The End of Summer

 The girls got to see their schools today. Jenna met her teacher at her new school New Market ES. She has a locker!! I forgot to get Amelia and Avas photo as we toured middle school this morning. School starts Tuesday!
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My own sunflower!

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

West. Day #12

How we roll.  We are a well oiled travelin machine. 

We're home!
Richmond, IN to HOME!   488 miles!

West. Day #11

 At breakfast this morning I was able to pull the girls middle school schedules from the computer.  They had been waiting for this! On the day last year... This was the first day of school.  The kids start this year in 2 weeks.

 We stopped at this playground for a stretch break in Davenport, IA.

Within the hour, we arrived at Le Claire, IA and to the shops from the show American Pickers.  Dave's favorite show. The place was crowded with tourists.

 Look familiar?

This was the beautiful peach colored sunset passing through farmland just past Indianapolis. I love to see the landscapes, farms, hills, mountains, skies.
We drive from Des Moines, IA to Richmond, Indiana.....578 miles
Home tomorrow!!

West. Day #10

 We drove out of Rapid City heading East. After about 150 miles We headed South to catch the eclipse.  We wanted to get to Nebraska.  About 15 minutes into our trip..rainand dark clouds stayed with us for several hours. We did see this field of sunflowers in SD. You know I love my sunflowers.

Here We are near Valentine, Nebraska at 12:50 pm central time. Eclipse time. It was very cloudy, but during this few minutes it was very very gray and gloomy.  There were very few cars around here. We are actually standing on The highway. The girls were bummed we couldn't see anything!

Of course the skies cleared in a bit. We did see the cute sign posted in a small town on our way.

We traveled from Rapid City, SD to Des Moines, IA. 635 miles...our second longest travel day to date.

West. Day #9

Packing up outside our hotel room this morning at Fairmont Hot Springs.  A chilly morning.

In the lobby. All these dead animals. This mountain goat reminded us of our friend as we left Mount Rushmore. 

Drew and a pretty water feature.

One last tour of the grounds. The morning was quiet for swimming.

And inside

We drove I90 through a good portion of Montana until We headed SW on Route 212 through Indian Reservations. The middle of nowhere and this construction to both highway lanes slowed us down a bit. Highway road to dirt road. A crazy change at 70 mph.

We took a rest break at a playground/rodeo ring in Broadus, MT.

Broadus MT and a happy Dave in Montana.

We saw so many roadside antelope on this route especially through Wyoming and South Dakotah. Hard to get a good photo 

Jenna called this moment.  #Heaven.

   Drew enjoying Doritos.

This is Drew's happy time. Our hotel tonight has a small water park. The girls are there now still. Drew reached out his hand for the water the minute we entered and he heard the sounds.

Ahhh..

Sliding sisters

We drive from Anaconda/Fairmont Hot Springs to Rapid City, SD. 563 miles! Our second stay in this city!

Figuring out the best place to view the eclipse tomorrow and also to make good progress towards home.

West. Day #8

 Life on the road. Lunch while traveling to Fairmont Hot Springs.   We stopped first at Safeway.  Everyone picked out their own lunch and snacks. We've actually eaten restaurant food very little.

We made this stop at Wheat Montana in Three Forks, MT. When we pulled up I told Dave that we had been here before.... We think we stopped here on our first trip together to Montana.  We laughed at the sign.. " Bake America Great Again".

A view from today's quick trip. The air quality here isn't good. Fires are burning nearby.

We made it to Fairmont Hot Springs. Three hot pools here at the resort.  

And tonight.. Another pool trip and sunset. The air is chilly..about 60 degrees, but 101 degree water temps.

Bozeman, MT to Anaconda/Butte, MT.  105 quick miles. Making our way back home tomorrow....

West. Day #7!

 Another breakfast at Old Faithful. Can you see Jenna in the peach sweatshirt sitting down by the seats? She wanted a better angle for her photos.

Drew happy and making lots of noise again in this very, very quiet area. His voice echoed across the hills!  

 An Old Faithful prediction clock.

Resting after their 1/2 mile hike above Old Faithful.

 Beautiful buildings...Old Faithful Lodge

 Saying goodbye to our cabin.

 And goodbye to our Raven friend.

 A drive around Firehole Loop as we made our wsy out of the Park today.

 The Madison River and Grasshopper bank.

 Madison

 Amelia shopping in West Yellowstone, MT.

Shopping and buying treats for our ride to Bozeman.

One of Dave's favorite towns.

Old Faithful, WY to Bozeman, MT... 131 miles
Back to civilization and the internet!  We have been on the road for a week!

West. Day #6

 Day #2 at the Old Faithful Lodge cabins.  Breakfast while waiting for Old Faithful.

An eruption!  Every 70 or so minutes. The Park Ranger times the eruption and reports it by radio to the other Rangers. The length of eruption helps to determine the next eruption. There are signs all over to let visitors know the Times of the geysers eruptions. 

 Drew and I had two hours by ourselves to explore the grounds while the others took a Ranger tour.  It was chilly...35 degrees!

 We had the place to ourselves!

 There they are!!  See the group?

 On top of the terrace of Old Faithful Inn.

 Reunited to watch another eruption from the other side of Old Faithful.

There are signs everywhere not to touch the water or geyser area. In case you were wondering by the time the water from Old  Faithful reached us it was cool.

 Lunch back at cabin 410. We're getting used to this!  Our cabin is only 1/4 of that structure.

Dave took the girls for a quick hike behind our cabin. That's the Firehole River.  Lots of beware of wildlife signs by the way..

 A quiet and actual tear filled moment as we remember Hegel who died 16 years ago and whose remains rest here.

Took a drive to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and the upper falls.

 A lonely bison jam!

 After dinner An evening view again.

We walked most of the extensive board walk system at Old Faithful....about 2 1/2 miles. Lots of pretty sunset photos. 

Beautiful and getting chilly again.

 3 sisters

 Old Faithful from afar.

 Fuzzy pictures of an elk herd on our walk

 Belgium pool

 Spasmodic Geyser

Sunset and the Firehole River.

 A family shot earlier that evening.

Old Faithful, WY to Old Faithful, WY! 101 driving around miles... More steps on foot then driving miles today.