*Critters we’ve seen on our 2015 trip so far: elk, mule, mule
deer, llama, prairie dog, donkey, bison, coyote, pronghorn, Uinta ground
squirrel, black bear, moose, bighorn sheep, yellow-bellied marmot, wolf, least
chipmunk, fox, bull snake, mountain goat, camel, grizzly bear
*Birds we’ve seen on our 2015 trip so far: California
condor, Brewer’s blackbird, American kestrel, spotted towhee, magpie, wild turkey, mountain bluebird,
bald eagle, Canada goose, Clark’s nutcracker, sandhill crane, osprey,
red-tailed hawk, mountain chickadee, Northern flicker, great horned owl,
Peregrine falcon, brown-headed cowbird, cliff swallow, Cassin’s finch, western
tanager, cedar waxwing, Lazuli bunting, blue heron, common merganser, red-breasted
nuthatch
*National
Parks/Monuments visited on 2015 trip so far: 6
This post is a little different in that we thought you might
find it interesting to see some of the things we pass as we travel down the
roadways of America. It was time to start making our way east and
that meant spending a few nights in parking lots with the first one being Cabela’s in Billings, MT. Just look at the gorgeous sunset we got to
enjoy!
Our path took us through the Crow Indian Reservation and
past the Absalooke Veterans Park
which honors the contributions of nearly 3,000 Crow veterans who have served in
the U.S.
armed forces since 1851. Apsaalooke was the
original name of the tribe meaning “children of the large-beaked bird”
but was misinterpreted
by the white man as the word “crow”. The
trees were finally starting to change colors, and even though not as brilliant
as in years past, they were still beautiful to see.
Previously we’ve driven past the Little Bighorn Battlefield
National Monument when we made the turn off I-90 onto the back road of Hwy.
212, but this time we took a new route by staying on I-90 through WY. The day before we left Yellowstone
while checking air pressure in the RV’s tires, we discovered a problem with the
valve stem and were concerned that if something happened we might not have cell
phone coverage so staying on the interstate seemed like
the best option. Besides, it gave us a chance to pass some new
stuff like the Bruce Hoffman Golden Dome that is located at Sheridan College. Built in 1983 it’s named for their legendary
basketball coach and is used for various sporting events.
We also passed by the Vore Buffalo Jump (www.vorebuffalojump.org),
“one of the most important archaeological sites of the late-prehistoric Plains
Indians”. Discovered in the early 1970s
when I-90 was being constructed, it’s a natural sinkhole that was used as a
bison trap by at least 5 different
tribes from about 1500 - 1800 A.D. It’s estimated that during that time at least
10,000 bison were trapped there having been driven over the edge either to
their death or making it easier for the tribes to kill them and then get the
meat and hides for their families. It
was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
The
next day, having now entered SD, we were back on familiar ground having
traveled this part of I-90 several times before. In Murdo, SD, not far from “1880 Town” (www.1880town.com),
there’s a huge metal sculpture of a human skeleton walking a T-Rex skeleton on
a leash…now that’s something you don’t see everyday!
About 2-1/2 hours further down the highway, it’s hard to miss the Porter Sculpture
Park (http://portersculpturepark.com) in Montrose, SD,
with its 25 ton, 60 ft. tall Egyptian style bull’s head! There are over 50 larger than life sculptures,
and the guy who creates them has never
taken an art class…amazing! One of these
days we may just have to make a stop there.
Later that afternoon we made the turn off I-90 onto I-29 south, and located
in Sioux City, IA are two monuments. Chief War Eagle was originally a member of
the Santee tribe who later became chief of the
Yankton Sioux and was known to many as “Friend of the White Man”. Erected in 1976, this 13 ft. tall likeness
sits atop a high bluff near the confluence of the Big Sioux and Missouri Rivers, and it’s said that the chief is
buried there.
About 8 miles further down the highway is the Sgt. Floyd Monument which
honors Charles Floyd, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, who died
during the trip in 1804 and was buried there.
The white sandstone monument was completed in 1901 standing 100 ft. tall
and in
1960 was recognized as the first National Historic Landmark.
Council Bluffs,
IA, has some interesting sculptures atop an
overpass which serves as the entry bridge from Nebraska
to Iowa that
crosses I-80. Each of the four
individual sculptures range in size from 46 to 61 feet high and weigh 46,000 to
70,000 pounds, made of bronze, weathering steel, and stainless steel piles of
cones,
cylinders, spears, and discs.
