September 4, 2017

Joe and I woke late feeling all groggy and happy when we realized we had to be out by 11a.  We thought checkout was 1p so hadn’t done any prep packing last night.  While he wrestled the blasted bike onto the truck, I wet my hair to tame bed head and started packing.  We pulled out at 11:30 a. m.

Poor Apache is still suffering with the runs.  He woke Joe at 4 a.m. who then woke me cussing as he stepped in what can only be described as, a road of diarrhea.  It was on the rugs, both side of the kitchen island and he had walked through it.  So, yeah, that sucked for a bit.  But we handled it–Joe took the rugs and Apache outside and I, well, you know.  My sister recommends pumpkin puree which we will get at the first opportunity–it’s not so easy just to run into a market with a 31 foot trailer pulled behind a 2500 RAM with a 8 foot bed.  We think poor fella is a little upset with all the changes, all sorts of people and dogs and new places to sniff.  Let’s hope he settles–seriously…..let’s hope he settles.

We traveled 176 miles today (which is so much better than 300+) through prairie.  Just prairie.  Lots of prairie.  Did I mention…prairie?  The speed limit was 80!  No worries though, we cap our speed at 60 mph.  Not one toll and only two cops, hell I don’t think we even hit a curve for several hours.   I wish I had a better camera cause the sunflower field above was beautiful.  We got a kick out of the rest areas with their tipis.  Just as we were lulled into maddening boredom seeing the same thing for hours we rounded a bend….seriously this happened…….we rounded a bend and there was this huge body of water.  Now I never claimed to be the brightest bulb in the chandelier and I’ll be the first to admit geography class wasn’t my friend, but damn….turns out it is the MISSOURI frickin’ RIVER!!!.  Kind of a big deal and we only realized it as we passed it.  Party Fowl, Kim, aka, navigator.

As soon as we crossed the bridge, the wind started.  We checked our handy wind app and learned it was blowing at 17 knots.  Honestly have no idea what a knot is but don’t care to experience that again.  We are basically hauling a shoebox behind us…..it was not fun.  An hour later we finally stopped and were able to exhale.

We rolled into a desolate campground with relief.  Not much here, population is 497.  Nearby is home to Laura Ingles Wilder, poor girl. I get the title now….  The wind at this point is 22 mph (according to the Weather Channel), apparently this is a daily thing–crazy winds in the afternoon until 8-9 p.m.  No thank you, we will get up early tomorrow for our next jaunt to Keystone, SD.  Mt. Rushmore here we come, unless it’s windy and here we stay.  Makes you reconsider making reservations…maybe we need to stop wherever makes sense.  What do you think?  We risk not finding a place. hmmm

Uncle Jon, you will notice Apache above with the red ball of Latte’s you gave him.  He is basically obsessed and will knock any of us over to get to the thing.  Also, these are camp sox..get used to it.  I have a limited pair of shoes and prefer to just put on Joe’s socks when it gets cold–which happens when the wind blows at 22 mph..

Lessons:  Wildfire…everywhere we are headed….everywhere.  And on the other side is my son who I haven’t touched in two years.  Imagine that…not touching your son for TWO years.  He has a new wife and new grand-pup I need to meet.  So we have a lot of lessons to learn about wind, wildfire, and routes suitable for RV’s.  Luckily we have my bro-in-law and long distance truck driver to help us along the way….

1. d Wi