Day 297. May 30, 2014. Devil's Tower Monument

LOCATION:  Northeast Wyoming

WEATHER:  Cool,in AM (50s).  Very pleasant in PM (60s)

After camping overnight in the rustic Spearfish Canyon campground, we took a 2-hour hike to some nearby waterfalls.  This used to be gold mining country.  We read that at one point, more gold was mined here than in the California Gold Rush.   It is a beautiful area.

We packed up and drove west about 75 miles.  We stopped at the Wyoming Visitor Welcome Center where they made campground reservations for us at Yellowstone.  They said we were lucky to get the campground we wanted, as sites fill up fast.   

We are staying at Devil's Tower Monument tonight.  We hiked about 4 miles to the base of the monument, then around it.  We saw crazy rock climbers climbing straight up.  We could hear one climber about halfway up.  She was having a panic attack....couldn't find a hold and couldn't breathe.  They "free climb" which means that they don't have ropes.  Not for me!   I'm still sore from our hikes in the Badlands....from the rope ladder and from the vertical path.  Hope this hiking is doing some good!

This is the view from the Prairie Dog Town at the base

And here is one of the cute critters 

We made a campfire and enjoyed the view from our site

DINNER:   I sautéed onions, mushrooms, and garlic over the campfire.  Then added leftover corn, penne pasta and a can of octopus.  To that, I stirred in some cream cheese and some white wine for a  cream  sauce.  Very good!  We enjoyed eating outside at the picnic table.

Day 296. May 29, 2014. Badlands to Black Hills

LOCATION:  To Black Hills, SD in far western South Dakota

WEATHER: Hot and sunny in Badlands. Cool and rainy in Blackhills

We took an early morning hike with Jenny, our friend from Nova Scotia.  The first part of the trail was rugged.....1/4 mile straight up.  We had to crawl.  It was slippery and scary.  On top, we took a 2-hour hike.  Then......we had to go back down on the vertical trail.  I was afraid of slipping, so scooted down on my bottom!  I didn't care how silly I looked!

We drove about 100 miles to Sturgis, famous for the motorcycle rally each summer.  It is full of bars.  We went to this one to use Wifi

From there, we drove about 25 miles to Deadwood.  It is supposed to be an old cowboy town, but unfortunately, it has been taken over by casinos.  We drove on another 20 miles, through Spearfish Canyon, part of Blackhills National Park.  It was just beautiful

We found a National Forest Service primitive campground.  It is next to the place where the movie Dances with Wolves was filmed

I'm standing behind the sign, so there is contrast through the stencil.

This area is beautiful and really off-the-beaten path.  As we drove into our campsite, we scared away a furry woodchuck.  We built a campfire and ate some peanuts in the shell.  When I returned from the water pump, I found two chipmunks trying to steal peanuts from the picnic table.  Cute! 

I had another interesting bathroom experience this evening...There is just one co-ed pit toilet for the campground.  As I started to enter, I found two young men sitting in the entryway cooking their dinner over a propane gas cooker.  It had started raining, and this was the only covered  area they could find.  I chatted with them, then went inside.  All quite strange!

DINNER:  I made a hearty omelette with some of smoked turkey and smoked Gouda left from the nachos I had made yesterday for the contest.  I drizzled some leftover chipotle in adobo sauce over it.  Quite tasty!

Day 295. May 28, 2014. Climbing in the Badlands

LOCATION:  Badlands National Park in SW South Dakota

WEATHER:   Sunny and HOT,  Highs in 90s

We knew it was supposed to get hot today so we took our hike in the early morning again.  The days are so long.  Sunrise around 5:00 AM; sunset around 9:00 PM.  Last night we watched the heat lightening for about an hour as the sun set.

We hiked with our friend Jenny from Nova Scotia.  Her husband Tony has a cold, so didn't go with us.  This hike was described as "strenuous".  One part was climbing up (and later down) a rickety rope and log ladder.  It was a bit scary.  Beautiful views on top.

In the afternoon, George worked on the tires.  He had some parts mailed to us at this campground.  Later, we drove to the nearby town to the post office and cowboy bar.  The sign on the highway advertised "cold beer and air conditioning", so we went in to cool off.

