Aug 26th to 28th - Mesa

Aug 26^th – Tues – Mesa

Terry put out the patio mat and set up chairs & tables so it is starting to look homey.

We put some money on the laundry card and headed to the laundry for the first of many trips this season. After the washers were all started, we stopped by for a short chat with Joe who is parked near the laundry building. We ate breakfast before I went back to put clothes in the dryers. The washer with the towels had not spun dry so I ran them through another machine and took a malfunction notice to the office. If it had been another load I would have wrung the clothes out and put them in a dryer but it was impossible to wring out the towels. Terry came by to help with folding & carrying.

We moved some stuff from the toy hauler – it is nice to have it right beside the 5^th wheel – but it still takes a lot of time to get everything back in the right spots.

We went to Camping World to wander around and buy a couple of little items. We stopped at a flooring place to talk to them about replacing the carpet in the 5^th wheel with solid flooring. We decided to put it off - or not do it all - as it is pretty expensive to have it installed and we don't want to tackle it ourselves.

I got a haircut at 5. I had one no-so-good haircut since we left here in the middle of April. I like the ease of longer hair with the motorcycle helmet but it is hot. So Holly trimmed up the back & sides and left the top longer but thinned out.

Terry went to KFC while I was getting my hair cut so dinner was ready when I got back.

Aug 27^th – Wed

We are back to our own wifi which is really nice. I don't think I could handle the slowness of the park's wifi. I will have to monitor our usage and see if I can tell what is using so much of our 6 gigabytes.

We headed for Fry's and decided to get the truck cleaned up. We buy a book of wash tickets each year and we still had one ticket from last season. They weren't very busy so had time to do a great job. Back to Fry's (good thing we weren't on the motorcycle!) and then home to unload & put away. Leftover chicken for an easy lunch.

Now it was time to move a lot more stuff from the toy hauler. We also emptied out the big storage bay in the 5^th wheel, cleaned it up and designated some stuff for a patio sale. The fifth wheel hitch was stored in there – I don't know how Terry put it in by himself! Since we were cleaning, I tackled the front storage as well. I think there was 8 year old dust & dirt in there!

Terry called the mobile RV repair guy and he said he could be here in 40 minutes. He arrived in 30 minutes and it took him about 3 minutes to start the panel repair. He had to remove it all first and them screw it back on and replace the molding.

Madeline stopped by and we had a nice visit while Terry was supervising the repair guy. Then she stayed for a drink before leaving to get ready to go to work. I put a roast in the crock pot so dinner was half done.

Aug 28^th – Thurs

We attended “coffee & doughnuts” this morning. There were only 5 round tables mostly filled with people. Pat knew we were back and had a bag of books for me. She & Kay have been reading a series and passing them on to me and they completed quite a few over the summer.

We moved food from the fridge & freezer to complete emptying the toy hauler. Then we went to Total Wine and from there to Costco where we had an early lunch after shopping. We went to Garden Ridge which is now Total Home (I think) and then to WalMart for a few items – how could Terry lose his hammer?! Back home to unload & put away again.

By now it was time for a drink, computer games, dinner & TV.

Aug 21st to 25th - Parker, Mesa

Aug 21^st – Thurs – Laughlin

Darned if I remember if & how this day differed from others here so this is the entire entry for today!!!!

Aug 22^nd – Fri – to Parker AZ

We had a short drive today so no need to get going early. After getting diesel in Parker, we stopped for a burger for an early lunch. The next stop was at the Bluewater casino of course! I didn't lose any money but I didn't cover any of Terry's losses.

We paid for 3 days at La Paz County campground and set up which doesn't take us too long. I took meat out of the freezer and it was thawed by the time I was ready to make dinner. The AC runs full time and the temperature is tolerable.

Aug 23^rd – Sat

We went to the casino for a late breakfast at the buffet. Surprisingly enough we had enough points on our cards to make the meal very inexpensive. Then we enjoyed – sort of! - the cool of the casino for a while. We went to WalMart for some groceries and some other items that we had no idea that we needed until we saw them!

Terry dug out a couple of chairs and found a nice shady spot by the Colorado River which runs right past the RV park. I put on my swim suit and cooled off in the river a couple of times. We enjoyed watching all the river traffic and a drink in the shade of a palm tree. Baby backs on the BBQ made a nice dinner.