Collectively the sculptures are known as “Odyssey”, created by NY artist
Albert Payley. According to the artist,
they “are seen as the gateway of Iowa.
The whole thing is about an act of passage, or creating a sense of place and an
identity. When you’re driving, especially on the interstate, it becomes fairly
monotonous, but the magnitude of these sculptures really define Council Bluffs image.”
We continued
south on I-29 finally crossing into Missouri and
onto I-70 where we passed by the Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City.
The Complex consists of Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals
baseball team, and behind it, Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs
football team. Kauffman Stadium
is
closest to the highway and originally opened as Royals Stadium in 1973 but was
renamed in 1993 in honor of the team’s founder, Ewing M. Kauffman. Arrowhead Stadium opened in 1972. I can never get a decent shot of the two
together as we’re speeding down the interstate but have managed to get at least
part of them separately.
Our
destination was Columbia, MO,
home of our University
of Missouri Tigers, and that's where this post ends so stay tuned!
From 
visit of course
means time with friends and as what seems to have become a tradition, our first
night in town brings a visit from Steve, Patty, John, and Rick for a few beers
and lively conversation.
As usual I met up with Gloria and
her bowling team one day, and Dana and Diane were able to make it, too. It’s always a great way to catch up with some
of the gals who are on her team that I’m not in touch with as much. Afterwards it was off to Culver’s for lunch, then 
some shopping, and finally a happy hour
margarita at La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant! Diane had to leave while we were shopping,
but Mary Ann got off work early and was able to join us. Hadn’t seen her in a couple years so it made
this extra special!
Of course we couldn’t be in 
Shepherd, and though Jackie has her in training, she still has lots of puppy in her! We stayed a couple of hours chatting and
catching up on our lives…always a very pleasant and enjoyable visit.
This was a great time to be in 
When in town we generally try to
pay our respects at a couple of cemeteries.
Our first stop was 
I managed to check between the branches to see that all was well though
a nearby headstone for another family was knocked over. One of the workers stopped by and said that
the tree had been cut down due to disease but said the workers would be
clearing it in the 
next day or two. From
there we headed over to Memorial Park Cemetery to visit the graves of Russ’
parents, uncle, cousins, and grandparents.
Afterwards it was lunch at Lombardo’s
(www.lombardosrestaurants.com).
One thing that I was especially
looking forward to this trip was a birthday celebration. There were 7 of us who were close in high
school, and though two are no longer with us, the remaining 5 have stayed in
touch, all but me 
still living in St. Louis.
Since a couple of us had already turned 60 this year and the rest would
do so next year, I made plans for us to get together for a birthday lunch at Rizzo’s Italian Restaurant (www.rizzostl.com). We toasted to our 60 years and to 45 years of
friendship through all its ups and downs.
We were stuffed afterwards but split a piece of cheesecake anyway. (Gloria supplied the party hats, and I supplied the centerpiece to add to the fun.) 
However, this wasn’t the end of the
celebration I had planned. Though
neither of the Dianes could make it, Gloria, Dana, and I continued on to
include Ellen and Mary Beth in our 60th birthday celebration.
Ellen would have been the first of us to turn 60 and Mary 
Beth would
have been the last. After making a stop
at 
fall day, and we managed to find someone to take our
picture at the circle of bricks. We wandered around the Gardens a bit more, enjoying the beauty and each other's company. What a truly wonderful day it had been!
We crammed a lot into a short
stay, and this didn’t even cover watching Cardinals baseball (they lost
the Series L) and Tigers football games either at
the RV with friends or at Steve and Patty’s (and a special thanks to them for
letting us use their washer & dryer!). As
you can see, the guys 
can be pretty intense when watching their alma mater even
on TV. And what’s a girl to do when two of her favorite teams are on at the
same time? Well, wear her Tigers t-shirt
and her Cardinals necklace! Didn’t do
any good, though, since both teams lost that day.
The day
before we left, we had one more visit with Gloria as she came by the RV after
work. With the beautiful weather, she
and I sat outside, drank some wine, and enjoyed each other’s company one last
time. The perfect ending to a wonderful
trip.
