daily. I was planning on heading North to Michigan and then travel eastward until I hit Maine then head South down the East coast. But I got a call from my eldest brother and he and his wife invited me to tag a long (at a distance) on their trip first to Mt. Rushmore and then to Yellowstone National Park. So, since I really have no time table to adhere to and having company along even if it would be intermittent would be enjoyable I'm now heading to Mt. Rushmore. Of course I'll be golfing and taking in different venues along the way but Michigan and the East Coast will have to wait.

Now I'll have to see how the weather holds up to see how much of the Northeast I'll actually get to take in this year. Ha! There's always next year if I'm unable to procure a job somewhere.

Oh, btw, today was rather eventful. On my way to golf at Ironwood I stopped at Wal-Mart to buy some water, etc. in preparation for when I leave. When I left Wal-Mart I left my travel pouch (passport, license, camera, money, etc.) in the shopping cart in the parking lot. Didn't notice it was missing until I got out of the Jeep at the golf course.

Panic set in as I called Wal-Mart only to find that no one had turned anything in. I went there and looked anyway. Nothing! I've really been losing way too many items lately. Even my son Paul is wondering if I should travel by myself. Ha! Anyway, I was resigned to not leaving as soon as I wanted to in order to close my debit card and get a new one, get another driver's license, get a new passport, etc. etc. Man was I getting depressed.

So I went to the bank to close my debit card out. While there the clerk told me someone had already called in an closed it. One thing led to another and I received a call from Wal-Mart stating that someone had turned my travel pouch in to them. Relief!! Whew!!! Am I luck or what? Thank you Lord!! Even the money ($112) was still in it.

So, obviously I'm feeling much, much better. I still have to wait until I get my new debit card.

See you down the road! Well, if I don't lose my head that is!