 

Aug 24^th – Sun

We are reaching the limit of data usage on our Verizon “mifi” so I have been monitoring it on the computer. The Verizon site was messed up this morning so we decided we could still play computer games but could not turn on the mifi to connect to Facebook and get more lives. What a change to our morning routine!!!

After I made breakfast, we hopped on the motorcycle for another trip to the casino. Once again it did not treat us well. This time we went to Safeway for dinner ingredients.

Terry had leftovers for lunch and I had nice cool grapes & a doughnut. At one point I thought about going out to sit by the river but all the boaters went home so it was too quiet, boring & hot out there. We have cable TV with a lot of channel choices.

Aug 25^th – Mon – to Mesa

Yes, we are heading to Mesa already. We want to check out the condition of our 5^th wheel and there was no where else that we really wanted to go for a week.

We left at 8:30, stopped for inexpensive diesel - $3.69 – and arrived at Val Vista Villages about 11:30. We got a site for a week right beside our “stored” 5^th wheel, parked the toy hauler and went to the ballroom for a salad lunch. Most people were done eating since it started at 11:30 but there were a couple plates of lettuce and enough toppings to make a light meal which is perfect in this heat.

Then Terry started undoing the ropes on the 5^th wheel and bundling the shredded cover into garbage cans. A few things velcroed to the walls fell off but generally the inside was in good condition. A lower panel on the big slide needs rivets to repair a section about 3 feet long that popped loose but otherwise the outside looks OK too. Terry has to get 3 tubes for the bikes before we can ride them.

We were both overheated so we went for a swim in the Fiesta pool. We were the only ones there at first and then 3 others came but we didn't chat much. On the way back we went past Bill & Beth's park model and they invited us in for a beer and a nice visit. I made dinner and we crashed early.

Aug 18th to 20th - Laughlin

Aug 18^th – Mon

We went to the Riverside for a buffet breakfast. They had a miserable toaster and by the time Terry's bread was dried out – not really toasted – his breakfast was cold so he was not a happy camper. The redeeming factor was a seat by the window and a view of the river traffic.

Of course we had to check out our favorite slots and Terry actually came out ahead. We took a break which included lunch at the rig.

Then we had to get rid of the winnings that were burning a hole in Terry's pocket.

Aug 19^th – Tues

The Riverside complex has a Cinnabon store so that is where we went for breakfast. By the price and calorie content, we should have split one – but Terry doesn't like the version with nuts!

We stayed and played slots for quite some time until we spent our allowances.

Back at the rig, I finally called Costco's computer support as our new computer is being a pain in the butt with ads popping up everywhere to the extent that I can hardly get things done. The guy was not as helpful as I hoped but he did suggest that a security check would be OK. I got it started and it was obvious that it would take a long time so I got a case number for future calls if necessary. One problem was found & quarantined. Then I uninstalled a bunch of programs that I didn't recognize and that were loaded on Aug 15^th. Things seem to be a bit better.

A large wind & rain storm moved through and had water running down the street. Once it lightened to a sprinkle, we went shopping at an enclosed mall just down the street. I was looking for a belt – no, I have not lost weight!! - which we found along with some shirts for both of us and a wild pair of shorts for Terry.

By now it was time to settle in for the evening with TV, dinner & computer games.

Aug 20^th – Wed

We walked to the Aquarius casino and decided on breakfast in the cafe after seeing the $14.95 price for the buffet! Breakfast was very good and inexpensive thanks to some points on our cards.

We did quite a bit of walking to other casinos which means we didn't do too well gambling or we would have stayed in one place! On our way back, we stopped for a burger for a late lunch.

We took the motorcycle across the river to an RV dealer to see if they knew what to use to remove tire marks from our floor – no help. We went back to WalMart for a few items and stopped by my favorite -BigLots. By the time we got back we were very hot so we headed to the larger pool to cool off. The water was very refreshing and we had lounges in the shade which was perfect.

Back to the rig for the usual evening activities including a late dinner.

Aug 15th to 17th - to Laughlin NV

Aug 15^th – Fri

We hung around a bit this morning so we wouldn't hit rush hour traffic which is wicked in Las Vegas. In our infinite wisdom we are going to Laughlin which has hot weather at this time of year. Call it climatizing for AZ!!

