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 Leaving Custer, our mission was to get home as efficiently as possible but we did take time to pause in Mitchell, South Dakota to see the world’s only Corn Palace. The Corn Palace was built over 100 years ago to prove to the world South Dakota had an agricultural presence worth taking note of. The Palace is decorated with naturally colored corn and other grains and natural grasses. A different theme is chosen every year. The mural designs are created by local University students and are truly a-maizeing!

From South Dakota, we put in some long driving days through Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Kentucky, thankful for shady campsites and our camper’s hard working air conditioner. The Tennessee welcome center was a welcome sight after traveling 14,700 miles through 19 states, for 7 and 1/2 months. We’ve loved the adventure but “what a long strange trip it has been.”

Where the Wild Things Are

 

Home is calling but we had to stop for the week at Custer State Park in South Dakota. We visited this area eight years ago and put it on our list of epic places we want to revisit. When we were here before, we stayed in the northern part of the park with close access to Mount Rushmore and Sylvan Lake. Our goal this visit was to go where the wild things are, so we opted for Game Lodge Campground. Staying in this area almost guarantees you’ll see bison, pronghorn and bighorn sheep. In fact, the female bighorn might show up for a picnic at your campground shelter. We’ve loved this last opportunity to drive, bike and hike among wildlife at the state park and adjoining Wind Cave National Park.

The true push for home begins tomorrow. We’ll be racing to stay ahead of the looming heat dome in the Midwest. I’m not very confident it’s a race we’re going to win.

Fast Things

 

We said goodbye to Yellowstone and began our trek across the Cowboy State. We stopped in Cody for a few nights, at Buffalo Bill State Park, then made our way to Casper, passing vast expanses of sagebrush-grassland. At first glance, you might conclude the passing landscape is a wasteland but then you notice the pronghorn. Pronghorn are one of North America’s most impressive mammals. They have the longest land migration in the continental US and are also the fastest land animal in North America. They are the second fastest land mammal in the world! (Cheetahs are the fastest) Pronghorn can run 60 mph and are found only in America.

Another noteworthy sighting, as we traveled through the sagebrush-grassland….lots and lots of motorcycles. I think most were connected to the annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis. I’m not as interested in motorcycles as I am pronghorn but I have to admit I was enamored with the Indian Motorcycle we saw at a rest area.

Yellowstone

 We traded our campsite on the shores of Henry’s Lake for one near Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone Lake is the largest high elevation lake in North America. I can’t believe this is our first time seeing it. This is our fourth visit to Yellowstone so instead of trying to see the typical sights we’ve visited before, we chose to stay in a quiet corner of the park near Fishing Bridge. This gave us access not only to the lake but also to hiking trails in the Pelican Valley. This area is where Mollies Wolfpack have been spotted numerous times. Mollies are one of the oldest wolf packs in Yellowstone.

Once settled, we armed ourselves with bear spray and completed three different hikes around the lake and in the valley hoping to see a wolf. We had all three trails completely to ourselves. We saw “bison, moose and elk, oh my!”  but alas, no wolves. Of course, the best things usually happen unexpectedly. While hiking at daybreak, I startled a great horned owl and as she flew, four owlets followed behind her. Of course that’s the one animal sighting I wasn’t quick enough to get a photo of!

Life Goes On

 

Mark and I have appreciated being at Henry’s Lake State Park all week as we try to come to terms with our dogs death and adjust to travels without Starbaby. This is a peaceful park with abundant bird life, wildflowers and wildlife. We also love the location because it has allowed us to visit Mark’s sister’s family. A visit with Jan, Greg, and their daughter Emily’s precious family (plus their lively dog Ash) helped lighten our mood while providing a much needed distraction from our sadness.

I know that what Ralph Waldo Emerson said was true; “Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn.” But I think the wisdom of Maya Angelou is most encouraging to me right now. “ I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.”

Starbaby

 

When Mark was a little boy, his parents took him to the theatre to see the Disney movie “Old Yeller.” When it dawned on him, near the end of the movie, that the dog was going to die, he tearfully pled with his mom to change the channel. We lost Starbaby today. It may sound silly to anyone who has never loved an animal before but she really was my best friend. I wish I could change the channel.