a gaggle of ???

Okay for those in the know ~ is it a gaggle of turkeys or a gaggle of pheasants?  I took this shot while we were in Oacoma along the Missouri River.  There was a beautiful bike/walking path and guess what ~

I braved it (prompted by King's sarcasm about carting the bike around and Sioux Falls being the perfect place to ride it and I never did, yada yada yada forgetting that no one ~he or I ~ would ride a bicycle in 95 degree heat) not only once but twice, one mile each way along the river ... I was working that bike so hard I broke a peddle off!

So I had to walk it back to the coach, 1/2 mile!  I finally got some exercise!  So I rode 3 1/2 miles and walked 1/2 .... does that constitute exercise???  Oh I'm suppose to do that every day?

While we were there we found a great park ~ Roam Free Park in Chamberlain.  What gorgeous views of the river.  

And a good place for Sir to do a bit of free running and playing, although there were signs warning of rattle snakes, so I wouldn't let him go off the paths ~ hmmmm I guess he wasn't really "roaming free" was he!

Down the road from the campground (accross from Al's Oasis, sort of "South of the Border" kind of place) were these new friends for Arlo to kabitz with.  Look at the way he is eyeing the big one, not too sure about this guy!

The next day we headed out for a ride, to see what's around and to find a swimming place for Sir.  We found this great area about 30 miles north in Fort Thompson (a tiny town that I believe was on the Crow Creek Indian Reservation).  We came across this terrific area for Sir ~ the Big Bend Dam.  Turns out it is a Corps of Engineers property with an outstanding camping area.  Many open sittes that would have accomodated us.  Who knew?  I've been unable to find a good, easy to use source of information on COE parks (the website I found was very challenging to say the least).

Right now we are off to beautiful Spearfish Canyon.  Stay tuned.We left that area last Wednesday and came to Sturgis.  Looks like we'll be leaving Sturgis tomorrow headed somewhere in Wyoming.  I thought Sheridan, but it looks like it may be Buffalo for a couple nights then on to Montana and hopefully Yellowstone, which is creating a problem because we haven't made reservations there and may not be able to find a place with anything available.  I need to take a couple hours and sit my butt down and do some research and emailing ~ that however will call for planning and commitments, something we don't do well these days!

Right now we are off to beautiful Spearfish Canyon.  Stay tuned.

and a King (Richard) is born ... pa rump a pum pum .....

On this day, a long long time ago, himself, King Richard was born ... to parents Richard and Evelyn ..

He did grow up, in spite of shirts with large plaid, and challenging haircuts (oh to have that challenge these days) in Weymouth-land, and so sadly, the photo journals of those years are not to be found ..... those years long ago with his Nancy and their fine young lad Patrick ...

Through the years - oh so many many years, King Richard grew more goofy and silly and so very endearing to the masses  he did become ...

The "boppers" he wears so well to celebrate so many occassions, among them the most honorable and loving marriage of the fine lad Patrick to his dear Bethalene ~

Then through the halls of the hospital the King does roam awaiting the very proud announcement of

the birth of Princess Paige Elizabeth L. Whelan .... oh what a fine day that was ....

for the Kings on both sides and all generations ~ a fine Princess has been born ...

To be rocked in the very chair that her father, lad Patrick was rocked by his fine mother Nancy and father (the King) oh so many years ago ... Oh what an honor for herself the Princess to be rocked and fed and loved in the very chair that her father was rocked and fed and loved by his mother and father ...

And himself, the King, spent many hours enjoying the warmth of love and friendship abounding at the castle of lad Patrick and lady Bethalene

and being loved by our Princess Ms Paige 

and loved some more as the months did pass ... and Ms Princess Muffin Pie Face did grow oh so much older ....

And the warming month of April when the locks of our Princess Muffin Pie Face are adorned with oh so pink finery ...

And to this, we behold and praise the birth, oh so long long long ago of our most special King Richard ......

speaking for myself (as only I can do) 

Happy 60th to MY King Richard .....

 

We left Sioux Falls on Sunday and headed to Oacoma, SD to a beautiful campground on the Missouri River that Rick and Jaye had told us about.

One of the fun things about our travel is the "stuff" you see along the side of the road ~ NO I don't mean litter.  Like the "world's largest bulls head"!  No seriously, isn't everyone longing to see such a thing?  Well as we drove along Interstate 90, through Montrose, SD there is was ~ the bulls head I'd been waiting to see.  This is part of Porters Sculpture Park, which we should have gone to visit while we were in Sioux Falls.  Oh yeah, that's right it was so darned hot we didn't go out much during the day!

Further along (but not much further, because they go for hundreds of miles in each direction, we started to see the Wall Drug signs ~ they just crack me up, they are so "hokie" ~ like the South of the Border signs in the Carolinas.