We parked in the parking lot at the Riverside and went in to get players' cards and to see if there was an RV special available. We checked out a few slots before we drove across the street to get an RV spot. We got a returning guest price of $99 for a week but we don't know if we will be here for the whole week. We unloaded the motorcycle, set up and walked back to the casino.

We are able to use the hotel pools so we checked them out first. A small pool is in the shade in the afternoon and a larger pool on the 3^rd floor is in the blazing sun with a few shaded lounge chairs. The water temperature of both is wonderful.

For a change I did OK on the slots which in a way is too bad as it makes me want to play more! Terry not so good. We eventually came back to the rig and I made dinner. Boiling potatoes & eggs for salad is not a good choice when the AC is trying to keep the place cool.

Aug 16^th – Sat

I made breakfast before we headed out this morning. We went back to the Riverside as it is right across the street and then you can go along the river walk to other places which is what we ended up doing. We cooled off with ice cream somewhere along the line and I eventually gave back the money I made yesterday!

We came back and put on our swim suits and went back to the small pool where the water felt great. We took our tablets so we could play games between cooling dips. The pool ended up getting too crowded so we came back to the rig for TV and dinner.

Aug 17^th – Sun

We got going a bit earlier to ride the bike to Walmart for a bit of shopping. We thought we might beat the heat somewhat but not so. I made breakfast after we got back and put everything away. It is amazing how much we can buy and fit in the storage compartments on the bike.

We rode the bike to some casinos a bit further away and managed to spend the entire afternoon playing slots. We didn't even have enough time to go to the pool!

We hibernated for the rest of the evening and I made dinner again for a change. I play Words With Friends with Marg. Our cousin Pat is visiting her right now and we got quite the rapid exchange of turns going at the end of the game.

Aug 12th to 14th - Las Vegas

Aug 12^th – Tues – Las Vegas

After coffee, computer games and a nice long chat with Marg, we went shopping. We went to Costco for another folding chair. It turned out to be a “business center” which has larger quantities suitable for small businesses but it did have the chair we needed. Then we went to a WalMart looking for a folding card table – no luck so we headed back to the park and then walked to Fremont Street.

We first stopped at Binions for breakfast and we both had a small amount of cash available on our cards which of course we had to spend. We wandered through several more casinos, marveled at the weird characters on the street and finally ended up back at Main St Station casino where we had an early dinner.

Aug 13^th – Wed

Today we went looking for a card table. I had done some searching on the computer and found a Target store with a table in stock. Sure enough, found the store & found the table. It was one of the biggest Target stores that I have seen.

We had gone on a street parallel to “the strip” so we cut across to find a place for breakfast. We stopped at an older casino – Silver Sevens – got a players card and found a cafe. Just as we were being seated, there was an announcement that the fire alarms were being tested and to ignore them until an announcement saying the testing was done. We got coffee and ordered breakfast and then the testing started in earnest! Every 40 seconds or so (less than a minute), 2 long, LOUD “sirens” would sound followed by a spiel about leaving the building by the stairs & do not use the elevators. We finally decided that we could not handle any more and got up & left without getting our breakfast.

We went a bit further and stopped at the Tuscany where we had a good breakfast and played some slots. From there we drove down the strip a ways and found a surface parking lot with some empty spots. We spent a long time checking out many slot machines. I actually recovered my money from the Tuscany plus a bit more.

We returned to the rig, put the table in place, had a drink & generally relaxed for a while. We went back to Main St Station for dinner as we have enjoyed the restaurant there for the last 2 evenings. It didn't disappoint us today. Then it was back to the slots where it was Terry's turn to get some money back.

It is very hot here but the weather forecast says to enjoy the last of the 90's as it is going to 3 digits soon! Better than the floods in other parts of the country.

Aug 14^th – Thurs

We were originally going to stay here for 3 nights but decided that since there is a laundromat here and the dirty clothes basket is full that we would stay another night and get that chore done. Also, the $14 per night rate is good.

After coffee we went to Main St Station to see what they offered for breakfast. We saw that the buffet was only $6.99 and we were sure that we could find something that we wanted to eat. We probably found more than we needed but what else is new! And it was a better deal than we thought as points on our player's cards paid for it all. After we gambled a bit we came back and did the laundry.

Later in the afternoon we headed back to Fremont Street to hit a few favorite spots and decide what to have for dinner. I am really having a nice break from cooking!! Full and nearly “gambled out”, we came back to the rig to enjoy a drink & some TV since we get many channels on the antenna.

