Rapid City, South Dakota

Our plans for Thursday were changed when the Jeep would not run. We had it towed and the tow truck driver told us about Rapid City, and the trolley we could ride and view different sights within the city. So after dropping the Jeep off at the repair shop, he took us downtown on his way to the next tow job. We had a great time on the trolley!! For seniors (both of us now qualify) it was $1 each with on and off privileges, best deal we have come across in a long time!!

A few years ago, there was a lot of flooding in Grand Rapids, and a lot of the homes were not allowed to be rebuilt in the same place because they were in a flood plain. A lot of the gardens and parks in Grand Rapids were formed in these areas, and gives the city a unique flavor. Stops we got off to see include the park with Storybook Island, a park for children with storybook characters. Included was the treehouse with the Pooh characters

The Wizard of Oz crew,
Snow White and the seven dwarfs,

and the Three Little Pigs!
How much more fun if we had the grandkids with us!!

Another stop we got off to see was the Stavkirke Chapel. This is an exact replica of famous 850 year-old Borgund Stavkirke church located near Laerdal, Norway. Permission and plans were from the Norwegian Government. It was beautiful!

16,000 shingles were hand cut,

the ceiling is constructed like a Viking ship turned upside down

beautiful carvings

leper window, where the lepers were able to participate

Included on the grounds was a museum that depicts Norwegian life.

The ride took us to Dinosaur Park, another child-oriented park. However, because we were hungry and it would be a half hour before another bus came, we did not get out, but did get a picture.

When we got back down into the downtown area, we had lunch at the Firehouse Brewery Company, which is located in the old firehouse. It was a great atmosphere (especially when the electricity went out caused by a direct lightening hit at the powerhouse we found out later)!

After lunch, we walked around the downtown area, which has statues displayed throughout. I was able to get pictures of most of them (25). Currently, there are 39. After they place three more this fall, and when President Obama leaves office and one will be made of him, they will be caught up. In the future, they will be made as presidents leave office. They all picked up a personal feel of the president's personality. Guess who these statues represent:

If you guessed Reagan, Harding, Jefferson, Harrison, Kennedy, and Lincoln, you are right!

When we found out the Jeep was not going to be repaired the same day, we rented a car to get back to the RV. We were located within just a few miles of Mt. Rushmore, so decided to see the lighting at 9:00. We got there early enough to look around a bit and just enjoy sitting under this awesome mountain. Lots of changes at the site since we saw it over 20 years ago!



The program included a Ranger talk, a short film, the lighting, and then calling up of veterans or current armed forces. The flag was brought down, and folded by boys from a boy scout troop from Oklahoma, and passed to each military person on stage. It was very patriotic! Can you find Paul? He is there.....umpteenth from the left in the back row!



We found Rapid City to be a very friendly, hospitable town, and we spent a great day there. We would welcome the chance to return! Still need to get picture of the rest of the presidents!!

Trials and Tribulations!

Praise the Lord in ALL things. He is in control.
"We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose", Romans 8:28

Yesterday is finally over. We started out with the plan to go to Custer State Park, and make a loop drive to Hill City, then end up at Mt. Rushmore. We got the maps, the binoculars and a picnic lunch together and off we started to go. The jeep sputtered, sputtered, died, and sputtered again........It was just not going to start. So we called GEICO. They have been the greatest insurance company when responding to us, by the way, and the cheapest rates we have found! They sent a tow truck, and in the meantime I got the name of a good mechanic in town. GEICO tows to the closest shop, which happened to be a jeep dealership. When I called, they said they were backed up and would not be able to even check it until mid-week next week. So I called the referred place, and they could at least check it in the afternoon.
That meant us paying part of the tow bill, but at least it would not be a week. Bottom line, the tow man did not charge us extra, PTL! And even dropped us in the middle of Rapid City so we could explore instead of just sitting while waiting. So we took the trolly around town, had lunch, then got the sad news of needing a new engine. Used engine would run at least $1700. Those that have seen the Jeep, with the springs showing through the seats, the holes in the top, the leaks because of bad fit of the top, the 4WD needing repair, and the paint peeling......Decisions.....Paul had been planning to detail it when we got back, fixing it up and just using it around town. But to put that much more $ into it would not be a wise investment. So with sadness, we are letting it go. It was purchased by a jeep lover, which made it a little easier. It has been a very reliable, fun vehicle and we will truly miss it.

I love the "bright light" caught on the picture! LOL! Maybe good Jeeps really do go to heaven!

