June 26 & 27 - Arrived at YELLOWSTONE!

June 26th – We got some breakfast from the McDonalds in WalMart before we left this morning although Ryan didn’t. PopPop also went back in to the store and got some donuts for us. Drove into West Yellowstone. Saw a moose on our drive in. Got set up and then went into the park. Saw an elk almost immediately. Saw Mule deer. Saw a gazillon bison. Picked up our Young Rangers packages at the Madison Station. We hiked down to the Brink of the Lower Falls in the Canyon area. We were impressed with the canyon. Took pictures of stuff. Saw Old Faithful erupt. Drove and Drove and Drove (actually MomMom & PopPop did and we slept). Got back to the motorhome at 10p.m. our time – midnight your time.

June 27th – We rode our bikes a lot around the campground. Drove into the park around the lower loop and took a hike called Elephant Back. It was 7/10 of a mile up and 1.57 miles down. The view of the beautiful Lake Yellowstone was amazingly beautifully awesomeriffic!! Stopped at the Madison Ranger station to talk with Ranger Jay Mengel a friend of PopPop’s from the Air Force who we had met two years ago at Tuckahoe State Park in Maryland.

It was early in the trip so the boys were still interested in looking at Bison. After a couple days, they didn't even take the time to look up at Bison.

June 25 - Night at WalMart

We left Ellsworth Air Force Base and drove 480 miles to the WalMart in Bozeman MT. Very close to where we will pick up Mom on Monday. We got a good dinner for all of us from the deli at WalMart for less than $10. We also added two more states for a total of 12 states – we just touch the corner of Wyoming on our way to Montana.

June 23 - Ellsworth Air Force Base - 2 days

23 June 2010 - Things we did today –
Stopped at Wall Drug in Wall SD on the way to Ellsworth Air Force Base. Went to Bear Country USA and saw LOTS of animals. Went to Crazy Horse and got our second Junior Ranger Certificate (technically they are Junior Scout badges since Crazy Horse is not federally funded). Went to Mount Rushmore. Got really tired and went to bed.

24 June 2010 - We rode our bikes a lot in the campground, put the bikes back on the car. We went to the Air and Space Museum on base. Had a slice of pizza at the Base Exchange. Went to WalMart and got hiking shoes also known as the best hiking shoes ever. Got snacks for Yellowstone hikes. Went to Cabelas and got new bear spray. Got a new bike pedal for the one that vibrated off the bike rack on Jakes bike. Ryan also got new tennis shoes just in case his new hiking shoes give him a blister. PopPop made spaghetti for dinner. Went to the lighting ceremony at Mount Rushmore. Got our Junior Ranger Badges from Mount Rushmore.

June 22 - Badlands National Park

A day of 1sts - 1st National park visited, 1st Junior Ranger Badges and our 1st Hike!


Stuff we did today – we drove, we hiked Saddle Pass in Badlands National Park, Got sworn in as Junior Rangers, entered Mountain Time zone so we are now 2 hours behind you. We saw deer, 4 female big horn sheep and one baby big horn sheep, prairie dogs, drove the 240 loop road. We learned old slick tennis shoes are NOT good for hiking. We had pancakes for supper. Learned how to use walking sticks for our hike. Talked about what we want to see tomorrow.

We hiked to the peak on the left center of this photo.

Our campsite - no hookups but we didn't need them for one night anyway.

June 21 - Mitchell SD

Today we saw our first Buffalo, crossed the Mississippi River, counted our 8th (Minnesota) and 9th (South Dakota) state, ate at Culvers again (had frozen custard for dessert, of course), went to the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD, wrote Thank you Cards to Mom Mom Bev. We’re spending the night at the R&R Campground in Mitchell SD which means we traveled 424 miles today. Only 825 miles left to our West Yellowstone, MT campground.

This was taken as we were going down the road. I don't know if they will ever be able to travel by car again!

June 20 - Volk Field Wisconsin

Sleeping on their couches when we left 3M’s house (also known as Mom Mom’s Mom or Grandma Bev). Added two more states (Illinois and Wisconsin) to their list of states – up to 7 now. Called to wish Daddy a Happy Father’s Day. Ryan finished one book and started another. Jake beat PopPop at Go Fish multiple times. Rode in the RV for 384 miles. Rode their bikes twice at Volk Field. Looked at tanks, cannons and helicopters. Met PopPop’s friend, Mr Al. Had the world’s best ice cream, actually Frozen Custard at Culver’s. Went to WalMart. Rode bikes again. Took showers and fell into bed (couches) watching Sponge Bob.

June 18 and 19th - Ryan & Jake - in Indiana

Excerpts from Ryan & Jakes emails back to their parents during our trip -

6-18-2010 – Drove from Maryland to Indiana. Stopped at Cabela’s. Ate at Wendy’s – had a Frosty. Ryan and Jake both read – Ryan read the most.

6-19-2010 – Things we did today in Indiana– Played baseball, football. Played the piano. Looked at the cows. Played Uno. Rode bikes. Got the RV ready to go. Played on the swing. Ate a turkey dinner. Had cupcakes. Played Pool. Learned hot wire was for the cows. Put water in the RV tank. Learned how cold well water is when we got in the shower. Brushed our teeth.