Running from Hurricane Irma

We picked up our motor home from Wildwood, FL,

 headed to Tallahassee and the Forgotten Coast. 

 Soon Rick and Jan joined us and Irma headed towards us.

We all decided to head west but had lunch with Brian and Cindy first.

They couldn't join us as we chickens ran.

All the way to Pensacola, FL to enjoy the Wal-Mart parking lot for 4 nights.

There were NO vacancies anywhere!

We toured and had incredible weather and could even see Irma 

from a beach bar at the FL/AL border.  

Enjoy the pictures, the first four are on the coast south of Tallahassee. 

 The rest are from near Pensacola.

Summer 2018 #1

Iowa and Nebraska

Council Bluffs, IA was our first major stop.

  This center has all you want to know about the

 California Trail, the Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail,

 and the Lewis and Clark Trail.

Entering the Museum/Visitors Center

https://iowaculture.gov/history/sites/western-historic-trails-center

The Lewis and Clark National Historical Trail Headquarters

is in Omaha, NE.

It sits at the base of a pedestrian bridge

 across the Missouri River to Council Bluffs.

Our reflections are in the building as we walk the bridge.

Here we go!

On the Iowa side, heading back.

Also near the pedestrian bridge.

Downtown Omaha.

Helping out one of the emigrants.  

Omaha was the first capital of Nebraska.

Downtown Council Bluffs has the Union Pacific RR museum.  

Lincoln decided that Council Bluffs would be the

 eastern terminus of the transcontinental RR.

There is even a "golden spike" city park.

And a monument to Lincoln on a bluff

 overlooking the Missouri River.

Lewis and Clark's first "council" with native 

Americans is honored on this bluff.

An evening stroll through downtown Council Bluffs.

The historic city center.

Back to Omaha to visit Gerald Ford's birthplace.

Heartland of America Park.

Overlooking the Missouri National Recreation River

 on our way to the Yankton, SD area.

South Dakota

The Thirteen clans monument in the Winnebago Reservation.

Corps of Engineers Visitor Center near Yankton, SD but in Nebraska.

We spent two nights in a Nebraska Recreation Area while touring the area.

In Yankton, the Missouri National Recreation River headquarters.

Yankton was the Territorial Capital of the Dakotas.

Behind Judy is the re-constructed capitol,

 and beside her is a river-boat capitan.

The Meridian Bridge (double deck) was converted

 to a pedestrian bridge in 2011.

In the Meridian Bridge park on the SD side of the Missouri.

In the center, with the locks of love.

The traditional pose with the National Park sign

 at the entrance to the Discovery Bridge

 with the Meridian Bridge in the background.

Westbound on Nebraska state road.

"Wide Load" was an understatement.

In Valentine, Nebraska. 

 This makes our 374th National Park visited!

Fort Falls in the Niobrara National Scenic River.

Berry Falls.

Smith Falls in a state park on the Niobrara National Scenic River

In the pool below Smith Falls.  Cold, spring fed water.

Toadstool Geologic Park in the Oglala National Grassland.

Visiting the re-constructed sod house,

 and a few mosquitoes in the grassland.

Wyoming

We first visited here in 1999.

Thanks Warren and Mary!

On the 1.3 hike walk around the tower.

Usual pose.

Ice cream for Judy and a beer for me.

  We're on the deck of the trading post below the tower.

First visit here also in 1999.

The Native American Memorial at Little Big Horn.

Montana

In Great Falls, MT.

 Originally, Lewis and Clark thought 

they could portage the falls in two days.

  A month later they were back on the Missouri heading west. 

 The Interpretive Center was great.

Judy's pose at the Giant Spring,

 just a short walk from the Interpretive Center

 and the rainbow trout hatchery.

Dennis enjoying the view and coolness

 coming off the 54 degree water.

Big Falls.  The first of the Great Falls of the Missouri

 seen by the Corps of Discovery.

Idaho hot spring are next on the agenda!