Blog #6

Ginnie & Hodag

Wisconsin Farm

Wabasha's Riverfront

Wabasha Eagle

Sioux Falls

Ivy, Ely & Anna

Badlands

Susan, Ginnie, Badlands

Bison in Custer State Park

Burro, Custer State Park

Mt. Rushmore

Mark at Mt. Rushmore

Crazy Horse, near Mt. Rushmore

Deadwood, SD

Deadwood's Mt. Moriah Cemetery

Devil's Tower, Wyoming

From Wabasha, Michigan’s eagles to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin’s mythological Hodags (photo of Ginnie with one), fabulous cheese and perfect farmland, to our lovely friends, Julie & Ron (photo of their 3 adorable kids) in Roseville, Minnesota, to Mt. Rushmore, SD, we are learning the uniqueness of each state!  We drove past undulating prairie, picnicked on Wisconsin gouda bought straight from the farm, and hiked Minneapolis’ inner city Lake Calhoun (what Lake Merrit will be one day).  In South Dakota, we discovered that Sioux Falls’ famous waterfall is right downtown!  We immersed ourselves in South Dakota’s Badlands and then drove through Custer State Park where we encountered pronghorns (antelope look-alikes), wild burros, and a herd of 500 buffalos surrounding our car!  We completed our South Dakota adventure in the Old West town of Deadwood, where Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are buried.  Just entering Wyoming, we relived Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind at  Devil’s Tower, America’s 1st National Monument.  Next:  Yellowstone!

Blog #5

Leaving PA into Ohio, drove through Akron past the Goodyear Rubber Plant, beautifully dreary, then into Toledo : you can watch the Mud Hens play AAA ball for free the old fashioned way, by standing outside the Outfield Fence & peering through the “knot holes,” perfectly pet friendly.  Into Michigan to lovely Walled Lake, outside of Detroit, where Ginnie scared us by running full speed down the 100+ foot dock & FLYING into the lake after a bird.  She loved it.  Visited Frankenmuth (German), Gaylord (Scandinavian), Charlevoix (French), & Mackinac Island (from the Native American name), where we watched an authentic Vintage Baseball Game.  Must take a ferry to the island, and no autos are allowed, just horse-drawn carriages, bicycles & hiking.   Soon, we’re heading WEST :)

Still in Pittsburgh visiting friends & relatives and soaking up the rich mixture of old steel town & new age vibes, sampling the amazing food (best pizza at Mineos, best hot dogs at The Original, and the kosher bakery in Costco), riding the Monogahella Incline, & visiting the Wendell August Forge, since 1923, oldest still active forge in US, creating hand-made hammered aluminum giftware.  Side trip to York, Lancaster & Bird-In-Hand for the Amish experience, through exquisite landscapes, pristine farms & friendly people.  Pittsburgh is a dog-friendly town, and Ginnie is having a blast with house mates Lucy & Bijou.  This amazing city never disappoints!