Headed West

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=82 BGCOLOR="#CCFF99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Arial" ><B>Headed West</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Headed West"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Headed East"><U>Headed East</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Conference photos"><U>Conference photos</U></A>   |   <B>Headed West</B>   |   <A HREF="id1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Schedule of book store stops"><U>Schedule of book store stops</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 BGCOLOR="#C0C0C0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Headed West</I></div> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Headed East"><U><I><B>Pictures of the first half of our trip.</B></I></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="901" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF HEIGHT= 5952 WIDTH="895"><div> <B>Doug has added pictures to his site from our trip--check them out here: </B><A HREF="http://www.cobbmtn.smugmug.com/gallery/4904935_ShYsp#317168498_qySWj" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.cobbmtn.smugmug.com/gallery/4"><U><B>Trip Photos</B></U></A><B> </B></div> <div> <B>The map below is our entire route--we kept track on one of the weather maps from USA Today!</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><IMG SRC="14cbc100.jpg" border=0 width="700" height="272" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>June 20, HOME!--</B>We rolled into Cobb around six this evening after almost twelve hours of driving. I'll update with pictures once I catch my breath, but for now we're just happy to be home, but a bit sad it's over, too...over 6,300 miles, seventeen states (counting California) and some absolutely amazing experiences in three weeks on the road. Wouldn't you know I'd get hooked on road trips when gas is so darned expensive! </div> <bR> <div> <B>June 19, Thursday Elko, NV--</B>Our last hotel was Rockford, IL, on June 8, but we bit the bullet and checked into the Gold Country Inn & Casino in Elko, NV after a long day on the road. Hard to believe, surrounded by desert, that we woke up with a view of the Grand Tetons this morning. We've decided that Idaho has the most innovative rest stations--the two we stopped at today had trails that led to really interesting stuff. Though we didn't do the lava bed walk, we did hike about a mile through sagebrush to see some of the original wagon wheel ruts from the Oregon Trail. It's hard enough WALKING through sagebrush--I can't imagine taking a heavy wagon with wooden wheels through this country.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="753" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 271 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="14277f90.jpg" border=0 width="375" height="249" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> We went from this, this morning...</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="14477f90.jpg" border=0 width="375" height="249" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ...to wheel ruts in Idaho...</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <IMG SRC="14777190.jpg" border=0 width="375" height="281" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> ...to this, near Elko...but at least there are wildflowers!</div> <div> We're definitely headed home, after three weeks on the road! What a trip!</div> <bR> <div> <B>June 18, Wednesday afternoon--Grand Tetons, WY--</B>Doug took a hike around part of the lake--I took a nap. Seemed like the right thing to do at the time! He did get some gorgeous photos, though--will post a few. Not sure when we'll have Internet again...headed west!</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="753" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 255 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="13877f90.jpg" border=0 width="375" height="249" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="13a77f90.jpg" border=0 width="375" height="249" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 255 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="13c77f90.jpg" border=0 width="375" height="249" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="14077f90.jpg" border=0 width="375" height="249" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B>June 18, Wednesday Grand Tetons WY</B>--We only drove about sixty miles today. Stopped to see some gorgeous hot springs in Yellowstone, and then headed to the Grand Tetons. Found a campsite early in the day on a beautuiful lake, and here we'll stay. Doug said there's wireless in the lodge up the road, so I'll try and get this loaded. We haven't had cell or Internet for a few days now. We're both ready for a day off. I'd take a nap, but it's much too pretty to sleep through all this! </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="805" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 172 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="12bc8850.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="133" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Hot springs we saw this morning.</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="136c8850.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="133" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Gorgeous aqua color--and hot!</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="196"><div> <IMG SRC="131c8850.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="133" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Waterfall on the way out of Yellowstone.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="196"><div> <IMG SRC="134c8850.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="133" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> The view behind our campsite--it's what you get when you stop early!</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>June 17, Tuesday Yellowstone WY--</B>We left our gorgeous campsite in Montana this morning and headed straight up over Beartooth Pass into Yellowstone. Talk about an E-Ticket! The pass is at 10,877 feet and just opened--we drove through walls of snow at the top, but the view was spectacular.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="805" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 221 WIDTH="196"><div> <IMG SRC="11ac8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Our campsite was way down below! Definitely a road where you want to be certain the brakes work well!</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="196"><div> <IMG SRC="11cc8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> The pass was a series of really steep switchbacks...pretty spectacular.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="196"><div> <IMG SRC="11e0fb40.jpg" border=0 width="271" height="180" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> This was taken just before going over highest point of the pass.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="196"><div> <IMG SRC="120c8850.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="133" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> There was a lot of snow at the top! The drop down into Yellowstone was equally impressive.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> The road down into Yellowstone was really neat. We saw lots of bison and elk, and even a mountain goat. Unfortunately, as the day went on the roads got more and more crowded, but about the time we decided to find a campsite, we got into a traffic back-up where a tour bus had gone off the road. We were held up there for well over an hour--at one point, Doug was talking to the ranger and I looked up and saw two buffalo running down the road toward us. I tried to get  the guys' attention, but the were too busy talking. Finally, I said, "Hey guys...there are two buffalo charging you!" The ranger looked up, shouted for everyone to get out of the way and the crowd scattered. Doug got a shot of me holding Rufus with the animals running by. They really can move!