Last week, we bought some Santa Rita wines from Chile.  The bottles carried a little tag describing a nacho contest.  The winner wins a vacation in Chile.  So, I invented this recipe and made it this afternoon.  I'm calling it "Smokin' Gooda Nachos".  Here it is....

INGREDIENTS

8 ounces smoked turkey or chicken, diced fine

8 ounces smoked Gouda cheese, diced fine

1/2 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 of 7 ounce can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (more if you like spicy)

8 ounces smoked corn.  If unavailable, char regular corn

4 ounces salsa

sliced jalapeños (use to the degree of hotness you like)

1 package tortilla chips

1 avocado, sliced

1 tablespoon liquid smoke

Chipotle flavored Cholula hot sauce (optional)

PREP:

Brown turkey or chicken in small amount of butter.  Add liquid smoke.  Also add  Cholula if you like

Char corn in skillet without any liquids

Warm black beans in saucepan with chipotle peppers

SERVE:

Layer chips on large plate.  ( I divided it up and made 3 smaller plates). Spread on the meat, corn, beans and salsa. Finish with the cheese.  Microwave 2 minutes until cheese is almost melted.  Top with jalapeños, if you like.  Serve with a bowl of extra jalapeños.  Place avocado slices around the plate.  Squirt a dash of lime on top.  

Our friends Tony and Jenny joined us for the tasting.  They proclaimed it a success.  Let's hope I win!  We paired it with the Carmenere wine from the Santa Rita winery and some South Dakota brew.  Fun evening!

Day 294. May 27, 2014. Back Hills Adventures part 2

LOCATION:  Badlands National Park in SW South Dakota

WEATHER:  Sunny and pleasant. Highs in 70s

Since I get so hot and red-faced while hiking, we decided to take our hike in the early AM.  We got up at sunrise, 5:00 AM, and took off.  The morning fog was so pretty around the rocks.

We hiked for two hours, and the temperature was nice and cool.  The only problem is that the fog got thicker.  There were times when we were a bit lost on the trail as we couldn't see the trail markers.  A little scary!

We drove about 70 miles west towards Rapid City.  First we went to Mount Rushmore.  

We picnicked at a wayside area with George Washington's profile as our backdrop (photo below). I chatted on the phone with one of our daughters who told me the long-kept secret that George got a speeding ticket here at Mount Rushmore  about 10 years ago when traveling  with our daughters.  She jokingly warned us to be careful with speeding.   No sooner did we hang up, than a policeman blasted his siren at us and followed us to this wayside, for stopping illegally on the side of the road for a picture.  George is unlucky in this area!

Then we took one of the scenic byways through the Blackhills.  The road was full of hairpin curves, beautiful views, and one-lane tunnels, including this one called "Eye of the Needle".

There are some pretty lakes scattered around.

Then we drove to the Crazy Horse Memorial, which is still a work in process. You can see his head below.

The sculptor's widow's funeral was this AM, so there was free admission.  

Then we drove into the nearby town, Hill City, and visited a microbrewery called Sick-n-Twisted.  It was combined with a winery called Naked, as they don't add anything to their wines.  While inside tasting, a hailstorm came through.  No damage to the car.

Back at the campgrounds, we were delighted to see Tony and Jenny from Nova Scotia whom we had met in Newfoundland last summer.  We have kept in touch with them, and just happened to be in the same area again.  We had wine and shared tidbits about the road.

DINNER: Tony and Jenny brought us a quesadilla which we ate with chips and guacamole.    

Day 293. May 26, 2014. Wall Drug!

RLOCATION:  Badlands National Park, in SW South Dakota

WEATHER:  Sunny, high around 80.  Stormy in PM

We took a 2-hour hike on one of the trails in the Badlands Park.  As usual, I got super hot during the hike.  It took about an hour for my face to lose the redness.  

From there, we drove about 20 miles to Wall, South Dakota to visit the famous Wall Drug.  Anyone traveling along USA highways, especially in South Dakota, has seen the ubiquitous billboards enticing people to stop.  It is the epitome of a tourist trap, but something one must do!  

