PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE

Sunday morning we said goodbye to Tropic Winds, had a nice breakfast at Denny's, filled the tanks at the Flying J and went to an eleven o'clock mass before driving about 230 miles to Padre Island National Seashore.  Fortunately, when we arrived at Malaquite Beach around 4PM there was one site available.  There are 42 sites overlooking the beach ... just beautiful.  Too bad the weather wasn't cooperating but we still enjoyed the area.

It was Denis' idea to have breakfast at Denny's

Holy Family Church was a warm and welcoming family parish

Our favorite place to fill up - Gas prices are a consideration if we're thinking of going from gas to diesel

Snapped a shot of the USS Lexington when we crossed the bridge

Did you know that Padre Island is the longest barrier island in the world?  That's right, 70 miles of undeveloped, wide sand-and-shell beaches.  The National Park is helping to save endangered sea turtles.  Since 1978, it has worked with other agencies in the US and Mexico to bring the Kemp's ridley sea turtle back from the brink of extinction.  The turtle eggs found at the park are removed from the nest site for protected care.  The hatchlings are released on the beach and guarded as they enter the surf.  Denis and I would like to return to the park to watch one of the hatchling releases which occur between May and August every year - bet the weather is much nicer too.

We watched the orientation video and the video about the endangered turtles at the visitor's center, browsed the gift store, walked the shoreline and nature trail.  We would have stayed more than one night if the weather was nicer but decided to leave the next morning.

View from the campground

 

Refreshingly chilly and we wore layers

This little flower brought color to an otherwise gloomy day

That's all folks!  Thanks for stopping in.

FAIRBANKS, ALASKA - STILL MORE TO SEE

Pioneer Park is working out just fine for us, it's centrally located, quiet and not crowded.  We were able to walk across the street for 10:00 mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral.  The priest had just returned from a trip to Asia and he was "pumped" about the under twenty generation in that part of the country that are filling the churches.  He was also very excited about the Africans with conversions in the millions.

We had a buy-one get-one free coupon for the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum located at Wedgewood Resort.  I'm not much of a car buff but this place blew us away.  The collection showcases more than 70 historically significant automobiles produced in the United States prior to World War II.  Almost every car is maintained in operating condition.  As a bonus, which I just loved, they had a fabulous vintage fashion collection.  The dresses, hats, shoes, lingerie and accessories were in beautiful condition.  We spent a couple of hours there.   Click here for their website 

Yes, that's us - wished we could go for a ride

The cars are displayed beautifully

The period costumes and cars were displayed together - too cool

This was before laws were made to protect the birds and hats were made of feathers - this hat was made from two pheasants

The Tanana Valley State Fair just happens to be this week and for a senior entrance fee of $5 each we had a wonderful time checking out all the booths, food courts, local artisans and free entertainment. The hypnotist was amazing and so was the small symphonic orchestra.   I've been looking for a french butter dish and found a very pretty one for a good price.  I know you've all been to state fairs and the inside vendors are the ones that reel you in and don't let you go until you've purchased their product. Usually I'm pretty good at saying "no thank you" and keep walking but not today.  This nice young man called me into his "snare" and showed me all the benefits of Dead Sea Salt for removing toxins from the body and keeping your skin soft and silky.  His product is sold on Fifth Avenue in New York and every time I started to walk away, he'd throw in another product for free.  I told him I needed to think about it and I finally did walk.  I've never indulged in a really good skin care product and some how I talked myself into needing this one.   No, I'm not going to tell you how much I spent.  I will let you know if the product is as good as promised after a month of use.  If it's as good as I'm hoping, I'll let you know and give you their website link.

The spinach bread was very good

Entrance

One of the shows

It didn't start to get crowded until around 7PM and by then we were ready to leave

It was another long day for us but we had beautiful weather and a lovely time.

That's all folks!  Thanks for stopping in.

A PERFECT DAY FOR REST AND RELAXATION

White Sulphur Springs, MT - Happy Father's Day

Woke up to sunny skies and a day of leisure.  St. Bartholemew Church was only five minutes away and they had one mass at noon.  You know you're in Montana when the men in the parish put on a clean pair of jeans, a western shirt with snaps and their dirty cowboy boots.

Interior of St. Batholemew's Church

This is where we're staying - very pretty and well maintained park

Not much to write about because we just dilly-dallied around the campground, read, sat in the sunshine, walked the parimeter of the park and practiced with my camera lens.  They have a small gift shop at the office and I went there without Denis hoovering over my shoulder.  I've been looking for a honey pot and found one made by a local potter.  I also bought a bracelet made of braided horse hair with turquoise stones and some locally made moisturizing goats milk soap and lotion.  Ahhh ... the luxuries in life.

These photos are a compilation over the last few days.

Plover - This mom kill-deer has been guarding her nest in the gravel driveway

I wonder how this train got here?

