Ah.... time to catch up. Part One.

Lake Sakakawea, Riverdale,  ND

So, to catch up on the last week or so.....

After we left Mitchell, SD we spent two nights at Brown County Fairgrounds in Aberdeen SD.  Not an attractive site but full hook ups for $15.00 a night.

While there we took a drive about 30 miles north to

We were so excited to read they have a 15 mile auto tour through the refuge with various informational stops.  

Our excitement ended when we were informed by the Ranger the gravel road is closed due to washouts.   He recommended we drive the County roads which circle the refuge.  We did.  It was interesting but far less than we wanted.

We left Aberdeen on Wednesday morning taking highway 281 into North Dakota.

This was a first for both of us.  Neither of us has ever visited North Dakota before.   We picked up I94 east for about 40 miles to Valley City, ND.   From there we drove 10 miles north to Eggerts Landing a Corps of Engineers (COE) park on Lake Ashtabula.    This was not our favorite COE park.   Our site was tight.   I MEAN TIGHT!

Even tighter on the other side.    With our Federal Pass we paid $11.00 a night for 30 amp.  (No water, no sewer, as is typical in most COE's).     There was a swimming area about 1,000 feet away.  Too cold for me, thank you.

    Our favorite thing we did while in that area was to drive most of the 65 mile Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway.   We have  south from Valley City ending at Fort Ransom.

As this post is getting long and it's been a long day,  I will continue tomorrow.

BTW, it's good to be back "online" where my Sprint WiFi is not letting me down.

Outta touch!

Aberdeen,  SD

We left Mitchell yesterday at 8:30 and arrived at Aberdeen shortly after 11.   It was a short 150 mile drive.  We will be here until tomorrow when we head to North Dakota for the next couple of weeks.   Having never been to ND, I will now be able to check it off my "must see" list.

We are camped at Brown County Fairground these couple of days.   It is a typical fairground RV site but with full hookups at $18.00 a night, we don't complain.   EXCEPT, no available WIFI and my Sprint WIFI is on roaming.  From experience I know this can be expensive.    Okay, so I am complaining.

Not sure what we plan to do today.  Yesterday we took a ride to Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge.   We were excited to drive the 15 mile loop as this refuge has over 220 different bird species.  However the loop road is closed due to many washouts making it difficult to pass.   Disappointed.   So we drove state and county roads around the refuge looking for birds we've never seen.   We saw some yellow-headed blackbirds.  Never saw one before and never knew they existed.  

Okay, have to cut this short.   Won't be able to check on other blogs unless we go to town and find a hotspot.  Maybe tomorrow I can.  But probably not, will be at a COE park in ND.   Can not imagine there is WIFI available in the area.

Until next time.....

It's not for everyone.

Mitchell, SD

As we travel we meet lots of other RVers.   Quite a mix of weekenders, part-timers and full-timers.

Looking back on our decision to full-time I remember when I first learned people actually lived like this.  I think it was in 2005 that we bought a 1988 Georgie Boy Motorhome just to see if we liked RVing.  Our first trip was to Charlottesville, VA.   We met a fine couple who were Workamping there.   As we got acquainted with them we learned they lived in their fifthwheel while traveling the country working at various campgrounds.

WE WERE HORRIFIED!   We never knew people did this.   We could not imagine ADULTS not having a house, a home and all that goes with it.    After we got back home, I started researching the lifestyle on the Internet.  To my complete surprise I found lots of ADULTS choose to live a nomadic life.    That first camping experience was in May.  By September we decided that when we retired we would do the same.

As we told friends and family of our plans, most of them were surprised but supportive.  At least none of them were openly negative.  Only one person was downright dismissive about it.  She warned we would hate it.  Her reason?  She had a friend who tried the fulltime RVing life and hated it so we would too!  I promptly dismissed her dismissal.

There are varied reasons why people choose not to full-time:   They prefer the secutiy of a home, can not leave their "stuff", prefer the familiar, would miss friends and  family (especially Grandchildren which I can relate to), have heath issues, are afraid of the unknown or just really like to RV on the part-time basis.   All of these are legitimate reasons not to sell most of ones belongings and follow the highway.

We are now well into our 3rd year on the road.  How long will we do this and what will we do when (if) we decide to put down roots again?  We have no idea.   But we consider ourselves most fortunate to have the privilege of meeting lots of interesting people, seeing sights we've never thought we would and being healthy enough to do it.

How glad we are that we met Carl and Ursula back in Charlottesville, Va.    BTW, they gave up the full-time RV life a few years ago and settled near where their daughter, son-in-law and grand-baby live.  But they surely enjoyed the trip while they were traveling the highways.

Why did you choose to full-time or remain a part-timer?

Changing of the corn and other stuff

Mitchell,  SD


First, welcome to Joe and Betty our newest followers.   Good to meet you here.

The one thing Mitchell is known for is it's Corn Palace.   We saw it 2 years ago.  Not all that impressed.  Sorry.

While in town the other day we noticed they were in the process of redecorating.  The images change each year.  As you can imagine, over the winter the birds and various other critters find the building to be quite the buffet.

It appears that after what remains of the previous years design, a new design is drawn on the walls.

It is then filled in with corn and various other grains using whatever means possible.

After which the sanitation department cleans up the debris.

Sure does seem like a lot of work each year.   Buy hey, if it draws the tourists to this town, I suppose it is worth it.

Yesterday we took a ride into Sioux City about 75 miles away.  Len wanted two more batteries for his various Ryobi tools.    We found the Home Depot is the only source now of this brand of tools.  He got the batteries and later we went over to Cabelas here in Mitchell and got me a lounge chair for outside.   It was our gifts to each other for our 23rd anniversary which is Sunday.