 George enjoyed chatting up this young thing.  He had a buffalo hot dog and blueberry to celebrate Memorial Day there, in their cafeteria.  

From Wall, we took a backcountry road through the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, passing by thousands of prairie dogs popping out of their holes, and bison.  I groaned when we encountered the road sign "Pavement Ends".  We arrived at an old cowboy town called Scenic.  It has seen better days.  This is the old saloon, saying that Lakota Indians are welcome

  The only business left is a trading post

Back at the campground, we enjoyed a drink at our site's picnic table.  It has a shelter to help with the gusty wind.  Campfires are not allowed here, due to the wind.  A nice couple from New Jersey joined us to share campground experiences.

DINNER:  Leftover Supreme a la Indian curry.  This was really a dish of leftovers:  black beans, baked sweet potato, sautéed carrots, rice, all cooked with curry spices.  Not too bad, but I MUST find a grocery store tomorrow. 

Day 293. May 25, 2014. Day trip to the Black a Hills

LOCATION:  Badlands National Park in SW South Dakota

WEATHER:  Sunny and hot in the AM. High around 80.  Rainy and cool in the PM

 We took a 2-hour hike on one of the trails in the Badlands.  It winds through grassy lands and the rock formations.  Toward the end, we were both hot and tired.  Here is George "airing out".  

My face was red as a beet.

Then we drove west to visit attractions in the Black Hills.  The trip was farther  than we had thought.  We first drove through part of Custer State Park.  We had a picnic of crackers and sardines.  :-(.  It is really pretty with lots of wildlife.  Here are some pronghorn antelope grazing near the road

Then we went on to Wind Cave National Park.  We had not heard of this national park before we bought a national park book in preparation for this trip.  We took a tour through the cave.  Its fame is that it is the longest in the world.  The National Park also has beautiful landscape and lots of wildlife.  These bison were crossing the road as we travelled by

This big guy was not afraid of cars!

We took a "short cut" back to our campgrounds.  For most of the way, we were on a gravel road maintained by an Indian reservation.  It had lots of ruts in it. We were the only car on the road for miles and miles.

Back at the campground, we had dinner and enjoyed the breath-taking sunset as seen from our trailer door.

DINNER:  During our road trip today, we didn't pass by any grocery store, so again, I'm digging into the back-up food box.  I love to listen to The Splendid Table on public radio, and receive a weekly newsletter with recipes.  This one caught my eye.  It is a simple pasta dish with sautéed zucchini and herbs.  The twist is to slightly sautée drained capers to sprinkle on top.  It also called for Parmesan cheese that I was out of, so I substituted with blue cheese.  I added a few bits of SPAM, too....couldn't resist. 

Day 292. May 24, 2014. Badlands National Park

LOCATION:  Badlands National Park in SW South Dakota

WEATHER:  Beautiful.  Sunny, highs in upper 70s

We got up early from our campground on the Missouri River.  We awoke to the sounds of pheasants, flirting with each other.  This area is famous for pheasant and duck hunting.   Since the amenities are lacking here, we had a quick cup of coffee and hit the road.  Even at 7:00 AM, the boaters were streaming in.  

We stopped in a cafe for breakfast along the way.  It was full of locals.  Life must be challenging in such remote areas.  They were chatting about a community party for the weekend.  

After about 3 more hours westward, we arrived at Badlands National Park.  We normally don't make reservations for campgrounds, but did here, since it is a holiday weekend and a popular tourist stop.  The campgrounds are inside of the park.  We plan to stay here for five nights, making day trips to surrounding sites, like Mount Rushmore.  This is easier than moving every 2-3 days, with the hooking and unhooking the camper, putting everything away, the lovely dump process, etc.

I had found this campground online.  As we neared the campground, I (belatedly) read more about it.  I realized that it did not mention showers.  As soon as we arrived, I checked out the bathroom, and sure enough, there were no showers.  I was really bummed.  5 nights, plus last night on the Missouri River site without a shower?  Later in the day, we walked around the campground and I was so relieved to find a shower in another part of the campground.  Whew!

