Day 11: Doe a Deer, Ray a Ray

Miles traveled today: 266

Total Miles: 2500

Today we went to the Omaha Henry Dorrly Zoo. We got there right at opening so that we could park the motorhome with the least issues. So glad we did it was packed towards the end of the day.

African Penguin Feeding

40 year old penguin (oldest there is)

Baby Gorilla – he was so adorable!

They had Rockhoppers, King and Gentoo Penguins

Can you guess which James was excited about?

Johnny’s hand for scale (Katydid)

The desertariuam was pretty much amazing

We ended the day at the Sting Ray Beach. Johnny went a little nuts.

We left the zoo and then went to Granny’s Sweet Freeze. It was a bit of a trek to get there from the parking lot the RV was able to fit in but we made it and got some delicious soft serve.

  

Jude’s was the most disturbing – he chose mint chocolate chip mixed with gummy bears…

Day 10: Unexpected Melodies

Miles traveled today: 285

Total Miles: 2234

We awoke in the most beautiful of Cabela’s parking lots this morning. The sun was shining and the birds were singing and our neighbors were in great moods (they are taking a similar trip with their granddaughter).

James was not a happy riser so we had a mission for coffee. The GPS led us to Einstein's Bagels and a Caribou Coffee. We had to fight traffic, construction, and mountains of mole hills to get there only to find that they had the least productive staff in the whole entire nation so far. We ordered 2 hot chocolates and they decided that the kids really should share instead, and the food we ordered was not necessary either. After we told them otherwise we were off. James was disappointed that the farther we get from the northwest the worse the coffee is. Hopefully it is just the inland states.

We decided we’d make a mad dash for Haworth Park in Nebraska so that James could rest and the boys could have some chill time as well.  Then we saw the signs for The National Music Museum in Vermillion, SD. We couldn’t not stop and we were not disappointed.

The campus at the University of South Dakota is gorgeous

A different type of fingering for a piano – it’s ergonomic

two bells one mouthpiece

Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Horn

Korn Kobblers

  

The boys really liked this band - it made them all think of Grampa Ausmus

precursor to the record player

After this we went out to lunch. If you are ever in Vermillion try Café Brule. I got a pot roast dip, James got a muffalato. Jude got Cincinnati Mac and Cheese, Johnny had BBQ Chicken Quesadilla w/ Avocado Ranch, and Jimmy had air. At least that is all we assumed he had because the French Onion Leek Soup he inhaled was gone in approximately 3 bites. James and I gave him portions of our food to stave off the evident starvation and promised some crème brulèe as well. We got our desserts to go and the boys loved them all.

We then got on the road and headed to the campsites in Haworth park. Once there we had a wonderful break to relax and unwind. It is beautiful here along the Missouri River. Almost reminded us of home.

Dad was the lava monster!

Day 9: When you hit a Wall

Miles traveled today:346

Total Miles: 1948

We woke up early to get the pancakes and start our laundry. The only problem was all the fun things to distract us from leaving. We did not get the early start we wanted and that would haunt us for the travels of day 9.

They still love each other. Phew!

Our first stop was Mt. Rushmore. It is definitely smaller than the pictures make it appear. That being said it doesn’t take away from any grandness of it at all.

 

This might though….

The weather has been so perfect for the trip so far. Its been so nice. Just look at the sky!

That was pretty much it but we took a little longer for the boys to finish their junior ranger programs and receive their pins, Its always the little-longers that getcha…

So along we went. James had read online that the view of Crazy Horse was the same from the road so that was the plan. Only he didn’t see that once you turned there was no coming back… So we stopped at Crazy Horse Memorial.

After we stopped we were glad we did, there was so much more to do and see than Rushmore. The man who started the whole process worked on his own with his trusty (less than trusty?) steed Kaput. He’d have to crank her and then trek up ladders and steps only to hear her stop cranking and then go the 740 and something steps back down to start her.

While we were there, already late for heading out, a live performance came on. This family came out wearing jingle dress and other colorful garb and explained the powwow culture and how the jingle dress came about. You can read about it here

 

<<< Contemporary

Traditional >>>

   

Fancy Shawl (Crazy Woman) Dance

Dad sang and played the drum

It was at this point that we looked down at the time and had to run out on the performance. It was after 4pm MST.

So we got on I-90 and imagined ourselves pushing through to Sioux Falls. That was about the time that Wall Drug signs started popping up…

Wall Drug was a small store that used the power of advertising to save itself. They started with ice water and then just kept on going from there.

 

So we got dinner there, and souvenirs, and ice water, and ice cream, and photo ops. And looked at the time and it was after 7pm MST. So we ran to Francis (the Isata) and got back on the road. James and I watched as we crossed into Central Time and watched it go from 8:30pm MST to 9:30pm CT. Did I mention that we did not have anything reserved for the night? James had requested we leave some nights up to fate, so I obliged, As I was looking for a safe place for overnight we found that there was no campgrounds available on a Friday night. While searching though we discovered that Cabela’s in Mitchell, SD has parking for RV overnighters and we pulled in late in the night. The boys had all found nooks to sleep in and we are all happy for it.