Today we drove through Sturgis, SD on the way to Devils Tower in Wyoming. It is spelled correctly without an apostrophe. The rock formation was awesome to see in person. Much more impressive than the photos you see. It was a good thing that we just drove through Sturgis though. That is the legendary Mecca for Harley Davidson owners with a huge gathering every year. Had we stopped, I would have had to keep a keen eye on Ann for fear she would run off with some biker dude. Richard

Today, after church, we drove about 45 miles east to Wall Drug and the Badlands National Park. You've seen the bumper stickers - Where the H#*@ is Wall Drug? Well, we found it and boy was it over the top.  It was so huge and so many things to look at. But the coolest thing was that we got to see one of the true oddities of Darwin's Evolution. Yup, we seen 'em. The Jackalope, common to these parts; but especially common to Wall Drug.
The Badlands were really something to see in person and we were quite happy that we took the time to go see them. And, as you can see, I am really enjoying the beard. Looks pretty cool with the Stetson Revenger.
And, of course, Ann is looking pretty sweet with yet another new blouse. Richard

Today we went to Mt. Rushmore.  It's something I've always wanted to see and it was very thrilling to be there.  Today was a big change from what we've seen the past few days, from mostly flat Nebraska to the mountain climb in South Dakota to see Mt. Rushmore.  We have 3 more states to see.  It's hard to believe we've been gone 5 1/2 months. -Ann

We started our day by going to the Golden Spike Tower adjacent to the Bailey Railroad Yard in North Platte, NE - the largest railroad yard in the world. It was super cool and now we know why we have seen so many trains yesterday and today.
Our next adventure was following our GPS on a road that should have been a shorter distance to our destination - trouble was, we ended up on several dirt roads, going through farmland in the hills. Ann was not too impressed. So we changed the setting on the GPS to faster time and got back on the paved roads.
Then we stopped in the coolest little village of Lewellen,NE population 282. We visited their town hall and got to see their council chambers - a little smaller than I was used to; but it would seem to limit audience participation (complaints from the same people all of the time.) The town hall was 12' wide and the library next door was also 12' wide.  The library hours were:  Tuesday 9-12 and Friday 2-5.
The next photo is of Chimney Rock which was a major landmark for California, Oregon and Mormon pioneers as well as Pony Express. Tonight we are in Scottsbluff, NE

Today we visited the very best museum ever in a small town of Minden, NE. It is the Pioneer Village of over 50,000 items in every field of endeavor arranged in order of development. It was unbelievable! Check out the electric wheelchair from 1952. The US's first jet aircraft. The land office where the museum originator's Grandfather got his homestead. More tractors, cars and trucks than I have ever seen anywhere. A two person - side by side - bike from 1896 long before our son Rex ever thought about building cool bikes. And a Pony Express log building along with the one room school the originator of the museum went to as a child.

Yesterday, we spotted this very small public library in a very small town. The sign in front announces the four times a week that they are open for two and a half hours each time. We are very fortunate. The last 25 miles of our trip to Council Bluffs was detoured because of flooding of the Missouri River that has lasted for about three months. Al least one overpass has sunk because of the standing water. What a mess. Later that day we visited Kanesville Tabernacle in Iowa and Winter Quarters, NE. Very cool.
This morning we walked across the Missouri River between Omaha, NE and Council Bluffs, IA on a really interesting foot bridge. After that we visited the Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs, IA.
Then we followed the Mormon Trail from Council Bluffs, IA to Grand Island, NE. Interestingly, the Lincoln Highway - the first transcontinental highway in the US - follows some of the same route. Now here is where I get a little melancholy about what I saw of the Lincoln Highway today. In 1947, when I was two years old, our little family drove the same road. It was before seat belts and car seats for children. So, I, as a two year-old, stood the whole time leaning against either my mother in the front seat or against the door in the back seat so that I could see everything. As we drove along the highway today, I looked for buildings that I would have seen in 1947. And, as we drove through this section of the country in 1947, none of us in the car had any inkling of the tragedy that would happen to our family just a few hundred miles away in Wyoming the next day. More to follow. Richard
The bottom 2 pictures are in Grand Island, NE--a gas station that is still open and where Richard's family might have bought gas in 1947, and the bottom picture is near there, it's part of a seedling mile of the Lincoln Highway.  It's one of 2 that are still intact.-Ann

We spent hours in the Mall of America in Minneapolis. Then we were driving down the road this morning and I nearly fell out of the seat laughing at the caution sign. I had to drive back for a photo. It was, obvious to me, the work of a couple of 14-15 year old boys having a little fun. Then we discovered the largest candy store in Minnesota. Ann was in heaven. And, speaking of heaven, we later stopped in a beautiful city of Saint Peter, MN. Sure enough they had their own "pearly gates." And, it might surprise you that, no matter how hard I tried, I could not get them open. Hum?
We also stayed in a city where Jenny-O turkey is the primary employer. Another where they have a Toro wheel plant. Then while driving on the Minnesota River Valley Bi-way we came into the "Valley of the Jolly Green Giant" - and then where they process La Sueur peas. Tonight we are in Sibley, IA.