We took the scenic loop around the park.  It is hard to capture the landscape in a photo

In the distance, we saw bison which have been re-introduced to the park.  (The tiny black specs are bison), 

Then we saw thousands of prairie dogs in Prairie Dog City

George brought the girls here years ago, and he said they loved chasing the bison and prarie dogs.

Our campground is pretty full.  There are all kinds of campers, from tiny tents to the big rigs.  There is one other Airstream, and two Aliners (our previous pop-up).  This is the view from our campsite

DINNER:  We didn't pass by any grocery store today, so I had to dip into my back-up food box for dinner.  The "pantry" is getting a bit depleted.  We have some quinoa that I had bought months ago from a Whole Foods store,  so I googled quinoa recipes to see what I could do.  I found an interesting one.....

I sautéed onions and garlic, then added the quinoa to brown slightly.  Then I added vegetable broth.  I seasoned it with a Southwest theme...cumin, cayenne, chipotle.  At the end, I added some black beans.  The recipe also called for corn, but we don't have any.  Oh well!  George liked it.  

Day 291. May 23, 2014. Westward bound!

LOCATION:  Interstate 90 in Minnesota and South Dakota.

WEATHER:  a Sunny and hot. Highs in 80s

We left Rochester early (for us) at 9:30 and hit the road.  We drove about 350 miles all day, due west through southern Minnesota and South Dakota.  We didn't even stop for lunch...had PB and J sandwiches in the car.  We blew our budget on two tanks of gas.  We passed through miles and miles of cornfields, culminating in the "world-famous" Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD.  

  It was built in 1892 to showcase the bountiful corn crop, and to attract more immigrant farmers to the area.  Each year, they redecorate it with a new theme, using local rye, oat heads, and sour dock. Then, 275,000 ears of corn are sawed in half lengthwise and are nailed to the building.  

We wandered around the town, and landed in The Depot, the town's beautifully restored train station that now houses a pub with good craft beers.   Of course, we had to try one.

From there, we kept driving west.  We didn't want to stop too early, as it was hot....mid-80s.  We passed through lots of prairies and fields with wind generators.  Lots of Black Angus cattle, with baby calves.

After a few more hours, I found a Core of Engineers campground.  We weren't sure exactly where it was on the map, so with blind faith, we drove about 25 miles off the Interstate.  We did find it, a beautiful location on a reservoir that is part of the Missouri River.  We snatched the last site.  It is full of families enjoying the Memorial Day weekend.  Lots of boats.  

People along the way have encouraged us to try Core of Engineer campgrounds/recreation areas.  They are nice, and inexpensive.  This one was FREE!  The only downside is that it has  only one pit toilet for the entire campground.

We made a roaring fire from scavenged dead branches and enjoyed the evening.  It cooled off nicely, with a breeze from the lake.  It was great  to cook and eat outside.

DINNER:  I had bought a can of "basil meal starter" awhile ago that I wanted to try.  It is just a herb-flavored cream sauce.  To that, I added sautéed canned chicken, zucchini, onions, and last night's leftover vegetable medley.  I served it over penne pasta.  An easy, and tasty, dish.  It paired well with a Sauvignon Blanc. 

May 290. May 22, 2014. Gorgeous day in Rochester

LOCATION: Rochester, MN , in SE Minnesota

WEATHER:  Absolutely perfect!  Sunny, highs in 70s

We took a walk around the area near the campground.  People are out mowing their lawns and working in their gardens.  Postcard perfect!

We joined my brother Keith and his friend for lunch, as he was in town for a Mayo appointment.  So nice seeing him again.  

In the afternoon, George polished up the Airstream and I sat reading  in the sunshine.

Alexis and her boyfriend joined us in the evening.  We made a campfire in the campground's fire ring.  Great time.  They joined us for dinner

 DINNER:  We used my brother's recipe for a ribeye steak dry rub.  We used a combination of cumin and salt.  I let the steak sit  for about two hours, then George grilled it over the fire.  We also had baked potatoes and a vegetable medley in a cream sauce (just added a bit of cream cheese after sautéing the vegetables.). Add wine and great company= perfect meal. 

