Home Again!

We arrived safely back home late Sunday afternoon as the Lord's hand of safety was on us for over 9,000 miles in the motorhome and another 3,000 miles driven in the car seeing all of the sights around each place we visited. It was certainly a trip of a lifetime. Most of the places we visited we had never seen before, and even those we had experienced before, seemed new and exciting. As we traveled over these past nine and a half weeks we discovered quite a few things...such as: People in all parts of this country are basically nice, friendly and eager to help a stranger with directions or information... most everyone is very proud of the part of the country they live in and can't imagine living anywhere else...there is a LOT more open space in this country than some would have us believe...corn is the national crop, it is grown everywhere in great abundance...southern Utah is a hidden treasure with both Arches National Park and Zion National Park just a few hundred miles apart separated by lovely mountains and rivers...each of these parks is so different with Arches rock and desert in a beauty found no where else (well, maybe in Sedona, AZ) and Zion is lovely mountains with lush forest and rushing steams and rivers...you can drive for miles on the Interstate highways in the Dakotas and not see another car in either direction...speaking of roads: the best Interstate highways are by far right here in Florida and the worst are in California...horrible and in dire need of repair and everyone who can get behind the wheel of a car or truck in California is, for some strange reason, in a major hurry to get wherever they are going...the 17 Mile Drive around the Monterey Peninsula in the prettiest stretch of roadway anywhere in America...the best food was at the buffet's at the Mirage in Las Vegas and Harrah's in Tunica, MS just south of Memphis...Mt. Rushmore is still the best National Park in America...the buffalo in Custer State Park do not care that you drive on the roads, when they feel like it they will just stand there and stare you down and not get out of the way until the spirit moves them...setting aside the millions of acres in this country for National Parks to keep nature in it's natural state for all to enjoy is probably the best thing that Congress has ever done...gas prices were basically in the same ballpark ($2.40-$2.80) everywhere except California where they were over $3.00 a gallon (do you see a pattern developing here)...Gator Nation is everywhere...the nicest RV Resort we stayed in was Outdoor Resorts Pacific Shores in Newport, Oregon...I, for one, could have stayed a lot longer...wonderfully cool temperatures and the coast of Oregon is the most beautiful and rugged anywhere...we really did not run into any really rude people anywhere...and finally...it was impossible to cover as much territory as we did and see so many different terrains, mountains, deserts, rivers and beaches without wanting to praise God for His handiwork and give thanks that He has made all of this available to everyone at no charge!

Graceland

"I''m going to Graceland, Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee...going to Graceland, Graceland."....Paul Simon knew of which he sang. Graceland is special...and not just to old line Elvis fans, but as a part of the American culture. They have done a very good job of tying Elvis into the cultural phenomenon that he became and how he did influence so much of how we behaved back in the 50's. Graceland itself was bought by Elvis in 1957 for just over $100,000. It not only included the house, but over 12 acres which remain very much as it was in 1977 when he died at the very early age of 42. The interior of the house reflects the decorating style of Elvis, which was eclectic, to say the least. I am not quite sure that it is how we might decorate today...but, he liked it and, I guess, that's what counts. As you stroll through the trophy rooms you are overwhelmed by all of the gold records and other awards that he accumulated in just over 20 years of performing. Also included is a tour of his two airplanes and his museum of cars, including the famous pink Cadillac that he bought and eventually gave to his mother. A trip to Graceland is worth the time and money it costs just to see up close and personal all of the parts of this legend's life that all of us have seen in pictures throughout these past 50 years.

Fargo, ND

You gotta love Fargo! It feels like you have entered a time warp. The residential streets are right out of an Andy Hardy movie with beautiful, big tree lined streets and lovely, old two story homes in very clean, well kept neighborhoods. There is a local radio station right downtown with sidewalk studios that is only a block or so from the local theater. I kept expecting to see Rod Serling walk down the street. The local University is North Dakota State University that looks like it could have been used as the setting for a 50's June Allison college movie. The football stadium only has seating on one side of the field, and yet, right across the street is the magnificent Fargodome. I didn't even know there was a Fargodome...especially one as big as this. All in all Fargo, ND looks like a delightful place to live...if you can handle the winters!

Custer State Park & Crazy Horse Memorial

If you have ever longed for a "home where the buffalo roam and the deer and antelope play"...then you need to be in Custer State Park. Not far from Mt. Rushmore is this wonderful and beautiful state park filled with roaming animals that just don't seem bothered by passing autos and picture taking tourists. In our case we got both the buffalo's and antelope's in large quantities. In fact one herd of buffalo we passed through held us up for quite a while as they found the road a much better place to gather than the lovely fields on either side. In the picture of the antelopes notice how the male is standing guard as his "harem" takes a mid-morning rest. The Crazy Horse Memorial is quite interesting. It is totally privately funded. The sculptor did not want any government money as he was a true believer in the free enterprise system. All money to continue the project comes from admissions, gift sales and private donations. The last picture gives you an idea as to how much work is still left to be done. We have thoroughly enjoyed our three days here in the Black Hills of South Dakota which, in my opinion, has some of the most beautiful scenery found anywhere in the United States. Tomorrow we are off to North Dakota with stops in Bismark and Fargo.

Deadwood, SD

Nestled amongst the beautiful mountains and forests of the Black Hills of South Dakota is the infamous little town of Deadwood. Back in 1876 it was a boisterous gold rush boom town that one day welcomed, in the same wagon train, Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. Now...history records that even though they arrived at the same time that Calamity Jane was only a passing acquaintance of Hickok. It was after his death that see started the legend of how they were very close and several years later when she died she wanted to be buried next to Wild Bill in Deadwood even though she died in Terry, SD. The death of Hickok is much renowned as he was playing cards in the old No 10 Saloon when Jack McCall came up behind him and shot him in the head. Wild Bill's hand was aces and eights which has come to be known as the "dead man's hand." McCall was acquited by a local jury when he claimed that he shot Hickok because old Bill had killed his brother. Later, a real jury convicted Jack and he was hanged. Today on Boot Hill in Deadwood you can see the graves of Hickok and Calamity Jane, whose real name, ironically, was...Martha Burke! They are side by side as requested by Jane. Another irony is that Wild Bill Hickok was killed in 1876...the same year as the Battle of Little Big Horn. And that...is the history lesson for today!