Then we came to a rest area on the east side of the Missouri River ~ what a gorgeous view of the river.  The campground we are at is on the western shore of the river.

South Dakota really knows how to do rest areas - they are so gorgeous.  With so many states closing rest areas this was wonderful to see.  We were in one state (can't remember which one, other than MA, but that's an entirely different story) that had closed their Welcome Centers as you cross into their state on the interstate.  I'm not sure the various departments of transportation or departments of tourism realize the value of rest areas, and especially welcome centers, to those of us on the road.  No, I don't mean as a free campground (we've only slept in one once in 2 1/2 years) I mean as a source of valuable information as to where we'll be spending our money in their state, and as a means to showcase their state.  My interpretation of these closed facilities is that the particular state doesn't feel they have anything to showcase and they don't particularly care if we will be spending our money there ~ not a great message to be sending these days, do you think?

Anyway, this particular rest area was also the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center ~ Kimberly it made me think of our time in Council Bluffs and Omaha and the ride we took that Saturday and the re-enactment we saw.  You would LOVE this area ~ it is thick with Lewis and Clark history.  Much as history really bores me, I have found some of it interesting, as in how the river has changed and the wildlife they encountered along the way (they referred to prairie dogs as barking squirrels).  

This particular stop had several picnic tables overlooking the river, as well as walking paths and viewing areas.

I think today we will take a ride up the east side of the river to a dam about 20 miles away and Sir can have some swimming time.  

There's also a quilt shop in town that I'd like to visit.  We will be leaving here tomorrow morning headed to Sturgis for a few days - who knows it may be a week and a half.  We will definitely be leaving there on or before 7/31 when the rates go up because of the motorcycle rally.

oh what a long, strange, exhausting week it's been

Yup, it's been a while since a post.  Nothing much to post about 'cause it's been so flipping hot and humid - like you can't catch your breath if you are outside - gross, gross gross humid.  With that said we haven't left the house much to do anything other than take Sir for short walks ~ he can't even stand to be outside.

Other than that the only "things" up this week were a "cardio light stress test" and an ultra sound for me - chest pains again (aka elephants on my chest) all tests came back "normal", so I guess that makes me "normal" .... huh!!!

We will be leaving our beloved Sioux Falls in the morning.  Last night we had dinner with our dear friends Rick and Jaye, their daughter Allie came out later to join us.  We sure will miss them.

Doesn't King Richard look so very serious in these photos!

The big event around the Fairgrounds this week was the Junior Nationals of the American-International Charolais Association.  Like I said it was so damned hot around here we didn't go out much so I never got pictures of the cuties other than this one photo I took as I was heading out to do some shopping this morning - at that point these were the only two left on the entire fairgrounds!  They are such a cute/handsome breed.

It cooled off a bit an hour or so ago so Sir and I went out for a bit of "exercise" and lo and behold there was a rainbow!  As we walked further towards the corral where Sir plays, it turned into a double rainbow.  Can't remember the last time I saw a double!

After corral play we went into one of the open barn type exhibition areas where Sir sometimes gets to romp around if no one is around to whom he might be a threat.  Well it was very very windy (tornado warnings abound yet again).

And yup, he spots yet another gopher/ground hog/prairie dog hole.  Apparently there was a fresh scent at this one - so dig dig dig.

Then he sticks his head in ... Rick and I get to chuckling about this part of the "hunt" 'cause we just know there must be a gopher there looking at him that he isn't aware of! 

So tomorrow we will head to the campground at Cedar Shore Resort in Chamberlain, SD that Rick and Jaye told us about.  It seems quite nice along the Missouri River.  It would be terrific if there is a spot where Sir can get into the water for some water play.  After a few days there we will likely head to a campground in Sturgis.  We've never been to either of these two places so it may really feel like we are back on the road again - although we've certainly been to and through South Dakota a few times.  We had originally thought we'd go to Spearfish for a few nights after Chamberlain, but Sturgis seems the most likely at this point - then again we have been known to change our plans once in a while!  

At the moment we have lightning circling close by so I will do a spell check and quick proof read and get this published and head to bed!

take me (us) out for some adventures

Well, I'm repeating posts here I guess at this point ~ hopefully, with enough variation that no one will be bored, but I will reference the ones from two years ago (yikes)  ... 'cause we are back (in case you hadn't noticed from my previous lame post) in our Sioux Falls - although, we surely haven't done as much as we did when we were here two years ago.

Way back then, I did a post about going to a minor league ball game (or two) to watch the hometown Sioux Falls Canaries ~ well what the heck, the Canaries are now the "Fighting Pheasants" ~ new owners, corny name ~ what can I say, I was, in no way, responsible and no one consulted us on this ~ surely we would have said NO WAY to this name ... The new mascot is "Ringer" (yeah I don't quite "get it" either).  Ole Ringer did make his way through to make nice with the fans.