Aug 8th to 11th - Utah, AZ, NV

Aug 8^th – Fri – to Zion Ntl Park

We had a very short drive to an RV park just outside the east entrance to the park. On the way, we stopped for breakfast at a nice little cafe in Hatch. We registered and set up and headed into the park on the bike. The east entrance is close to the big tunnel.

At this time of year, there are a lot of oversize vehicles traveling through the long, low clearance tunnel so traffic takes turns in each direction rather than stopping traffic just for one or two big rigs. Again because of the traffic, you have to take a free shuttle past the main visitor center. The parking lots were full so we went to a lot a bit further near Springdale where there is also a shuttle stop. The shuttles have a main “bus” and a “trailer” to accommodate more people. The trailer is like the bus but without an engine.

A lot of Zion is best seen by hiking and we are not hikers – especially in hot weather. So we rode the shuttle all the way to the end of the road, transferred to another shuttle that was at the head of the line and rode back down. We sat on the right side of the bus each time so we could see scenery on both sides and were quite happy with our tour which was narrated by the drivers.

Now it was time for a cooling snack so we found a place for ice cream and a shady table outside. We headed back out the way we came, visited the store at the RV park to try to get some wifi and relaxed for the rest of the evening.

Aug 9^th – Sat – to Page AZ

We are getting good at short trips! We stopped in Kanab for a less than great breakfast at McDonald’s – sometimes the parking dictates the eating spot and McDonald’s is usually OK.

We were quite surprised by the size of Page and the large motels in town. We stayed at Page Lake Powell Campground which we found with only a couple of wrong turns. The office personnel informed us that the “best” tour company for Antelope Canyon was booked up until the end of next week. This was the reason for our trip to Page!

We set up and took the bike on a tour. We stopped at another tour company and they had an opening tomorrow at 3:00 or suggested that we could go to the parking lot where all the tours enter the tribal area and get on a tour “first come, first served”. We checked it out and turned around when everyone else started doing the same because there were no openings.

We went to the Glen Canyon dam to check out the visitor center and take some pictures. We made a quick stop at Walmart and then hibernated for the rest of the afternoon and evening. We checked out the indoor pool but decided all the kids could keep it to themselves.

Aug 10^th – Sun

We got up reasonably early and went to the tour staging area. There was a line of cars extending onto the shoulder of the road as the gate wasn't open yet. Soon the line was allowed to pull up to the entrance kiosks which weren't open until 8. When we finally moved, an employee told us that the earliest tour with space was at 1:30 so we joined umpteen other vehicles turning around and leaving.

We went back to the tour company that we visited yesterday to see if they still had room at 3:00. Nope – they had room on an 8:30 tour in a few minutes!! We grabbed some water and climbed onto the open back truck to go back to where we just came from.

The vehicles drive on a dusty, bumpy wash to get to Antelope Canyon. Our truck only had 8 people instead of a full load of 16 – go figure with people waiting for tours! - and everyone was having a good time. Our tour guide (Irene) was great and showed us amazing angles for pictures in the canyon which was beautiful. The bad news was large tour buses on Sundays and it was a bit crowded.

After the tour, we went to Dennys for a late breakfast. We stopped again at WalMart for dinner ingredients and headed back to the rig. We enjoyed computer games, PGA golf and AC for the afternoon and evening. It was quite hot.

Aug 11^th – Mon – to Las Vegas

We have been continually confused by the time since we got to Page as phones pick up Utah cell towers and Utah recognizes Daylight Savings Time – unlike AZ. It didn't really matter this morning as we got up & left when it seemed right!

We backtracked to Kanab and then went a bit south & west to Utah which avoided going through Zion park. We stopped in Mesquite NV for breakfast at a casino. We played slots a bit when we finished eating and I won enough so that we only added a few dollars to the reasonable price of breakfast.

We have not tried to find Main Street Station RV park from the north and the GPS kind of let us down due to fairly recent freeway modifications. We would have been fine if Main Street was not torn up and barricaded where we needed to turn! We had to go around a block or two and then made a sharp turn around construction cones – whew!

We set up and before Terry finished hooking up utilities & leveling, I made some changes inside that I thought about as we drove today. I figured if we removed one “bed/bench” in the back area, we could put both recliners back there when we take the bike out and leave the area across from the kitchen for a small computer table & folding chairs. Before we walked to Main St Station casino & hotel to register we had taken out the bed/bench and put it in the back of the truck. We also put the heavy table - that I have to take out every time we load & unload the bike - in the truck. It is going to be great!