</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="805" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 188 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="122c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Beartooth Mtn. coming into park.</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="196"><div> <IMG SRC="124c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> One of the hot springs at Mammoth Hot Springs.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="196"><div> <IMG SRC="126c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Charging buffalo! I grabbed Rufus, Doug grabbed my camera...</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="196"><div> <IMG SRC="128c8850.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="133" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> As big as they are, buffalo can run at speeds up to 30mph!</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> We ended up in what was the last campsite in Yellowstone--a boggy spot on a horrible slope where we couldn't get the rig level. Later in the evening, we asked the ranger about moving to a different site that was more level, and were able to at least get a place where we wouldn't slide out of bed! It's just way too crowded to actually get a chance to see things--no gas crisis here!</div> <bR> <div> <B>June 16, Monday evening, about 12 miles above Red Lodge, MT--</B>This morning we spent a couple of hours at the Memorial to the Battle of the Little Bighorn. I'm so glad we arrived early, just after it opened, as there weren't a lot of people there yet and it was a much more personal experience. It's definitely a spiritual place and you can't help but wonder if the ghosts of the soldiers and the Native Americans who fell there are still hanging about. We watched the film and then walked up to the memorial on "Last Stand Hill." After that, we drove along the route where numerous other skirmishes and battles took place.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="10bdb640.jpg" border=0 width="475" height="356" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> This metal sculpture is part of the memorial to the Indians who fell in battle</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="829" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 304 WIDTH="271"><div> <IMG SRC="10313b70.jpg" border=0 width="275" height="183" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> We drove along a ridge top road and stopped to read about the events that happened along the way. Since we'd both recently read James Donovan's book about the battle, everything took on a more powerful sense of reality. The white gravestones scattered about the hills emphasized the feeling even more.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="271"><div> <IMG SRC="105af070.jpg" border=0 width="175" height="263" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Memorial at Last Stand Hill</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="271"><div> <IMG SRC="10913ce0.jpg" border=0 width="275" height="206" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The dark tombstone in the center marks the spot where Custer fell. The battle happened June 25, 1876, just nine days later than today's date, so the same flowers would have been blooming, the same grasses growing.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> After we left the memorial, we headed northwest to Billings, MT, then southwest to Red Lodge, a really neat town that's a ski resort in winter and an obvious tourist mecca in summer! We headed up into the mountains, hoping to find a nice, quiet campsite by a creek somewhere, away from people. We're there--and of course there's no wifi, which means this page won't get loaded until I find an Internet connection, but damn this spot is gorgeous! Tomorrow we head over Colter Pass at 8,066 feet, but tonight we're in the Absaroka Range on the side of Rock Creek where we are actually planning to relax for a few hours! Rufus is certainly happy we stopped moving...</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="829" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 244 WIDTH="271"><div> <IMG SRC="10f13ce0.jpg" border=0 width="275" height="206" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> We're in those mountains tonight, below the snow line.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="271"><div> <IMG SRC="1142dc80.jpg" border=0 width="301" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Trees, mountains, rushing water, empty campground...it doesn't get any better!</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="271"><div> <IMG SRC="11636ce0.jpg" border=0 width="310" height="206" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Doug got this slow-mo shot of the water by our campsite. It's gorgeous here!</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> We're heading out tomorrow and I'll try and find a place to upload the pictures.</div> <div> <B>June 16, Monday morning--</B>Doug was up early taking pictures--wanted to post these of our sunrise this morning--not sure if I'll have Internet tonight as we may stay in a "less civilized" campsite!</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="753" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 255 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0ff77f90.jpg" border=0 width="375" height="249" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0fb77f90.jpg" border=0 width="375" height="249" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B>June 15, Sunday (Father's Day) at Garryowen, MT, near Custer's battlefield--</B>had another amazing day. We started out at the Crazy Horse monument and American Indian museum, which is  fantastic. If they ever finish that statue, it will STILL be unreal--even only partially cut, it's breathtaking.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="805" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 139 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0e4c8850.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="133" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0e6c8850.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="133" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0e8c8850.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="133" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0eac8850.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="133" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="403" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 273 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0edc80b0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="267" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0efc80b0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="267" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> I really loved the bronzed stallions in front of the museum--absoulutely a beautiful, life-sized sculpture. By the time we left Crazy Horse, the parking lot was almost full--that is definitely one busy place, but well worth the entry fee and the trip. </div> <bR> <div> We headed northwest with Sheridan, WY our intended stop for the night, but the RV park we were planning to stay in turned out to be an absolute dump. We checked out a couple of other places and they weren't any better, so we tried the next town with the same results. Finally ended up driving all the way to Garryowens, MT, the site of Custer's Last Stand and we're in an absolutely perfect RV park called the <A HREF="http://www.historicwest.