Medora, ND

Getting from Mount Rushmore to Medora, ND sounds easy but let me tell you, it's a long drive with nothing much between here and there. As always I left the campground early - beat the traffic (ha ha).  I think I continue to live on east coast time. Anyway I eventually got on scenic Highway 85 which turns out to be 126 miles of nothing - no gas, no rest stops, no nothing but wide open spaces.  Good thing I gassed up first!  Even with a gas tank of 55 gallons you never want to get too low. Filling up could give you agida!

I spent 3 days up north with my Born Free cult members hosted by Gary and Hope Keighley. I got to add another National Park to my Passport Book - Theodore Roosevelt National Park - by touring with Sonja Strickland, another solo Born Free owner. Had a great time with everyone and as always learned new stuff about my Born Free.  Thanks to a tip from Ron Warmbier I can now get my car detached from the tow package when it gets pinched.  Most of you don't know what I'm talking about (or care) but Janet and Beth can tell you how aggravated I can get when trying to unhook the Honda from the Born Free.

We finished our rally with a steak dinner and the spectacular 2011 Medora Musical dedicated to the legacy of America's 26th president - Theordore Roosevelt. This amazing production is staged in an outside ampitheater where the backdrop is the North Dakota Badlands.  Talk about an experience.

4th of July

Trails, tunnels, and wildlife

I left Creede and the National Born Free Rally on Thursday so that I could spend the 4th of July weekend at Mount Rushmore and surrounding territory. I got into Hill City on Friday, July 1st and parked Matilda for the weekend. After a day's rest and doing some laundry, I was raring to hit the trail this morning with Monte, my trusty companion. First stop was Sylvan Lake at Custer State Park. Monte and I hiked around the lake in picture perfect weather.

I loaded us back up in the Honda (still running that $4.00/gallon gas from Connecticut) to travel the Needles Highway - named after the high granite "needles" it winds among.  The highway passes through at least two tunnels blasted through sheer granite walls. Owing to the narrow roadway, sharp turns, and low tunnels, this road is for tourists in small vehicles...RV's need not apply. In fact, I got caught in a traffic jam of sightseers toting cameras and blocking the tunnel.

Stopped for lunch at the General Store for a buffalo burger cookout. I had the privilege of paying for my lunch, but Monte got his free! Last stop of the day - the Wildlife Loop...

Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam,

Where the deer and the antelope play;

Where seldom is heard a discouraging work,

And the skies are not cloudy all day.

Jeep Tour

Over the course of the last couple of days here at the National Born Free Rally, I have made many new Born Free friends. We been exchanging stories, travel tips, and laughs. Now I can add Van, Marty, and Dolores to my new friends and Jeeping to my adventures! Van and Marty rented a Jeep and invited Dolores who in turn invited me to join them on a Jeep tour into the San Juan mountains. Talk about clueless! What a trip!

Here are the Jeeps lined up to let air out of the tires - decrease the pressure down to about 22psi. Our fearless driver, Van, checks the Jeep's tire pressure. We're now ready to leave the Lake City area and begin our ascent on the Alpine Loop. We did two trails - Cinnamon Pass and Engineer Pass.  A spectacular ride up to 12,640 feet. What goes up must come down and down we did - safe and sound! Van did a phenomenal job navigating trails that weren't but a foot or two wider than our Jeep. I feel like I've been up to the top of the world and back!

Rafting the Rio Grande

Yesterday, I spent touring downtown Creede including the Creede Underground Mining Museum.  Although the museum has never been used for commercial production, its an incredibly authentic example of the methods and techniques used in the old days. Plus literally a really "cool" place to hang out.

While out and about, I signed myself up for a white water rafting trip down the Rio Grande. I met my group at 9:00 am and off we went to the launch point, a defunct fish hatchery, which was right next door to our campground - Mountain Views at Rivers Edge RV Resort.

The stretch of the Rio Grand that I rafted is considered a Class II - III. We put in about 18 miles south of the head waters and went down river about 15 miles over the course of 3 hours. Way too much fun and I have the pictures to prove it!

Creede, Colorado

I made it! Creede - elevation 8852 feet. See, I know what's important!

Them thar hills are mountains!

Wow! I thought battling wind for the last two days was tiring.  Today I fought 25 to 35 mph wind with gusts up to 40 mph and hills - and I mean hills! Goodland, KS has an elevation of 3683 feet. When I left Interstate 25 at Walsenburg, Colorado I was already at 6182 feet and climbing to 7544. I think for awhile I was going straight up. But, it was worth it! I made it to Alamosa where several other Born Free peeps were parked for the night - nicely staged for the last fill-up and trip to Walmart before the final 70 miles to Creede. I'm leaving early before the wind gets too high - I'm already learning how to deal with these new driving challenges!