The weather is very hot so we played some slots rather than going back to rig. We played for a short time when Terry hit a JACKPOT! We were both amazed to see the amount of $5,043.38 on the screen requiring a “hand pay”. YAHOO!

Once pictures were taken, paperwork was signed and money changed hands we were ready for more fun. About 4:30 we had dinner and then played more slots. We called it quits about 8 and were thankful for AC when we got back.

Aug 4th to 7th - Utah

Aug 4^th – Mon – Moab

We discussed getting an earlier start this morning so we would be in Arches Ntl Park before it got so hot but that didn't happen! After breakfast we headed out on the bike.

We were surprised that there was a long line of cars to get into the park at 10 but traffic really spread out once in the park. We have been to Arches before but you could swear you didn't see some formations previously. We stopped at a couple of viewpoints and were keeping an eye on some black clouds. Just as we were heading to another area, it started to rain big fat drops. We pulled into a big parking area, got out the motorcycle cover and pulled it over the bike and ourselves! Then the lightning & thunder started. At one point, a guy in a car yelled “hey you people on the motorcycle, do you want to come sit in our car?” We declined and couldn't help but get the giggles every once in a while. The rain let up so Terry crawled out to check. There was another big black cloud and sure enough the rain & thunder started again and Terry joined me back under the cover.

Finally the storm moved over but we didn't take any chances and bee-lined out of the park. We stopped at a grocery store in town and bought enough that we had to wear our helmets (helmets optional in Utah) to provide room to carry everything back. Terry put the cover back on the bike so it could dry out but as soon as it was dry another rainstorm hit.

By the time we were ready to cook dinner, it was sunny for Terry to cook baby backs on the BBQ. We sat outside to eat and had to pull the picnic table into the shade of the rig as it was too hot.

We went for a little stroll around the park and stopped to talk to our neighbors Charles & Sandi from Tennessee. They told us about an RV park in Louisiana (Betty's RV in Abbeville) that is definitely going on our list of places to go.

Aug 5^th – Tues

We rode into town to find a place for breakfast and ended up at Dennys which is always a decent choice. Then we rode Hwy 128 along the Colorado River for a few miles. It used to be the highway into Moab & Arches. We stopped in town and shopped both sides of the most touristy area of the main street. The weather was lovely today.

Back at the RV park, I did 3 loads of laundry which took a bit longer than usual as there were only 2 washers & 2 dryers. It was close to our site though so I walked back & forth several times and got a little needed exercise. We relaxed the rest of the day and Terry BBQ'd again for dinner.

Aug 6^th – Wed – to Bryce Canyon area

We weren't sure where we were going to end up today. We stopped at the visitor center in Capitol Reef Ntl park and decided to keep going as we have been there previously. We had lunch in Torrey and then turned onto Scenic All American Hwy 12 which we traveled once before but in the opposite direction and pulling the 5^th wheel. This time we were able to pull into several view points to ooh & aah and take pictures.

We got a site at Red Canyon RV which is a few miles past Bryce Canyon Ntl park. When we registered they said we could pick our site and might want one with shade. A couple of hours later a neighbor said we might want to move the motorcycle as the trees were “sapping” and little drops get on everything – but they wipe off easily! AC required.

Aug 7^th – Thurs

It really cooled down last night and Terry even turned on the furnace when he got up early. I made breakfast before we cleaned the bike and left for Bryce Canyon. When we stopped at Red Rock Canyon to take pictures, we chatted with 2 couples (Ralph & Linda Beggs and Carroll & Sharri Bain) from Oregon. They both have Spyders and we ended up telling them about VVV.

We entered Bryce Canyon and drove all the way to the end (18 miles) and then stopped at view points on the way back as you don't have to constantly cross traffic doing it that way. It was another gorgeous sunny day. We stopped on the way out and found ice cream which we enjoyed sitting in the shade.

We made a quick stop at the rig and then went Panguitch for a bit of shopping – cleaner for the bike, groceries, booze and gas. Now it was time again to relax – we are good at that! - and have dinner. Terry tried out the new cleaner and shined up the bike.