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.historicwest.com/"><U>7th Ranch RV Camp</U></A>. Our site is up on the side of a hill with a huge, sweeping view of the valley of the Little Bighorn...they don't call Montana "Big Sky Country" for nothing! We'll tour the area tomorrow and then head for Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. This trip just keeps on getting better! We are thoroughly enjoying ourselves, and even Rufus appears to have given up and decided to forgoe the daily nervous breakdown--either that or he's adjusting to the drugs!</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="829" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 228 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0f113b70.jpg" border=0 width="275" height="183" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Our campsite tonight.</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0f313ce0.jpg" border=0 width="275" height="206" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Open coal pit in Gillette, WY--it's HUGE!</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0f513ce0.jpg" border=0 width="275" height="206" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> The view we had all afternoon...</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>June 14, Saturday near Mt. Rushmore 8:00 pm--</B>We had such an amazing trip today--left Mobridge early and headed south through about 160 miles of a Sioux reservation--miles and miles of prairie. Saw a good sized herd of buffalo, and it was easy to imagine the plains absolutely covered with a sea of dark brown bodies. We ended up in the Badlands National Park. Absolutely amazing doesn't come close to describing the rock formations, and what made it even better was seeing everything beneath a crystal clear blue sky. We eventually got to the Black Hills where we saw Mt. Rushmore--Doug and I both thought it would be so much bigger! It's still pretty darned amazing, but we've heard about it for so long and have seen so many photos that the real thing was smaller than we expected. Tonight we're camped in the second largest KOA campground in the US, second only to one in Florida. It's almost full, and considering there are over 500 sites scattered among the hills and valleys, proof that Americans will still recreate in spite of the gas prices! There are RVs here from all over the US, and most of them are so big they make our little rig look like a roller skate by comparison. The consolation is that we can park this sucker ANYWHERE and it's actually getting fairly good mileage. Tomorrow we're headed to the Crazy Horse monument and then on to Gillette, WY...I asked Doug, "Why Gillette?" and he said because it's on the way to Custer's Little Bighorn battlefield. We both recently read a fantastic book by James Donovan called A TERRIBLE GLORY, about Custer's final battle--I've got a review of it posted at<A HREF="http://www.writersarereaders.com/douglasdonovanaterribleglory.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.writersarereaders.com/douglas"><U> www.writersarereaders.com.</U></A> After reading the book, I can't wait to actually walk the battlefield.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="805" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 172 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0c5c8850.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="133" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> We visited horses near our camp.</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0c9c8850.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="133" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Buffalo!</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0cbc8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Cheyenne River flooded</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0cdc8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> The roads go on forever!</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 172 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0d3c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> We loved the Badlands!</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0d1c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> I have about 200 of these pictures!</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0d5c8850.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="133" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Rufus wasn't all that sure, though.</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0d7c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Cactus blooming in the Badlands</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 172 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0dbc8850.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="133" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Mt. Rushmore</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0ddc8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Meadow in the Black Hills</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0dfc8850.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="133" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Moon rising over our campsite</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0e1c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Sky this evening near camp</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>June 13, Friday Mobridge, SD 5:00--</B>I'm in Mobridge, SD tonight, sitting in the laundry room at our campground on the Missouri River while my clothes "agitate," listening to the thunder boom outside and hoping we don't blow away tonight! Had a great day today--met Sandi Potterton at the Barnes and Noble store in Bismarck, ND and it was so much fun to finally meet a long-time Internet friend!<IMG SRC="0bdfade0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="222" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div>  Sandi has reviewed a number of my books, so I've known her for ages, though this was the first time we have ever actually met in person. Once again I'm reminded of the fact I've got to have the best readers in the world. She had a stack of books for me to sign, which is always an absolute thrill--you'd think I'd be used to it by now, but I still get chills when I have a reader show up with copies of my books for me to sign. </div> <bR> <div> I've started a new page of photos because we have definitely headed west after two weeks on the road. We're going to meander on home--there are a lot of places I want to see and with the price of gas steadily climbing, it may be a long time before I come this way again. Tomorrow we plan to head down into the South Dakota Badlands with plans to see Mt. Rushmore, the Crazy Horse monument and then on in to Montana to see the battlefield of the Little Bighorn. Also want to go to Yellowstone where we'll probably have to wade through snow! Weather has definitely been unusual.</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="612" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 172 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0bfc8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Coming into Bismarck, ND</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0c1c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> The flooded Missouri</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0c3c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Buffalo in North Dakota</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> (Doug did the last big laundry when we were in West Chester, but I opted to let him deal with Rufus while the thunder was booming! That is most definitely taking the coward's way out! Poor Rufus is not having a very good time, even with the doggy valium...we find ourselves humming "what a long, strange trip it's been" as we head down the highway...)</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pub1.bravenet.com/counter/code.php?id=403242&usernum=15192399&cpv=2"></script>   </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>