While we were having lunch, a storm hit, the full on thunder, lightening, hail and rain as well as loss of electricity. Well, the area we were campted at was particularly hit hard, and we were told about 50 cars were damaged. The car rental place told us one of their cars lost a windshield due to hail damage, and the camper next to us told us of other damage they had heard about in the campground, including the RV on the other side of us. So Paul checked out the top of the RV this morning. Damage to vent lid, AC cover, three of our small awnings, and the plastic sewer line. PTL, It could have been worse!!

SO, we moved to our next site, north of Rapid City, and have a week before we move on to our next work site, which starts August 6. However, there are a lot of little things around the RV that need to be taken care of, including a slide-out that is half out, crooked and STUCK!! I think we will be kept busy just catching up on maintenance, repair and cleaning of the motorhome.

And I will blog later about the fun day God had planned for us yesterday.

From Iowa to South Dakota

On the road again, yes, we are on the road again!
After two days of rest (we both needed to not do a thing!) we continued to head west. I know, we live east of here, but right now, we live where we park it! We are headed for Nisland, just north of Mt. Rushmore for our next assignment. Last Saturday we saw a lot of cars, vans and even several buses, carrying bicycles west. Found out there is an annual bike ride, where the participants dip the back wheel of their bike in the Missouri River, ride across Iowa, and finish with a dip of the front tire in the Mississippi River. Check out the route at http://ragbrai.com/index.php/routemaps/2010-daily-maps/. It is really pretty awesome!

On our way out of Iowa, we visited Orange City, a Dutch town in NW Iowa. We were very disappointed that the ONLY bakery in town was closed for the week. And every one knew it, from the lady at the postoffice and the butcher, to the lady at the Bible book store!! They all missed morning coffee!! We did find a wooden shoe factory that now has a coffee shop and were able to get coffee, chai tea latte, and a pastry.


and a meat and cheese place where we got some Woudstra Brats, famous for being noted in the Des Moines Register as "one of 100 things to eat in Iowa before you die". We would have to agree... they are great!
We enjoyed the walk around town, finding interesting buildings,


and even a phone booth in the shape of a windmill!

And especially enjoyed the park, with examples of several types of windmills!




Although there were beautiful flowers in bloom, I think the best time to go back is May, for the Tulip Festival!


After leaving Orange City, we took a detour north into the SW corner of Minnesota to see Pipestone.
The town is known for the quarry at Pipestone National Park. It is the only place the red stone used to carve indian pipes is found.

There were displays, and demonstrations at the visitor center.

According to the treaty when the Indians gave up the land, only Indians are allowed to quarry, and can as long as they want in the future. They usually do in the Fall when water level is down and it is cooler.

We took the 3/4 mile trail through the site and, in spite of the heat and humidity, was worth the effort.




Buildings in the town are built with the purplish stone found above the red pipestone.

We have seen a LOT of road construction during this entire trip! Obama's stimulus at work! Leaving Pipestone, heading west, we saw a sign - road closed 1000 feet ahead, then another 500 feet ahead. We had missed any previous warning. Right at the border of Minnesota and South Dakota, sure enough, the road was closed!
Here, the motor home is straddling the Minnesota/ South Dakota state line, with the right wheels in Minnesota and the left ones in South Dakota! The sign in front of the RV says Welcome to Minnesota!!

Of course corn fields on both sides.... where do you go with forty feet of metal: You don't make a U-turn! BUT, we were able to disconnect the Jeep and Paul was able to do a three pointer!

And on to South Dakota via a different route!

Our next stop was at the world's only Corn Palace, that is difficult to "Cornceptulalize", where the local high school "Kernels" play basketball, where there is "bushels" of fun, and where we saw "A-Maizing Ear-chitecture" to quote a few corny sayings. It was quit amazing, and interesting to learn about.
The theme added in 2009 was transportation.

Inside murals are permanent displays.

This one at the front of the auditorium depicts the differences of the White man and the Indian, with the shaking hands the unifying center.

We were able to watch them replace some of the grasses on the side of the building,


but the murals will be replaced in August, followed by their festival. There are 13 different colors of corn they choose from when creating the murals.
And of course, we met Cornelius!

Next along Highway 90 heading west is Wall's Drug Store, which really is a frontier town in itself!!

Getting into the spirit, Paul insisted we trade in the motorhome for the horse and wagon.

Of course, can't miss the hungry dino!

It really is more than a drug store these days! But they still offer free ice water and plenty of free entertainment and a variety of stores!

They even included a travelers chapel.

Along the way at the rest stops we have also seen little church buildings for individual worship. Glad to see in these United States!