Aug 1st to 3rd - CO to Utah

Aug 1^st – Fri – CO

We didn't feel a need to get going early as we would run into rush hour traffic on I25 so we drank coffee and played computer games after Terry got up at the crack of dawn. We waffled back & forth about where to go and finally decided to hit I70 and head west as other routes would be longer and end up in almost the same place.

The weather was nice until we exited the Eisenhower tunnel into rain. There was a group of people on motorcycles on the side of the highway putting on rain gear and we were very happy that we weren't doing the same. We pulled into “who-knows-where” for lunch when we saw a Burger King sign. Bad choice! We had no option but to pull into their parking lot which required going over a curb to get out and then they didn't have the “2 for $5” special which was advertised with a big sign on a window!

Terry started to get a bit sleepy so we decided to stay in Grand Junction. I made a phone call to get an RV site and we set up in Junction West RV after being registered by a wonderful employee. We took the bike to WalMart for some groceries and settled in for the evening.

Aug 2^nd – Sat

We relaxed again this morning and I finally made a very late breakfast. Hot & sunny.

We went to the Colorado National Monument which I had seen in a brochure and which is not far out of town. This is another place where we can use all of our superlatives.

There is a 23 mile drive along the rim and the scenery is fantastic. The winding road climbs for great views of the town and down canyons. There is mostly red rock which makes for super pictures. We stopped at several places and walked to view points for even more amazing sights. There was not a lot of traffic which was nice with all the curves.

When we got back we went to a mall as I noticed that one of Terry's sandals was coming apart. We lucked out big time with Terry's size on clearance sandals at Kohls. Then he felt guilty as he has been buying more stuff for him than me so we had to do more shopping. I did quite well also. We ate an early dinner in the food court of the mall and headed home for a refreshing beverage.

The people in this park continue to surprise us. We needed propane and knew that they filled tanks here so Terry went to the office at 5:30 to see if they were still open and could fill a tank. The guy came by here to pick up the tank and then dropped if off with the bill. How nice!

Aug 3^rd – Sun – to Moab UT

We had a short 2 hour or so drive today so didn't leave until 9. The landscape quickly became quite boring until we turned south to Moab. We stopped on the way through town to pick up some bottled water which is one item that is hard to carry on the motorcycle. We ended up getting a few other small items as we were right beside a hardware store.

We checked into the OK RV Park and chatted with the employee who is from the Spokane area but moving to Moab. We set up, had lunch and took the bike into town to buy tickets for tonight. It was hot so we stopped for milkshakes and brought them back to drink so we didn't try to drink too fast and get brain freeze.

We had a few hours to kill so we stayed inside with the AC on, watched TV and played computer games. About 5:30 it started to pour and we thought our evening would get rained out but it was just sprinkling when we left at 6:45 – in the truck – to go back to town.

We took the advice of people at our last RV park and went on a “Canyonlands by Night” tour. At 7 we had a cowboy dinner buffet (inside but the rain had stopped) and then boarded a wide, flat boat for a ride on the Colorado River.

We went upstream for about an hour with a guide providing lots of information about the history & geology of the area. He kept things light by pointing out faces and other figures on the rock walls. By now it was nearly dark so the “light & sound” part of the show started.

An excellent sound system provided the narration which included music. A truck with huge spotlights was on a road running along the river and highlighted parts of the canyon walls as we drifted down the dark, still river. A quarter moon came out from behind spotty clouds just in time for “Moon on the Colorado River” which was recorded by Sons of the Pioneers. I probably enjoyed this quiet activity more than Terry but he wasn't bored. We got back to the dock right on time at 10.

July 27th to 31st - SD to Colorado

July 27^th – Sun – Spearfish

We started a bike ride this morning by heading south through Spearfish Canyon which is very scenic. We stopped and walked on a short path to Roughlock Falls where the water is super clear. We had a great map with different colored routes which made it quite easy to follow the loops. After going through Lead we headed SE to Silver City, missed a turn and ended up talking to a couple of guys about CanAms. We swung around the bottom of the “blue” loop and headed north to end up in Sturgis where we had lunch and shopped a bit.

The big motorcycle rally in Sturgis does not start until Aug 4^th but there are thousands of bikes around the area already. We drove back through Deadwood and then up to I90 for 17 miles back to Spearfish.

We stopped at a WalMart because I am making Terry throw away a couple of pairs of decrepit shorts and he needs replacements. Of course he found 3 pairs and I found nothing. Between drinks & dinner prep, I did a couple of loads of laundry. We were really close to the laundry room so I could easily walk back & forth which made it nearly painless.