Rick discovered that The "Dillinger Gang" (way back when) had robbed a bank here in Sioux Falls.  Actually, I think he was watching some late night movie a couple nights ago (not positive because 1) I don't often "do" movies and 2) late night isn't often  ~ well except tonight ;-) ~ my "thing".  Anyway, Rick recently came to know about the "Gang" being involved in a bank robbery here in Sioux Falls, so on our way to one of the "off leash" dog parks here today we just happened to go by the site of said robbery.  Now, there seems to be some controversy in the Whelan household ~ King Richard says there was a police officer shot and killed in said robbery (and has been very distressed that there is no monument in this officer's honor), I've not seen any reference to said officer while perusing links to include in this here post!  So, with that said, perhaps King can rest a bit easier tomorrow (he has long been snoring away tonight).  No disrespect intended to any officer or my dear dear King ... just can't find a reference.

So with ALL that being said, after a wonderful dinner tonight with our great friends Rick and Jaye we went over to the location of said bank robbery and were fortunate enough to go down the basement vault on the property

The location has been rehabbed into condos ~ I know, I know, we usually don't like to hear (or read) such things but what a marvelous job was done with this.  They've kept the integrity of the building and appreciated the history.  I tried to find a link to post here and I can't find one other than businesses at the address.  Guess you'll have to trust me, once again, that the renovation is outstanding.  What  the basement vault is now a "common" area for the condo owners ~ outstanding use of original space.

So seriously, check out these photos of King Richard with our friend Jaye (above) and with  her husband, Rick (below) .... Do you see any changes here from the photo in my last Sioux Falls post done two years ago?  Ummmm seriously you guys ~ what is the name of that diet?

So, once again we've extended our stay (shocking isn't it).  Hopefully we'll be on the road again Saturday or Sunday.   More on that truly unintentional, unwanted delay, later.  

Meanwhile there is a cattle show here at the fairgrounds this week, which may provide a post, but I do believe it would be similar to one I did two years ago when, I think, the same cattle thing was happening.  It is interesting to hear, in these wee hours, the tractors etc. outside the barns here working ~ I suppose moving, well ~ ummm manure ~ bedding, hay ~ you name it ... Sir Arlo still has NO interest in these cattle (and the specific breed I'll reference later, but frankly I'm too tired to look it up and put a link here right now) ~ all Sir seems to have an interest in is the area outside the Sioux Empire Kennel barn (great sniffing and peeing opportunities there you know) and the gophers (prairie dogs??) that dig holes ALL over these vast acres.

Saturday night

Been a while I guess since a post!  Oooops ..

We are still in Sioux Falls ~ thought we'd be leaving today, but that wasn't to be.  Hopefully next Saturday we'll be heading north and west to Washington and Oregon.  

Rick is at Sioux Falls' annual "Hot Harley Nights" downtown at the moment.  I'm on two new meds that are "whacking" me so I stayed home to read, sleep and wallow in self pity.  I did end up making some ratatouille from farmers market goods today - the smell really got to me but oh well, hopefully it'll taste delicious tomorrow.

I hope that we'll get out this week and take some pictures so I can do a respectable blog post again!

Stay tuned.

Are you bored? Want to critique?

So why is it that my pictures of fireworks look, well like crap?  Certainly not like fireworks ... more like trees or flowers or plants of some sort?  Not that that is a bad thing, but they sure as heck don't look like fireworks.  In fact, could I pass them off as a magnificent work of art from Dale Chihuly?  Oh what a treat it was to see his work in Vegas (and somewhere else, but I can't, for the life of me remember where!!  OOOPS)... is he outstanding or what!?!

Seriously, if I posted these photos in December wouldn't you think they were tropical plants from wherever we were at the time?

Rick said "they're great ~ post some" .... 

So, my readers, what's up with this?  And why should you be subjected?  

Let's have it ~ opinions here - what the hell am I doing wrong ... although these are decent colorful photos (I think) .... Chad, please don't suggest SLR again ~ you may likely be correct, but as I've explained I need compact (fit in my pocket) portable and user friendly, like idiot friendly ... hmmmm is there a connection between those requirements of mine and the photo quality?

So this day was, for me, spent mostly at the sewing machine ~ for King Richard, well he did lots of "work jobs" around the coach.  I think because this was sort of a holiday, but tomorrow we have stuff to do ~ mail to get, doctors appointments to schedule, eyeglasses to order .... 

And, as I was out walking Sir this evening our Sioux Falls friends Rick and Jaye came through the "campsites" here at the fairgrounds on their way home from camping in the "hills" ... so we will be catching up with them on Wednesday ~ can't wait .... good, very good, people, fun, very fun people ....  Oh it's so good to be back in Sioux Falls.  I asked Rick today if he wanted to go up to Madision (50 miles north and west of here) to look at a couple properties - NO he didn't want to .... hmmmmmm .... UGH OH ....