… And We’re Off!
First of all, let me say that the weather was gorgeous! I’d been looking at the forecast all week, but I’ve been in the Midwest long enough now to not completely trust it to match up with reality. The reality, as it worked out, was even warmer than I expected for Memorial Day weekend, almost like the weather I’d expect at home. One of the things I appreciate about driving solo is that I can leave when I’m durn well ready to go and take as much sh** as I want without being concerned about handling it or paying extra for it. I didn’t say, however, there weren’t potential consequences to this. RB and I didn’t hit the road until early Saturday afternoon. The holiday weekend traffic was, unsurprisingly, rather heavy for Iowa and didn’t really lighten until we reached the South Dakota side of I-29. The timing worked because…
The More Things Change…
A lot has happened since I last posted. Most significantly, my mother passed away in March, and I admit I’m still touchy about her loss. Still, I’m very grateful we had the last chances we got to spend time together, including the drive through North Carolina to see the Outer Banks last July. As for the plans I mentioned in my last blog message, they are still on, just a little condensed. I’m set to spend Memorial Day weekend in the Black Hills of South Dakota with a brief crossing into Wyoming to visit Devil’s Tower, but I expect the trip to be shorter in duration than I’d originally planned. I’m under deadline to finish a book I’m writing by the publisher’s due date, and any thoughts that I’ll do much writing while on that trip would only serve as an effort to fool myself. A colleague suggested I add…
Black Hills Revisit
It's hard to believe that next summer marks the ten year anniversary of : //www.randyejones.com/GoinWest/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">my first big trip since I moved to Iowa "four score and seven years ago." So, instead of making the Utah national parks trip I missed last summer, I've decided to retrace most of the route one of my nieces and I took to the Black Hills of South Dakota.
My hope is not only once again to see Mt. Rushmore, which I'd finally been able to strike off my bucket list, and Crazy Horse--and find out how much closer it is to being finished, but to take RB into the Badlands National Park and to see what we can see at Devil's Tower. Plus, there's now a new site, a sculpture entitled, "Dignity," that I'm looking forward to seeing. Besides, who can drive through South Dakota and resist a stop by Wall Drug? I'm always on the lookout for a great cowboy hat. Since I only have a week, I'm not adding more until I actually know how much time I have to take it in. For now, all I know is that I want to return using a route different than I've taken before.This is route as it currently stands:
: //singin1.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/aaa-triptik-travel-planner-maps-directions-guides-and-discounts.jpg" alt="AAA TripTik Travel Planner Maps Directions Guides and Discounts" width="764" height="393" />
BTW, this still allows me another week later in 2018 to visit Utah. Crossing my fingers!
Utah, Ho?!?
Since I moved out here, I've tried to take advantage of the opportunities to see the western half of the United States. I : //singin1.wordpress.com/2013/06/18/rocky-mountain-rendez-vous/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">traveled through Utah with my mother just four years ago, but we only had time to visit Salt Lake City and Zion National Park. The following year, I took RB onto the Salt Flats International Speedway as I dashed back to Iowa from California.
So, I really want another chance to see the four other national parks in the state. I've planned a route through all : //utah.com/five-national-parks-five-days" target="_blank" rel="noopener">four remaining national parks--Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Bryce--some of the state parks and the state's scenic roads.
I also previously missed two sites I want to add: the Grand Canyon Skywalk (adds almost 400 miles to the trip, but what the hey) and Four Corners Monument. Timing? Well, I'm hoping to celebrate my next birthday watching my Dallas Cowboys whop the Denver Broncos in the Broncos home stadium. From there, I'd be Utah bound.
Crossing my fingers, y'all!: //singin1.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/map3.jpg" alt="" width="577" height="501" />
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