When we had been on I90 two years ago in this area we noticed sculptures in a field.  This time we exited near the sculptures to check them out.   We found the dirt road leading to them.

 This vulture was along the dirt road.

When we got there we found there is a $6.00 charge to walk around the field.  Sorry, just was not worth $12.00 to us.      Instead, I snapped this:

I guess technically I was not given the finger.

We enjoy National Wildlife Refuges.  This morning we drove the 80 some miles each way to:

This is a small wildlife refuge.  After parking the car we walked the entire path taking less than an hour.    As with most of NWR's, there are ponds for ducks, etc.    Not much was spotted today except a few Mallards and wood ducks.    Could not even get a picture of any wildlife but it was a nice walk.

A short drive south took us over the

This dam and park by the Army Corps of Engineers was completed in 1956.    We followed beautiful Andes Lake for miles before turning around and heading back to Mitchell which was 91 miles away.

We were getting really hungry.   Restaurants are few and far between in this part of  southern  South Dakota.     We finally found a small gas and grill in the town of Corsica.   Meal was great and cost very reasonable.    Got back to the campground around 2.  Len is taking a nap and here I am!

Little House on the Prairie

DeSmet,  SD

Today we drove about 90 miles each way to:

Of course I've heard of Laura Ingalls Wilder although I've never read her books nor watched the TV show staring Michal Landon based on her life on the prairie.    Laura was born in 1867 and died in 1957. She wrote her first book at age 65!

She lived on this site during parts of her childhood.   "Pa" Ingalls took part in the Homestead Act.

The Homestead Act was signed in 1863 or thereabouts (I forget).  People were provided with a quarter section which is 160 acres.  In South Dakota they had to farm at least 10 acres for five years and build a home on it.  Provided this was done, they then had to file papers which cost approximately $17.00 and the land was theirs.

In the distance you can see the West Bethany Church which was built in 1905 and was located 10 miles from the Ingalls Homestead and moved in the 1990's to the complex.

Today the site holds a visitor center, newly constructed buildings and structures that were moved to the site.   There are no original buildings still there.   However, five cottonwood trees remain of the thousands that Pa planted on his homestead claim.

One building that was moved to the site in the Flindt's Garage.  It was built in 1901 in the town of DeSmet.

Since it took a while to build a suitable house, people on the prairie would live in either a Sod Hut that would be partially buried in the ground.  This huts lasted 5 to 7 years.  After a heavy rain, the sod would drip for days.

Or they would build a shanty with tar paper siding.  The inside walls would be "papered" in newspapers.

There is a replica of the Ingalls home but OOPS! we got so engrossed with talking to a guide that I forgot to take a picture.

We took a ride on a covered wagon to the far end of the property

to the Little Prairie school, Johnson School No 20.

where we got some "learnin" in readin, riting, and rithmatic.

At age 15 Laura was a teacher in a similar school.

Admission is $10.00, five and under free.   There are 4 RV sites with water and electric at $30.00 a night.

1000 Year Old Indian

Mitchell, SD

Yesterday we visited

In 1910 ancient relics were found on this site.   Around 1000 years ago it was inhabited by the Mandan tribe.  It is estimated they lived here about 100 years until they had depleted most of the local timber which they used to build their shelters.  A reconstruction:

Some archaeological work was done for a short time in the late 1930's.  Most of the unearthing has been done in the last several years as a portion of the site is now under roof.

There is no State or Federal funding for this project.  It is funded mostly by admission sales. (only $6.00/$5.00 seniors)  Dr. Hannus, an archaeologist, oversees the project but most of the work is done during June and July when students from England volunteer their time.

Over a million artifacts have been found and processed through their laboratory.

The simple tools which archaeologists use:

As the mother and mother-in-law of two archaeologists I know firsthand the dedication and patience needed for this type of work.

Artifacts include hunting and agricultural tools, broken pottery pieces and decorative items.   During the summer there are events such as live digs, Archaeology Days and cultural performances.

If traveling through Mitchell, it is worth a stop.

A time to relax and travel

Mitchell, South Dakota

We left Camp Fontanelle, NE this morning shortly after 8 and traveled north 218 miles to Mitchell arriving 12:20 pm.

Our time at Camp Fontanlle was a  busy one.   I worked mostly as Leonard's "gofer" as he installed 3 toilets in rest rooms, tiled and grouted floors, shored up a "bridge" and steps that overlook the camps corn maze, installed 6 florescent light fixtures, did plumbing on sinks, and installed a new vanity and sink and reinstalled a toilet in the camp directors home.    Our fellow NOMADS were a pleasure to work with as was the camp director.

But now it is time to just chill out and sight see for the next several weeks.

We plan on spending 10 days at this campground.   While here we need to register to vote and get Len's address corrected on his SD drivers license.  

When we arrived earlier today there were but 3 sites filled.   Since that time at least 20 sites are full.   There are 40 level grassy sites in this campground, each with a picnic table and amble room between.   We are facing the pool.  Even though it is in the 60's there are children out there splashing around and having a good time.  The mother is sitting on a pool chair watching and wearing long pants and a heavy sweater.    I can understand that!

The only drawback to this campground is we can see the roof top of a Cabelas.    For those of you who know what a Cabelas is, you understand.  However, we are also close to a DQ and Ruby Tuesday.   They also have great free Wifi.   I see my Mobile wifi would be on roaming and I don't want to go there.  Therefore, both Len and I are okay with this campground.

Now I need to catch up on what's going on in the lives of my fellow bloggers.