July 28th – Mon – to Keystone

Chief & Deb (from VVV) are workcamping at Spokane Creek RV just out of Keystone. We had already planned to come here so we made a reservation on Saturday and had our replacement credit card sent to the RV park.

When we made our reservation, the employee said we would be getting a confirmation email. What she didn't tell us was that it would include driving directions and not to use the GPS. We didn't get the email and didn't think much about it. Of course we used the GPS and realized we were in trouble when we drove a short ways on a road with a sign about low, one-way tunnels and Wanda announced in the middle of nothing that we had arrived at our destination! Luckily we found a little road where Terry could turn around and when we got back to Keystone & had cell service I called the park for directions. It was still a winding narrow road but at least we were confident that we would get there.

We saw Deb as soon as we arrived and Chief came by just as we parked. We made arrangements to go for a bike ride when Chief & Deb got off work. Joe, also from VVV, is here and joined us for the ride but first we went for lunch here at the park where Deb is cooking.  Deb ended up not going on the ride.

We rode part of the Iron Mountain Road which is well known for curves, hills, pigtails & tunnels. This is the road that we started on to get here! We stopped at the third tunnel to get a picture of Mt. Rushmore framed by the tunnel. We stopped in Hill City - where the main street was lined with motorcycles – and had a beer & watched people. Then we returned via Keystone for another refreshment stop (yes, we were drinking & driving but with lots of time between) before taking the road back – Playhouse – that we ended up using to get here.

Terry got out chairs and I made “snacks for dinner”. Joe joined us but Chief & Deb had a meeting to attend. Lovely day!

July 29^th – Tues

Chief & Deb are working today so we had breakfast here at the park and went riding with Joe. We entered Custer State park just south of here and in a few miles were in the middle of a huge buffalo herd. I say “in the middle” because they were on both sides of the road and constantly crossing the road. It was a little nerve wracking being on the bike instead of safely in a car. We got great pictures before the traffic jam moved and we were on our way again.

We drove the big loop of the park and stopped at a visitor center. We saw a few pronghorm antelope, people feeding donkeys and a prairie dog town. We stopped at Blue Bell lodge for a very nice lunch and then got rained on a bit as we rode the Needles Highway before we ended up in Keystone at the same bar as yesterday. This time Joe & I had Irish coffee to warm up before heading back to the park.

We had a late dinner and a quiet evening.

July 30^th – Wed

Chief & Deb had the day off so we went riding with them & Joe. First we all had breakfast at the little restaurant here at the park. I had a yummy breakfast sandwich made with a biscuit just out of the oven while Terry had his biscuits covered with sausage gravy.

We first went south to Hot Springs and stopped to check out a couple of tourist sites. Then we rode west & north to Custer City. We had a beer at a bar with sawdust on the floor and then walked a few blocks to a grocery store where we got steaks & other stuff for dinner. On the way back we went into a T-shirt shop and Chief got a shirt.

My camera battery ran down when we got to a very scenic area of the Needles Highway yesterday so we returned that way to get pictures. The small stopping area by “the Needle” was packed but we squeezed in so I could get pictures. This area is also congested as there is a low, narrow one-way tunnel right there. There were a couple of climbers preparing to rappel down a cliff and people were watching them as well.

Back at the park, I husked our corn, put together a salad and we went to Chief & Deb's site for the serious business of drinking & eating. Of course Joe joined us as well. After dinner, we went to watch people playing horseshoes. Terry brought our buddy burner so I got to tell people how to make one while he was playing a game of horseshoes.

Another wonderful day!

July 31^st – Thurs – to Colorado

We packed up, dumped the tanks and then had breakfast at the RV park restaurant before we headed south. Once out of the Black Hills, the landscape was quite flat. We made a stop for fuel and then a late lunch just north of the Colorado state line.

We were planning to go just north of Loveland and continue east but the GPS wanted to take us on a big loop north first. Terry asked at a service station when we stopped again for fuel and they said the canyon roads weren't open because of the major flooding last year. I had been looking unsuccessfully for an RV park so now we headed to a park east of Loveland. We got the last available site and can only stay one night.

We wiggled into our site and luckily could park far enough back that we didn't have to unhook the truck. We relaxed outside with a drink & computer games and then I made a light dinner.