Pit Stop #4 - The Bighorns...

I know you might be asking, what are you doing in Buffalo, WY?!  Not a typical stop on a trip out west.  It would probably not have been a stop along our “Homelessness Tour”, if it wasn’t for Ryan’s aunt and uncle being in the area.  

Gary and Paula were camping in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming and invited us to join them for the day.  On the way to the campsite we spotted all sorts of wildlife way off in the distance - moose, elk, marmots, and deer. We did some hiking in the area...

And perhaps a little bit of posing on the trails too...

The views were something spectacular.  The mountains, the rocks, the trees, the fresh mountain air were all spectacular, but the company was even better.

After a bit of hiking, we took a scenic drive around the area.  We were lucky enough to spot a BIG moose munching on some trees. 

It's hard to see in the picture, but he's there and he was a BIG one.  

He was quite the sight to see!

Next, we headed back to the campsite to eat a scrumptious lunch and hang out with Gary, Paula and company.

What fun we had telling stories and just hanging out...

Paula's sister, Jo, and her friend Mary, taught Quinn and Sullivan how to play 5 Crowns.  The girls LOVED it - which isn't a surprise given that it is a card game.  There isn't many that they don't like.

It goes without saying that we now own the game ourselves!

It was the best way to spend the day - unplugged from the world, out in nature, just chillin' with some pretty great people.  The only negative the girls said about the entire day (and that is a BIG statement that there was only one complaint) was the outhouse.  Our girls are most definitely city girls and using an outhouse is not their jam!  

Thanks for the great time, Gary and Paula.  We truly enjoyed ourselves more than you know!

Pit Stop #3 - Devil's Tower

In a quest to see the nation’s great sites and see another National Monument, we travelled from the Black Hills to Devil’s Tower in the middle of Wyoming.

Indian legend has it that six girls were out picking flowers when they were chased by a pack of bears.  Spirits lifted the girls to the top of the tower, leading them to safety. A bear, attempting to get the girls, clawed its way up the mountain leaving behind the “claw marks’ in the tower.

We milled around the base of the tower and took a few pictures to wait out the drizzle in the area.  There is usually rock climbers climbing the monument, but not the day we visited.  Some of the rock climbing was closed due to falcons nesting in the area.  

Once the weather “cleared”, Ryan and the girls walked the path around the base of the tower while I attended to the dog.  At the furtherest away point on the trail, Mother Nature reared her ugly head and produced some significant rain, and a bit of hail.  

It was a beautiful monument, with great historical significance to the Native Americans.  Most definitively worth the drive, the incredibly LONG line to get in, and the parking issues.  Note to anyone that wants to go - parking stinks.  Another suggestion box item for the National Park System to look into.

The rain and hail were just the first indicator of what the day had in store for us.  We traveled down the road, almost to our next stop in Buffalo, Wyoming.  With just 16 miles left to go, we heard a big “POP” noise.  Next thing you know, this happened…

With a flat tire and no spare tire to be found, Roadside Assistance was called and a tow truck took us in to Buffalo. 

Talk about a clown car, the girls, the dog and I were all shoved in the back seat of the tow truck with Ryan in the front.  Tight fit, might split situation.  

After the tow and a quick and easy tire fix, we were well on our way again.  And for those worried about the spare tire situation, one has now been located in our vehicle.  It was hidden quite well.  Sneaky Buick, your driver’s manual is not very clear.  

Next up, the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming… 

Pit Stop #2 - The Badlands and the Black Hills...

I'm back.... Wifi is spotty in our new hotel home, hence the long delay in posting.  Fingers crossed that we have it figured out and my blogging is a bit more regular!  We have a lot to share.  On to Pit Stop #2! This journey brought about a much welcomed guest on the trip.  Grandma Jane decided to join us for this leg of the trip and we were excited to have her along.  

We drove through the Badlands National Park, where beautiful doesn’t even begin to describe the sights and scenery.  

The beauty of this park was amazing - and almost unfathomable how such these landforms were even created millions of years ago.  

The girls rode in the car with Grandma Jane, so this fur child got LOTS of spoiling during our Badlands loop…

We didn't realize until AFTER the fact, that dogs are not allowed on the walking paths in the Badlands.  We are guessing this has something to do with all the "Beware of Rattlesnakes" signs posted all around.  We captured Tessa's first trip to a National Park before detaining her in the car.

A man and his dog...can you see the two of them out there on that ledge?  Just another opportunity to make me nervous.  Shocker.

After the Badlands loop, we would be remised if we didn’t stop by Wall Drug.  It holds fond memories for me as a child, and I am always up for nostalgia.  

Amongst the zillions of people walking the streets and in the shops...

While I can’t deny that they have amazing donuts, Wall Drug was a bit of a let down for me.

Perhaps it was the gazillion people on the streets and in the stores, or my tiredness and patience being tested, but it was not the nostalgia I was hoping for.  Nonetheless, we went.  We saw.  We ate a donut. 

As if that wasn’t enough for one day, we also packed Mount Rushmore into the evening.  While we have been there 204 times in my lifetime, it never disappoints.  

When you stop to think how they were able to accurate and precisely carve the presidents into the side of a stone mountain, especially back in the day before great technology, it is pretty jaw dropping.  

The following morning we headed out to Wind Cave National Park.  Their tours are on a first come, first serve basis (a pretty archaic system if you as me), so we knew we had to be there early.  Others had the same idea as us, but thankfully we were able to secure a tour.  

I say thankfully we were able to secure tickets because the beauty of this cave was something else….

The nooks and crannies and crevices that the cave possesses…

We all though Mammoth Cave in Kentucky was pretty cool, but all of us ranked this cave better than Mammoth by a mile.  A definite must do if you a) like to get up early, b) don’t mind dark, cool, semi-claustrophobic places, and c) want to cross of a National Park visit off your list.  

After all the sight seeing and national park visiting, we were tourists in Keystone (where we got our share of of fudge and taffy) and did some penny pressing...

We also just got to sit and relax at the cabin and take in the beauty of the Black Hills.  

This lag of the vacation was breath taking and amazing.  But all good things must come to an end, and off to Wyoming we went!