Trip Highlights

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I plan to load a flash presentation, exhibiting selected photographs from each destination.

Photo selection, and creation of the flash presention is in-process

Stats, Facts, and Miscellaneous Ramblings

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Bringing Mac Home

We drove to Bluffton, Indiana to pick up our "show quality" standard schnauzer from his breeder. 

She entered him in 2 or 3 puppy class competitions while we were away, pictures of dog & ribbons on their way.

When we returned on our Hertz rental car to the Brownsburg agent, it had 10,000 miles more on the odometer, than when we picked it up.

There's NO place like H O M E

We arrived home at 5:50 pm.

Jasper was so excited to see us, that he temporarily lost control of a bodily function.  We cleaned that up,
unloaded the car, and had dinner at Rock Star Pizzeria's new location.

We watched the first two episodes of the new Torchwood series on Starz, and went to bed.

-D.

Seward Jump Start Day

Someone is Happy !

Dad did not take his camera to jump start day.  What did we get accomplished, quite a bit between 9:00 am and Noon.

• Attended Jump Start Orientation
• Received Kailyn's Student ID
• Applied for a Parking Permit
• Filled out W-4 and I-9 Paperwork (student employment)
• Kailyn applied for a part time job at the library
• Met with the financial-aid team Kailyn signed her life away
• Viewed and took measurements in a showcase dorm room in David Hall
• Talked to the help desk changed Kailyn's password on the university's network
• Talked to network administration (dad adding a wireless access point in Kailyn's room)
• Met with Kailyn's academic advisers
• Walked the campus and located the buildings for her first semester classes
• Pre-ordered Kailyn's books at the campus book store
• Kailyn opened a checking account at a local bank

Cindy drove 415 miles from Seward, Ne to Quincy, Il.  There were numerous re-routes and detours resulting from flooding along the Missouri River and it's tributaries. The majority of the roads were uncontrolled state 4 lane or 2 lane roads, taking us directly through a large number of rural Nebraska towns.

We drove directly to Gem City Pizza (world's best thin crust pizza) for dinner before arriving at Aunt Lesa's house for the night.

Exploring Seward and Concordia University

Saturday and Sunday were spent exploring Lincoln, Seward, and the campus of Concordia University.

Seward has all the comforts of home-- Walmart Super Center(!), Grocery Store, Hardware Store, Gas Stations, Bowling Alley, Public Parks & Swimming Pool, Single Screen Movie Theater, Advanced Auto Parts, McDonald's, Dairy Queen, Hospital, Police Station and the like.

Lincoln has all the upscale shopping discriminating consumers demand, at least two malls plus -- Bed Bath and Beyond, Kohls, Barnes and Noble, Dillards, Von Maur, Sears, J C Penney, Bath and Body Works, American Eagle, Gap, Old Navy, Best Buy.  Plenty of area & shops to occasionally exercise our shopping genes.  There are also numerous chain and local culinary outlets which as a treat offer a break from the humm/drum student union fare.

The main administration building

Kailyn's dorm

 

 C O R N, Beans, Flowers and Weeds  as far as the eye can see...

Mt Rushmore, BadLands, & Travel Day -- Rapid City SD to Lincoln NE

Prior to leaving the Rapid City, SD area we returned to Mt. Rushmore in the early morning at the time when park rangers advised us was the best time to capture "picture postcard" images.  We arrived at 8:30am took a series of shots from the National Park Service Grand View Terrance.  Next we drove to the Sculptors Studio and took pictures from the angle Gutzon Borglum intended his completed work to be viewed (from the southeast).

For best results click to enlarge any image



Entrance and Avenue of the Flags


 

Mt. Rushmore from the Grand View Terrace



Mt. Rushmore from the Grand View Terrace




Mt. Rushmore from the Grand View Terrace (HDR)





The completed project as envisioned by Gutzon Burglum

 

Mt. Rushmore as viewed from the Sculptors Studio the angle envisioned by Gutzon Borglum




Mt. Rushmore as viewed from the Sculptors Studio the angle envisioned by Gutzon Borglum




Mt. Rushmore as viewed from the Sculptors Studio the angle envisioned by Gutzon Borglum
(HDR)


As we drove toward our final destination Lincoln, Ne we drove through a portion of the Badlands National Park.

  - Bad Lands -



" The Yellow Mounds "



Mammoth Site, Crazy Horse, Mt. Rushmore, Birthday !

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Crazy Horse Monument in the background

Crazy Horse Monument

Mt. Rushmore @ 4:00pm

Birthday cake from Dakotah Steakhouse

Travel Day -- Sheridan Wy, to Rapid City, SD

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It was a slow picture day, as we travelled from Sheridan WY, to Rapid City SD.  We pulled off at a roadside historical marker, took a picture of the sign, and another picture of the grasses, the valley below, mountains in the distance, and the blue and puffy cloud filled sky.

As both Cindy and I were born and raised in Quincy, Il, we were interested to see our home town mentioned in the Wyoming Historical Marker. 

Yellowstone -- North East Entrance

Place holder, pictures forthcoming

Nice Day for a Flat Tire

Six miles into the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway (the road which leads to the Yellowstone Northeast entrance) twenty three miles out of Cody, Wy the low tire pressure light comes on.  After pulling over and doing a walk around we discover the tire is not low but flat.  Naturally, there is no cell service in the area, and Dad substitutes for AAA.  

Dad is considering calling NASA for a launch window, as he becomes increasingly frustrated with the vehicle's laminated tire changing directions.

KAILYN SAVES THE DAY, by identifying the missing step in the tire changing directions -- opening the secret center console drawer to reveal the tire lowering access port. Cindy and Kailyn chock the wheels with large rocks from the area. Dad jacks the car up, begins to change the tire.  A couple of bikers drive up to lend a hand, put the spare on and load the flat tire into the van.

We drop our hero Kailyn off at the hotel.  Mom and Dad call Hertz, are directed to take the car to Walmart where it is determined the tire cannot be patched but must be replaced. (There are great folks at theWalmart  Automotive Service department Cody, Wy)  

We salvage the day by having a nice sit down dinner at Irma's Hotel.  Built in Bufflao Bill's time and named after his daughter.

This is the hotel's original bar

Yellowstone -- East Entrance

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A Picture Card Image is first AND last in this posting....

Be  S U R E  to clock on this one

View from the ranger's station 

" Old Faithful "

Elk Herd Grazing

Yellowstone Traffic Jam

The grass IS greener on the other side of the road

" Click me ! "

Be SURE to click on this one too