Welcome to Denver

 There was no 'Welcome to Wyoming' sign, so all I have is the 'state line' (maybe ill get it when i come back through to go to salt lake)

It started out flat but if you look closely you can see mountains in the distance!
 so cool rock formations, like Devils Tower
A town I drove through population 550. elevation 4,165ft. Welcome to Lingle, WY

 This was the best shot I could get of the 'welcome to Colorado' sign...gotta love the rain!

  After about 6 hours and a few pit stops I made it to Denver.  Eliz had gotten called into work so I met her two brothers Ben and Alex and we hung out eating Chinese and watching movies.  Eliz got home round 10 and we stayed up till 2 catching up and gossiping, what girls do best! 

   I left the next afternoon to see Nate in Colorado Springs for a few days and then its back to Denver Tuesday night for Eliz's standup routine and then Wednesday we go to Boulder!! 

Goodbye South Dakota!

          Parts of Hidalgo were filmed in Hot Springs and at the Sanctuary!!

 Our tour bus! 

 Its a baby Hidalgo!! Otherwise known as a medicine hat Mustangs

 One of the many beautiful views!

 A site discovered in the late 1970's where they have excavated hundreds of wooley mammoth bones!

           wooley mammoth bones          the 'real' thing! (Colombian Mammoth)

  After all my adventures in Hot Springs I headed out by noon for the 5 hour drive to Colorado! Yipeee! 

Rushmore and the Park

  

Mount Rushmore 

Some nice family took my picture on the left so I wouldn't have another picture with my head in the corner :) It was a lot of fun. Definitely worth the drive, looked small as I drove up there but once I was in the park it was great.  I took the .6 mile loop with tour guide and visited the sculpture studio too. I needed some form of exercise after driving for so many days.  I stayed till noon did a little shopping in the gift shop and had some lunch. The altitude started to get to me, I didn't realize that I was up almost 6,000ft.  

After Rushmore I headed to Custer National Park it was awesome! I drove the 27 mile 'wildlife loop' at about 25mph.  The first thing I came across was a car stopped in the middle of the road. As I approached I could see furry creatures with their heads inside the car...

                         Its wild ass!!    

I'm sorry i just cant help myself, had to say it! But seriously there were donkeys everywhere! When you drive by, just open your window and they will stick their heads right in! 

                  

Aren't they so cute!!!! I want one! 

I saw other wildlife too...

 Traffic Jam         

          Prong Horns

      Buffaloes

After the animals and Rushmore I headed to Hot Springs, SD. I found a little cabin to stay in that was built in the 1920's.  Then in the morning I would head out to the Wild Horse Sanctuary to see the Mustangs. 

I love South Dakota!!!

I Love South Dakota! Besides the crazy looks I get from people who see my license plate (I did remove my Anti-Bush/Peace sign magnet after I noticed some old people eyeing my car).  It is beautiful out here!!!  I passed fields and fields of sunflowers! It reminded me of Tuscany! All they would need is vineyards! 

I stopped at the Black Hills and drove the 27 mi loop through the park.  It was wonderful, but way too hot to get out and take any of the trails offered.  The loop was awesome, even if I felt lazy driving, hell I have food poisoning remember?!!  I'm weak. 

After the Hills (Hehe Jill I said 'The Hills', Haha this is soooo not like that!) I made my way to the metropolis of Rapid City.  Mount Rushmore was 26 mi away so I figured this was a good place to crash before I ventured there the next morning.  I planned to camp, I called a few places and almost committed, but when I did the drive by i panicked there was water and electric for tent sites, but no camp fires allowed. What is that about? No fires?! No camping. So I found the Big Sky Lodge, up on the top of the town with a beautiful view.  I of course got a reduced price, by explaining that the original was just too expensive. Hehe go me:) Still not that interested in food, I stayed in and slept a lot. 

The next morning I found a car wash first thing, 8 am baby! and gave Fit-Fit a bath.  I decided to do it by hand so I could personally scrub off the bug guts and bird poop I had accumulated through 3 states.  It was really satisfying.  Then with a squeaky clean bright red car, so as to not stand out too much-if my NH plates weren't enough-, I was off to Mount Rushmore! 

