Birthday Boy

Today is Matt's 7th birthday. He's Rockin' & Rollin'!!!

Sheridan At Last

After a night of listening to Harley noises - of the 400,000 gathering for the week; pretty sure we saw or heard 100,000 of them! We took our time saying good bye to the Black Hills; but eventually they were only seen in the rear view mirror as we continued our journey west.

The scenery underwent a dramatic change - no corn, thank goodness (I'm still pondering & am concerned about the amount of oxygen being released with the tilling of all that corn ground). We left the Ponderosa Pines in the mountains of the Black Hills and entered the sage covered mesas of the west.

The weather continues to be unusually cool and we ran into rain around Buffalo. The hills are green - almost unheard of for late July. It was wonderful to view familiar vistas and remember favorite places. It will be such fun to show these to the boys.

Laura & family arrived this afternoon - we have 2 excited boys also very, very tired - having traveled from Boston early this morning. Mom and Dad currently have them in the pool; trying to wear down some of that energy. Tomorrow we're off to buy boots & hats before heading to the ranch for lunch.

Kim arrives tomorrow afternoon - the boys are looking forward to a week long slumber party with Auntie Kim.

Our motel for the night is decidedly funky - Laura and Dean & the boys are in the "upgraded" section...they have a chair Philip, Kilian and I are in the room reserved for Norman Bates' mother.

Day in the Black Hills

Wonderful day - perfect weather; about 72-enough that I grabbed a jacket. Rapid City is a contrast to the beautiful hills - full of advertisements and Old McDonald Farms, Reptile Wonders, etc... I just try to keep my eyes shut until we head into the beautiful hills.

We started at the Crazy Horse Monument - 10 years since Philip and I last visited. We were astounded at the progress. The monument is still supported only by donations and visitors fees - no government funds accepted. Of the 2,500 buffalo in the park; we only saw about 100 but they were close to the road and we had a good view. Not so thrilled about the burros - they stood in the road and wouldn't move.

Final stop of the afternoon was at Mt. Rushmore.

Tomorrow we head onto Sheridan, Wy

Popcorn Fields

Kilian came up with a great idea for our return home - as we pass the corn fields; we'll torch them and create Popcorn Fields.

Lot'sa corn between Kentucky and Wyoming

Miles & miles of corn and I think it multiplies by the hour. I don't remember all this corn - surely we're not using all of it for syrup or gas. Really, it's kind of scary - 1,000 miles of corn.

After 2 days of driving - we're in Rapid City, South Dakota...just outside the Black Hills. We'll be here until Friday morning, when we head to Sheridan to meet Laura & Kim and family.