4 DAY UPDATE - LOTS HAS HAPPENED !!!

WELL, FROM CORN PALACE TO PIKE'S PEAK. WHAT A COUNTRY, U.S.A.!

WE LEFT MITCHELL, AND HEADED WEST TO RAPID CITY. YES, THE FAMOUS RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA. THE WINDS WERE UNBELIEVABLE. WE SAW A HOUSE THAT HAD BEEN BLOWN OVER ON IT'S SIDE. WELL, IT WAS ONLY HALF OF A MANUFACTURED HOME, BUT IT HAD BEEN FLIPPED OFF THE TRUCK AND LAY ON IT'S SIDE.

WE CROSSED THE MISSOURI, AND IT WAS C.C.C.COLD. 34 DEGREES. DROVE THRU THE BADLANDS AND ENDED UP AT WALL DRUGS, IN WALL, SD.

THE BIGGEST TOURIST TRAP EVER BUILT. MAKES PEDRO LOOK LIKE A DEPANNEUR. PEOPLE ACTUALLY COME HERE AS A DESTINATION AND LOOK AT THE INCREDIBLE MASS AND ACCUMULATION OF USELESS JUNK EVER COLLECTED IN ONE PLACE. BOUGHT SOME FUDGE ( IS'S BECAUSE OF THE FUDGE...). LOOKED AT ORIGINAL WYETH PAINTINGS. AMAZING.

RAPID CITY IS FANTASTIC. ART ON EVERY STREET CORNER. WE THOUGHT THE CAMPGROUND WAS NEAR TOWN. IT WAS 29 MILES AWAY, AND THE GPS SENT US ON A WILD GOOSE CHASE, AGAIN.

CAMPGROUND WAS GREAT. IT USED TO BE A RANCH. GENERAL CUSTER STAYED THERE. I WENT IN A BUILDING THAT WAS USED BY CUSTER. WOW !!

THE STONE PRESIDENTS ARE AWE INSPIRING. MET A GUY WHO WORKED ON THE PROJECT. HE WAS SELLING A BOOK AND WAS UNBELIEVABLY SURLY. I ASKED HIM WHY THEY HAD SCULPED THE PRESIDENTS. " TO GET PEOPLE TO COME TO SOUTH DAKOTA. AND IT WORKED." WENT TO SEE CRAZY HORSE, AND BECAUSE OF EXHORBITANT PRICE ($27 ) WE DID NOT GO IN BUT LOOKED FROM THE ROAD.

A STORM WAS COMING. THE GUY ON TV SAID THAT IF YOU COULD GET OUT OF TOWN, GO !!!!!! COLD AND SNOW ( 8 INCHES ) AND WINDS TO 65 MILES PER HOUR. SO, WE WENT.

THE GUYS AT THE CG GAVE US A GREAT SHORTCUT AND WE HEADED SOUTH, 406 MILES, 25 MILES SOUTH OF DENVER, COLORADO.

DROVE THRU THE NATIONAL GRASSLANDS AND THE BLACK HILLS. WE SAW HUNDREDS OF DEER AND ANTELLOPES, AND DID NOT HEAR A SINGLE DISCOURAGING WORD. SAW SOME BUFFALO AND FOXES. STOPPED IN CHUGWATER FOR LUNCH. YES, CHUGWATER...

WYOMING AND THE PEOPLE ARE TOUGH AND INDEPENDENT.

MADE IT TO CASTLE ROCK. CG WAS DESIGNED MOSTLY FOR PEOPLE ON HORSEBACK, WHO LIKE TO TENT, OR CURL UP IN A YURT. IT IS WITHIN 50 FEET FROM THE TRAIN TRACK. BIG, LOUD TRAINS CAME THROUGH THE NIGHT. THEY HAD BBQ GRILLS AMDE OUT OF OLD CAR WHEELS.

TODAY, WE CAME TO KOA IN FOUNTAIN, CO. WE WILL STAY HERE FOR 3 NIGHTS.

HOW YOU DOIN'?