Leaving the City

Well it took two more days but I did it! I left Chicago.  It took a lot since we usually stayed up till 2 or 3 in the morning and slept till 11. Having to go to bed to wake up before 10 was crazy!!! :) Thank you to Heath for putting the bolt back on the bike rack so I could leave, I know how hard it was!:) Super big luv and thanks to Julia for housing me for so long, I had a GREAT time and can't wait to visit again! You were a wonderful host, you too Heath! 

So I did a lot of laundry, packed up my mess and packed up Fit-Fit. I left by 9:30! It was a long haul, I worked it out to drive through Wisconsin and Minnesota and sleep in Sioux Falls, SD. That came out to 9 hours, without stops.  As I drove I could clearly see the difference between each state for sure.  Wisconsin although slightly hilly was full of corn, corn, corn. As you entered Minnesota some felt the same but the corn began to lessen and wheat seemed to take over. As I came to cross the South Dakota border the hills started, it became quite a sight! 

Of course during the journey i packed some food. The food I packed was what I had brought to Chicago 2 weeks earlier, Yum!  All I had left was some hummus and carrots to put in my cooler, I'm sorry did I say cooler? I meant insulated bag with NO ice. So food isn't quite refrigerated, but not quite boiling hot form the sun either.  So needless to say, perhaps I should have left it in Julia's clean fridge:) 

But oh no not adventurous me, I ate it! Yeah, a lot of it. Mmmm funny tasting hummus and carrots...Hello food poisoning!  Of course, its about time for something like this to happen and what better a time than as I am getting pulled over for speeding...

"Excuse me ma'am why were you speeding?"

 "Um, well sir I'm about to shit my pants and am trying to make it to that rest stop right there!"

 "Oh ma'am ok ill give you a written warning, shall i meet you at the rest stop?" 

"Um, sure sir thanks!!" and off I zoomed. 

So after that, yes the cop followed me to the rest stop, I haven't been too interested in food other than bread.  I tried yogurt too, maybe some good bacteria would help? :)

I found a lovely room at Microtel hotel in Sioux Falls, thanks to the wonderful coupon book at one of the many visitor's centers along the way. Roomsavers.com I thank you! $44 for the night! and a free continental breakfast!! (not that I could eat much, I packed it for later) I'm learning to appreciate all the free food even if there isn't any fruit, sorry mom!! Ill find some soon I'm sure! :) 

   Off to Rapid City, SD and the Black Hills! 

perhaps ready to leave

So its been about 2 weeks! I am just having too much fun! Wisconsin was fabulous-Madison was really nice an oasis in the corn filled state. Jenni you were right! :) We walked all around town, had some jamba juice-and wheatgrass!- and stopped at a crazy hippie store too! 

After a lovely tour we headed north to the Wisconsin Dels. For those of you that are unfamiliar i would say the place is like Water Country times a thousand sitting next to Hampton beach on crack! Its an experience:) We had a great time at a water park, drinking pina coladas, then stumbling through the water slides and floating down the river. Fabulous!! We returned to the main drag to see it at night, ahh the lights! I purchased an overpriced caramel apple, yum! Then off to a local place for dinner, off the strip, next to Belton Lake-which after the dam broke dried up- We had great burgers and fried cheese curds! 

We returned to Heath's parents house to crash and then woke up to crepes and braut! yummy! We had to buzz out in order to get back to Chicago by 4 so i could catch my flight. We made it-Thanks for the ride Heath!! I flew to DC for my Grandfathers 90th birthday. Although it was a really short visit it was a lot of fun. I reunited with relatives and met even more! Aunt Diane and Uncle Ned's house was lovely and I enjoyed all the wonderful food.  Happy Birthday Grandpa! Pictures to come. 

After a quick flight back to Chicago, Julia and Brenda picked me up and we returned to a wonderful barbecue! Mmmm Heath made burgers! 

So the plan is I do some laundry, pack up, and then Im off to Mount Rushmore hopefully by Wednesday.  Im going to be sad to say goodbye, I have had a fabulous time! Thank you Thank you Thank you to Julia and Heath! Love you!!  

sitting pretty in the city

So after visiting with dad last weekend, i decided to stick around a little while longer.  Julia, Heath and I will be heading to Wisconsin together to see the sights and maybe going camping! Should be fun to see Wisconsin, local style! 

I have had a great time so far-shopping, meeting new people and seeing the city.  Last night we went to the smallest bar in the city! Literally it is just a bar, the whole place is shaped like a triangle.  The bar maybe small but the drinks are intense! 

Off to Wisconsin soon!