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Finally after 71 days away from home and 10,547 miles on the Element we arrived back in Ashland. It was a wonderful trip and we will have many fond memories of friends, sights and events. We want to thank all those who put up with us as we traveled through their neck of the woods. So thank you the Mrs Patty McKee Goodman. My daughter Yvonne, Linda and Boone, Kathy, Joe, cousins
Mary and Ray, Pete and Kathy and Joe and Denise.
We did have plans to camp more on the way home but the Holiday Inn Express Motels were to good to pass.
We have also decided that this is the last time we are going to drive a across the country. After all this we know that we are where we want to be which is the Pacific NW.
So, with nothing more to say we bid fond adue to those faithful followers of this blog and remind you that we will start again on Oct 7 for our two week trip to Italy. However there will be one more entry of what we learned and highlights so check in often.

Vashon Island

K and Denise on Vashon Island with a view of Puget Sound. We had perfect weather. The last two days were spent In Seattle. Went on the underground tour in Pioneer Sq.
On interstate 5 now 150 miles from home. A bottle of champagne awaits.

Photos

See dialog below

Fwd: Montana

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: Gary Foll <glfoll@mind.net>
Date: August 16, 2011 9:27:01 AM PDT
To: Gary Foll <glfoll.annie@blogger.com>
Subject: Montana

Site of little Big Horn, Custers last stand.  The stones show where the soldiers died. Custer was found in the center. His spot is marker that has been blacked in. We took a tour sponsored by a local two-year college. The guides great great grandfather was a scout for Custer. He is from the Crow tribe. He gave the Indians view of the battle.
Interesting item was that the Indians of that time were about 6 ft plus tall while the soldiers due to weight restrictions were jockey size. Plus there were 1200 warriors bs 220 soldiers. Oops!
In Washington state today.

Sent from my iPhone

Black Hills

Need I show more? Mountain is the same but the visitor center is new as of 1994.
Crazy horse same story. Very commercial and spending. What a project to undertake. No idea when it will be finished.
In Sheridan WY tonight.

Photod

Can you believe a recharging station in a small Iowa town.
The dog is Mary's, Buster or sometime known as bad boy buster.
Another photo of the Corn Palace.

Iowa and S. Dakota

The windmill is from Elkhorn IA, a small Danish community in NW IA had a Danish lunch of unpronounceable items. Also visited a winery. No more to be said.
The photo is of my cousin, Mary . She is a retired school teacher . She bought a IPhone when we arrived so we spent the best part of one DDT helping her do email,Bluetooth, texting and entering contacts.
Saw evidence of the Missouri River around Omaha. Places along the river are still flooded and no end in sight. Part of interstate 29 is still under water. Sad, my other cousinl lives in Dakota Dunes SD has been out of his house since Memorial Day and will not be able to get back until Thanksgiving

After Iowa it was on to Mitchell SD , home of the one and only corn palace. Yes the outside is covered with ears of corn. It is changed every year and is a big tourist attraction
Stopped in Wall drug and thought maybe she would like to go to Seattle with us but K put a end to that idea.
This is also the week of Sturgis SD. This is a scene in downtown Rapid City. More motorcycles again. Remember bikes on Beal St in Memphis
More pictures will follow.

It's been a long day riding our Jackalope that we found at Wall Drug in S. Dakota. It's Sturgis week for all the Harley riders so they are everywhere. Tonight we're in Rapid City about 10 miles from Sturgis. You won't believe us but we did NOT plan to meet up with the bikers here!

Iowa

Spending this week in Iowa with friends and relatives. The first photo is of my high school best friend and his wife. He was in my class and she was a year behind. Highschool sweethearts that married and have been for 56 years. Cheers to them.
The next is with my 100 year old aunt and my cousins and their spouses. Left to right first row, me, Roland Leigh (83), aunt Elizabeth (100), Eloise (80). had wonderful after noon with them reliving our childhood memories. Elizabeth can still read normal size print and has a wonderful quick sharp mind. Gets around on a walker or wheelchair. She lived by her self on the family farm til she was 95.
Told K that this might be what she will have to look forward to if I make it to 100. Did not like the look I got.

Guess who and what

Kept seeing lot of motorcycles heading west toward Sturgis SD. Thought I would put on my do-rag and join them.
This is what our lunches consist of. I had never had marshmallow fluff. K calls it fluff -n-nutter. Tasty but gooey.
Last might we had severe thunder, lighting rain storm. Scary stuff.

Had a problem with the data connected to the photos. After we left the Cape we traveled the MA turnpike to NY and the took Rt 20 across NY. That is where the Tee pee and the Kazoo factory are located. We toured the kazoo factory and then made 3 kazoos, one for each of us and one for Patty.
The picture by the water is Lake Erie in Mentor Ohio. It is very warm and fresh water. Looking out at the lake it looks like the ocean with a small tide. Plus lots of sea birds about. Now are they sea gulls or lake gulls. Maybe a new species?
We did go up to Dearborn MI and toured the Ford Rouge factory where the are
making the F 250 pickup.
Tonight we are in Iowa after a 500 plus mile day all on interstate. Lots of constuction being done on the road in MI. Federal money at work.
That should take care of the photos.

Leaving Cape Cod

This is where we stay when we are on the Cape.

Beach

Just us and a few of our 1000 friends at Marconi Beach on the National Seashore, Cape Cod.
We did go into to water but not for long. Too much sizzling flesh around. Had a nice little picnic lunch and left.
Sat. and Sunday we took the kayaks out on the pond across from the house. Takes a hour or so to paddle around the lake. Wonderful breeze, perfect Cape Cod day.
Karen obtained her Senior Pass from the National Park Service for $10. Free admission forever to any Nat. Park. What a deal. Listening to CNN for the debt crises and as of 5pm EDT no answer. What a mess. They should all be voted out of office.
Tomorrow is pack the car day and get ready to head west on Wed.