Day 289. May 21, 2014. All is well

LOCATION: Rochester, MN in SE Minnesota 

WEATHER:  Gorgeous!  Sunny. Highs in 70s

Our night in the Walmart parking lot was quiet and peaceful.  This AM, I got up to go to the bathroom, and relized the store doesn't open until 7:00 AM.  Most Walmarts are 24/7.  So, we rushed around and drove to a nearby gas station,  (I know.....TMI!)

We drove on to Rochester.  Spring has really sprung here.  What a difference from Up North.  The trees and flowers are popping out.

We are in a super nice campground here.  It is about the nicest we have ever stayed in.  I think 100% of the campers are Mayo patients. They are staying in beautiful RVs.  They seem to go to the Clinic all day, and return in the evening.  Some appear to be long-term....they have hanging flower baskets, and flower pots on their tables.  We didn't know this place was here, when we lived in Rochester.  A shuttle is available to Mayo.  

The bathrooms in this campground are really nice.  (I'm sounding fixated today on this topic!).  There are 4 private bathrooms, each with sink, toilet and shower.  Everything is clean, updated, and tidy.  They have a nice laundry, too, which I happily used.

George had his Mayo appointment in the PM.   All went well.  It turns out that he diagnosed himself.  He realized he was having an anxiety attack, and that his blood pressure medicine was not working.  So he tried taking my medicine (which he had taken in the past), and that worked.  His blood pressure is back to normal, and he feels better.  

In the evening, we met up with Alexis and her boyfriend for a nice dinner.  The restaurant features "farm-to-table" foods. We had their chicken with morels.  Divine!  We hope we can find or buy morel mushrooms while we are here.

Day 288. May 20, 2014. Change in plans

LOCATION:  From NW to SE Minnesota

WEATHER:  warm, sunny.  Highs in 70s

We had planned to head west from Warroad, in far north Minnesota, then south and west to North and South Dakota for the next leg of our trip.   However, George started feeling "off" and his blood pressure was high.  (I wonder how many full-time RVers carry blood pressure cuffs with them!).  He called Mayo and they want to see him.  

So, we changed our plans and headed due southeast toward Rochester.  Long day.  We drove about 9 hours., driving through beautiful lake country.  We saw a lot of wild rice fields.   We picnicked along the way....last of the smoked whitefish.  Good roads, and little traffic, which I appreciated, as I drove part of the way.

There are about 4 options for free camping:  casinos. Walmart, Pilot/Flying J truck stops, and Camping World parking lots.  We have done Walmart and a casino, so we thought we would try a truck stop.  We stopped at one near the Minneapolis airport.  They told us it was ok, so we parked next to the hundreds of semi-trucks

It was pretty bad.  It was noisy, as they keep their engines going while parked, and different ones come and go all the time.  

We thought we would tough it out.  I started cooking dinner, which warms the camper. We had to keep the windows closed due to the diesel fumes and noise.  We both started feeling hot and uncomfortable, so we packed up and went to a nearby Walmart.  They, too, told us that we could park there.  It was quiet, and the bathrooms were clean and right next to our entrance!

DINNER:  I made chicken broth from leftover chicken thigh pieces.  To that, I added carrots, onions, and barley.  It turned into a nice chicken veg soup.  

Day 287. May 19, 2014. Day trip to NW Angle via Canada

LOCATION:  Warroad, MN,  in far NW Minnesota, on Lake of the Woods

WEATHER:  Dreary, rainy, cool. Highs in 50s

We seem to be the only campers in this campground, although it is full of empty RVs.  It is like aliens came in and scooped everyone up.  Their stuff is all around....unlocked bikes, grills, balls, chairs, children's toys.  We see ice fishing houses in almost everyone's yards.  This one is in our campground, being used as a regular RV

We decided to drive to the NW Angle.  It is a piece of land unconnected to the rest of MN.  They say that it was an error by the surveyor (or perhaps not) that the USA/Canada border was drawn to keep this MN.  To get there, you have to drive through a corner of Manitoba.  We passed through customs, about 10 miles from Warroad.

 Then drove about 45 miles through Manitoba.  Then, we entered USA (Minnesota) again.  You have  to stop here at Jim's Corner and call US immigration on a phone inside.

It is all very low-tech.  