Less than one week old colt

These guys make great watch dogs

I just liked this shot

Both Christi and Daniel called Denis to wish him a Happy Father's Day (and I didn't even have to remind them).  It was nice to see them on ooVoo and catch up on what they've been doing.  I was happy to hear that Daniel is seeing a chiropractor/doctor that found out why he's been having back pain and they have a course of treatment.  Christi spent most of our conversation obsessing about a relationship that may not be a good one for her.

That's all folks - thanks for stopping in.

CRAZY HORSE - CUSTER STATE PARK

We attended mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral Church of the Diocese of Rapid City.  Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary which emphasizes her unfailing eagerness to pray for the welfare of the human family, especially those who seek her intercession.

The original icon (above) is venerated today in the Church of St. Alphonsus in Rome - The priest is only 28 years old and his homily was one of the best we've heard in a very long time

The interior is long and narrow with beautiful stained glass windows

Crazy Horse Memorial is the world's largest mountain carving in progress.  Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear wrote to self-taught Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski asking him to sculpt the memorial because he said "My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes also".  Korczak worked on the mountain from 1948 until his death in 1982.  His wife, Ruth, and their seven children continue the work without federal or state assistance.

The head is 87 1/2 feet tall

The arm is 263 feet long

1/34 Scale model

Korczak at age 40

Korczak and his wife Ruth

Because the memorial is near Custer State Park we decided to visit the park before heading home for the day. The park covers 71,000 acres adjacent to Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial.  It's one of the world's largest publicly owned buffalo herds, some 1,500 strong.  We wanted to take the 18-mile wildlife loop but some how ended up on the 14-mile scenic route of Needles Highway.  Fortunately, we paid for a 7-day pass and will visit again before we leave this area.

Grazing longhorns

Glad we're in the car and not the motorcoach

This is why they call it Needles Highway

Lots of hiking trails - another reason to come back

Got home just in time for happy hour with our new neighbors.

New friends Dana, Irene and Boo

Thanks for stopping in for a visit.  Click on the comment button and say hello.

TRAVEL - SCARY HAIRCUT - DARK SKIES AND HAIL

Today was a day of driving, filling up the fuel, propane, water and dumping the holding tanks. Now you're going to love this one, we got our hair cut for $10 each at the Flying J by a lady barber who used to be a military barber.  She was fast, efficient and professional.   You never know who, where or what kind of cut you'll get on the road, but getting a haircut at a truck stop was a new experience for me ... scary.  The cut is a little shorter than usual but it looks nice.  So if you're on the road and need fuel and a haircut, stop at the Cheyenne, Wyoming Flying J off I-25 Exit 7.  Remember to use your  RV Plus Charge Card to get discounts.  We saved five dollars on the RV dumping, ten cents off propane per gallon and three cents off gas per gallon.  Go to http://www.rvpluscard.com/ for more information or to sign up.

We drove about 120 miles from Colorado, through that tiny corner of Wyoming to Nebraska. 

Pulled into the Walmart in Sydney, Nebraska and couldn't believe how many truck drivers stop here.  We are literally surrounded by the sound of diesel engines.  Should be an interesting nights sleep.

Just before leaving for church, the skies got very dark and we heard thunder in the distance, than saw strikes of lightening, than pouring rain followed by pounding hail about the size of mothballs.  We haven't seen a storm like that in a long time.

Bell Ringers

St. Patrick's Interior

St. Patrick's Exterior

We went to mass at St. Patrick's Church in Sydney, Nebraska.  The church was beautiful and the farming people were very friendly.  The priest actually memorized the gospel reading ... that's the first time I've seen that.  About once a month the bell ringers come to this church and play. We were lucky to be there to hear their beautiful music.

Thanks for stopping in.

Last Day at Capitol Reef

Our plan was to hike to Hickman Bridge and see the 133 foot natural rock bridge but the trail was closed.  Across the street was Cohab Canyon trail and it was described as a hidden canyon with spur trails and overlooks, a strenuous climb of 320 feet from west to east with 1/4 mile switchbacks.  It was a fun trail and got the heart pumping quickly.  We prefer hiking high on the rims rather than down in the washes.

First choice

Guess we'll go with this one

I feel on top of the world

These Petroglyphs are different from the ones we've seen in Arizona

We had time to visit the little town of Torrey before 5:00 mass.  The Chuck Wagon General Store had a little bit of everything.  I bought a loaf of bakery fresh organic wheat bread, a pair of hiking shorts and a tied-dye t-shirt that reads "Take a Hike, Capitol Reef Utah".

Chuck Wagon General Store

The General Store even had BIG hats for sale - no Denis didn't buy this one

There were a few houses that looked like this one

The Catholic Church we went to was a simple chapel with a big mountain view and friendly people.  The priest has to drive many miles each weekend to accommodate five Catholic parishes in the area.
Remember this is Mormon country and just finding a Catholic Church isn't an easy task.  Some of the people we talked to live 1-3 hours away.

Isn't it cute?

I was distracted by the view

We sliced up the bread for turkey sandwiches with some organic lentil soup and a green salad.  Simple dinner but sure did taste good.

Thanks for stopping in.