Meandering Mountaineers: 2021

I'm sitting here in Custer, SD on July 2 and sad to say this will probably be my last blog for our "Westward Bound" trip. We leave in the morning for Mitchell, SD for a one nighter, Kellogg, IA for a one nighter, Elkhart, IN for a one nighter and then in to Salem, OH July 6. By the time we get to WV we will have travelled roughly 7,486 miles in 52 days. What a trip!!! We live in a beautiful country that most don't get to see. We are blessed!

On Monday June 28, we headed into East Yellowstone National and then on to Jackson Hole, WY and the Grand Tetons. Without a doubt, this is my favorite route into Yellowstone. The entire journey was filled with spectacular views in all directions. We saw Elk, Buffalo, Fox, and Antelope. Oh and as you'll see, a stuffed "Grizzly". Jackson Hole is becoming too commercialized in my opinion but the surroundings are just beautiful. We started our day with breakfast around 7:30 am and got back to the RV in Cody a little after 11:00 pm. Long but well spent day.

Attended the Rodeo in Cody Tuesday night. It was fun but its like some of the TV channels we watch, 10 minutes of show and 20 minutes of commercials.😄

Wednesday was a travel day into Custer, SD. We came across the mountains on Wyoming highway 16. We topped out at approx. 9600 ft. in elevation making our way down grades of 8%. Got stopped at least three times for 15 minutes or more for construction. Other than that the trip was also filled with some beautiful scenery.

Thursday we did the touristy things. Chief Crazy Horse Monument, Mount Rushmore, and Deadwood. The Monuments were very interesting but Deadwood was a huge disappointment. Deadwood has lost its charm and is now being overrun with casinos. What a waste!!!

Today we toured the countryside. Visited Sylvan Lake, Needles Highway and Custer State Park. I was overly impressed with Needles Highway and Custer State Park. To me this drive was more impressive than "The Highway to the Sun" in Glacier. Got to see and wait for a large herd of buffalo to get out of the roadway. It was quite amusing watching cars and trucks trying to make there way around these magnificent animals and their young. Also got to see some of the wild burrows that roam the park. We ended our tour with a stop for lunch at Mount Rushmore Brewery in Custer. Wasn't fantastic but good. Charlotte and the kids went out for pie and ice cream one more time and from the reports it was "awesome".

Happy Trails!!!!

Wanted to prove the "kids" really were there!

Old Faithful teasing.

Little bigger tease.

There she blows!!!

Boiling hot spring!

Caught the "kids" at the Continental Divide too!

Awesome!!!

More awesome!!!

Don't look now! There's a bear back there!!

Charlotte: " I hope I can run faster than Casey!"

Opening ceremony at the rodeo.

Clown!!!

Working his trade!!!

Some of the "not so" entertainment. The kids there loved

it though and that's what counts.

The Marine Corp. Wild Horse Color Guard

that visited our RV campground the day before

we left.

Practicing for the upcoming holiday festivities.

One of the wild horses posed for me.

You know what this is.

And this is those "pesky happy campers" at

Rushmore.

Little closer view.

These were in a bar restroom in Deadwood, SD.

At one time these were where the beer came from.

Now they're where the beer goes.😁

Lake Sylvan on our way out the Needles Hwy.

More Lake Sylvan

Great rock formations.

The "kids" at Sylvan Lake

"Pesky Happy Campers"

Views from Needles Hwy

Panoramic view!!

Threading the Needle!

Custer State Park. Hidden gem!!!

Holding up traffic.

Watching my step!

Home, home on the range!

This little fellow looked so lonely.

This buck wondered in front of the RV tonight to say

Goodbye!

Our trip.

Arrived in Big Timber, MT Tuesday to a nice little campground on the Boulder River. Very peaceful. We took advantage of the riverside serenity to chill as much as possible. Short trip into Big Timber where we found a quilt shop/candy store combination, bakery, and mercantile. Later that evening we went back for dinner at The Grand Hotel. Built in 1890. Casey and Charlotte had fried trout and Phil and I had coffee rubbed New York strip. All was delicious and the atmosphere very enjoyable.

Drove into Livingston, MT on a pass through to Gardiner, MT and the north entrance to Yellowstone Nat'l Park. The scenery was spectacular of course and we were able to spy some elk and buffalo along the way. On our return we stopped in Livingston to belly up to the bar in Katabatic Brewing Co. They had some delightful cold brews. We then stopped at the Rib and Chop House for and early dinner. Excellent food there.

Sad to leave the banks of the Boulder but onward to Cody, WY. Arrived in Cody Friday afternoon. Strolled into town to check things out and search for pie and ice cream. We weren't totally successful but we did get some desserts.

Made our way into Cody again on Saturday. This time to go to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and Old Trail Town. The Buffalo Bill Center is a very impressive museum of old west culture, including both cowboys and Indians. The Old Town is impressive in its own way, displaying old cabins, wagons, and paraphernalia from the late 1800's and early 1900's.

Sunday it was back to town for Phil and Casey to do a little shopping while Charlotte and I moved our coach to a different RV site. Sunday afternoon we were back to the Buffalo Bill Center.

We're off to the east entrance of Yellowstone tomorrow with hopes of making our way to Jackson Hole for a brief visit.