We drove around the Angle.  These people are really off the grid.  There are only a few people who live here year-round.  The biggest industry is providing guide services to fishermen and hunters.  

We stopped in this restaurant, billed as the farthest north restaurant in the 48 states.

 There, we talked to the UPS guy who lives there.  He said ths his 3 children make up 3 of the 8 children in a K-8 one-room school there.  After grade 8, the kids are bussed to Warroad (100+ miles round-trip) a day to school.  He said it was a cold, hard winter, with many 40 degrees below zero temp days.  

We had to return to the immigration hut at Jim's Corner and call Canada immigration, to notify them that we were retuning.  Then we drove back through Manitoba, through US customs to mainland MN.  Quite an adventure!

DINNER:  Hooray!  We ate the final dish of leftover risotto.  I added some canned tuna to it.  As a side dish, we had dilled carrots. 

Day 286. May 18, 2014. Walleye world!

LOCATION:  Warroad, MN in far northwest Minnesota

WEATHER:  Sunny; highs in 60s

We packed up from Lake Superior National  Forest campground and headed northwest.  We were on a scenic byway with lots of pine trees and lakes.  

We stopped in Orr, along beautiful Pelican Lake.  We had a picnic next to the lake: smoked whitefish and saltines.  Perfect!  

As I have said before, we are trying to visit as many national parks as we can.  We stopped at the visitor center for Voyageur National Park.  It was named after the French Canadian fur traders who travelled the waters in the 18th century. 

The park is mostly accessible only by boat, so we didn't see much.  This walleye is at the park's entrance..

We drove farther west paralleling the Rainy River which forms the boundary between Minnesota and Ontario.  We stopped in Baudette for gas.  This town, too, is famous for its walleye fishing.

And here is Willie:

It was a long day on the road..about 7 hours.  

We are spending the next few days in Warroad, on Lake of the Woods.  We had a hard time finding a campsite.  The first two commercial campgrounds were out in the woods.  They were full of seasonal campers who haven't arrived yet for the summer season, but no one around to arrange for a few nights' stay.  We went back to town, to the Warroad City Campground, right on the lake.  It, too, is full of empty campers.  Kind of like a ghost town.  The office was closed, but a sign directed us to find one of the site numbers they listed.  We had a terrible time locating the sites, but finally did.  It is kind of muddy, and they haven't turned on the water yet, so it is not ideal.  

DINNER:  Soup and grilled panini.  I added some vegetables to a can of tomato soup.  Then, for the paninis, I sautéed onions, portabello mushrooms and slivers of summer sausage.  I put that mix on bread and toasted it with goat cheese.  The sandwiches sure hit the spot!

Day 285. May 17, 2014. Quintessential Northern Minnesota day

LOCATION:  Ely, MN, in far north central Minnesota

WEATHER: Sunny and cool.  High about 60

We are on Fall Lake, part of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.  As the name implies, the area borders Canada, and the lakes are in both Minnesota as well as in Ontario.  

Permits are required to enter the area, as they try to keep it pristine and uncrowded.  There are a lot of fishermen here.  This is our campground's parking lot.

We hear the boats going out at about 5:00 AM (sunrise), and returning about 9:00 PM (sunset).  They say that the fishing is good; they are catching walleye.  

With that in mind, we went back  to the brewpub in Ely where we had seen walleye on the menu.  We had pecan-crusted walleye on a French bread roll, with a side of broccoli slaw.  Here is the before and after picture.  

Before...

After:

It was really good.  George had it with their Eelpout oatmeal stout.

We had heard a dull roaring noise from our campsite.  We thought it was freeway noise or jets taking off.  Then, we remembered  there are no freeways or airports anywhere near here.  We realized that the noise was a gushing waterfall.  We hiked there, about 5 miles round trip, in glorious hiking weather.  

The day was topped off by sitting around the campfire listening to a Prairie Home Companion, and loons on the lake.   George grilled the remaining chicken thighs for me to use in a new recipe I had found...

DINNER:  I marinated the thighs overnight in plain yogurt.  After they were grilled, I served them with a sauce made from green onions, red bell pepper slices, blue cheese, yogurt and cream cheese.  It was yummy.  As a side, we had corn with more  of the red peppers to give it color