Birthday Road Trip 2012: Yellowstone or Bust!

August 3, 2012August 13, 2013 / cksdays / 1 Comment

As you read these very words, I am almost three hundred miles away from home. It’s the first weekend of August which means it’s time for my annual Birthday Road Trip. This tradition started based on my self-made theory that a birthday can’t find you if you’re not at home. So, I’ve been 29 for ten years. On a side note, by the 6^th 29^th, however, I didn’t feel very twentyish.

Since I went to New York for a weekend in June, my pocket book demanded a low key road trip this year. Yellowstone National Park it is. FYI, Yellowstone is in Wyoming – not Montana. Montana has successfully marketed their sliver of the park as West Yellowstone. Check out a map though. You’ll be surprised how little of the park is in Montana versus Wyoming. Yes, I might have a small issue with the whole West Yellowstone claim to fame. I’ll let it go for now, though.

This year the trip is just going to be Bubba and me. That’s okay. She is on this whole kick of being an adult now and insists on moving to Utah at the end of the month. Something about being closer to a certain boy. Blah, blah, blah. This trip could be our very last road trip together. Why is everyone moving to Utah? And no, I’m not convinced to move back. I’ll just make new friends and miss my old ones.

But for this weekend, we will enjoy Wyoming. First, we will stop at stinky Thermopolis and swim in the hot springs. Then we will make our way to Cody and probably sleep pretty well after our swim stop. Saturday we will spend the whole day in the park. No hurry. No agenda. Just take our sweet time. We’ll come home on Sunday.

map courtesy mapquest.com

Sounds like a pretty good birthday to me.

Did You Hear about this Movie?

October 28, 2011October 30, 2015 / cksdays / 1 Comment

Everyone needs a Bubba to watch movies with. My niece Bubba can’t hide her emotions. If she’s enjoying herself, you’ll know. On the flip side, if there’s an angry Bubba, you’ll know that also. Just pray you’re not the cause (ie waitress at the KOA Café at Devils Tower, my apologies). But when Bubba is having a good time, it can be infectious. Unless, of course, she’s having fun at your expense – but that’s a different story.

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Birthday Road Trip 2011 – Photo Recap

August 8, 2011August 13, 2013 / cksdays / 4 Comments

No Gas and the Jerky is Made of Gold in Muddy Gap

We stopped for a restroom break at Muddy Gap, Wyoming on our way to Casper Wednesday. We decided it was best to patronize the store also and bought the cheapest thing we could find – an $8 bag of jerky we referred to as “Our gold.”Luckily, we didn’t need any gas. For two unfortunate bikers, this was their second town without gas. They were asking everyone who stopped for tubing so that they could transfer gas from one motorcycle to the other and make it to Casper. Unfortunately, we couldn’t help them.

Beware Rebel Rousers!

50 years ago, dad and a few cohorts went to Lost Springs on a Saturday night. After a brawl with a few locals, they were escorted out by the sheriff. Today, the town boasts a population of 4. But it still has a bar. We took a chance by having dad enter this town. I figured his picture is hanging in the post office under the most wanted.

South Dakota or bust!

We entered South Dakota on Thursday. The sad part of this picture is the bullet holes all over the sign. Someone told me there would be a drastic difference in scenery as soon as I crossed the border. As you can see behind me, South Dakota looks nothing like the plains of Wyoming leading up to it. I am being a smarty pants of course. If it wasn’t for the sign, I wouldn’t have known I crossed.

Security System

This was our security system at our motel room. That’s paper-towel in the hole above the handle – I suppose mainly to keep bugs out.There was no dead bolt either. So we just put some furniture in front of the door while we slept. The name of the place was “Rushmore Inn and Suites.” It was a motel but the people were friendly.

Bear Country USA

On our way to Mt Rushmore we stopped at Bear Country, USA.

I recommend this place to anyone visiting the area.I saw a lot more animals here (and closer) than I did at Yellowstone.

Check it out at www.bearcountryusa.com.

You’ll love the babyland section!

350 feet down

There are a lot of caves to visit. We chose “Sitting Bull Crystal Cavern.” It wasn’t bad although there is a steep drop requiring you to go down 187 steps that are almost a ladder. And to get back to the surface, you have to climb the 187 steps. Our cave would have been more enjoyable if a fussy two-year old hadn’t been crying the whole tour. But definitely check out a cave!

Mt Rushmore - it's not as big as I thought it would be

When I was preparing for this trip, someone told me, “It’s not as big as I thought it would be.”That bugged me because it kind of ruined the big reveal. But, now I have to agree.

I thought I better work on some monument poses. You know, in case anybody wants to make a 60 foot sculpture of me.

: My Monument Pose

Traditional pose.

Monument Pose 2

“A little more me” pose.

Monument Pose 3

Probably the pose I’d choose.

Crazy Horse Monument

My advice about the Crazy Horse monument: save your money. The rock in the background will someday look like the white statue in front. But after 60 years, the only thing completed is the face. Wait until it is completely finished, then go see it.

Sturgis

Sturgis, South Dakota during the rally.

More Sturgis

This is a very big deal. People were renting out their yards for visitors to pitch tents.

: And one more Sturgis

Bikes, bikinis and tats were everywhere! We were very noticeable wearing our conservative bright colors.

: Devil’s Tower

Devil’s Tower, Wyoming. South Dakota needed to make a national monument by hand. Here in Wyoming, God took care of that. Just sayin’.

According to legend, the monument was carved by a bear trying to get 7 Native American girls who jumped on it for safety. They became part of the night sky (also known as the Pleiades)