Sept 22-Sept 23 Deer Lodge Spocane, to Pendleton

Approaching Missoula we cross scenic Clark Fork River a few times. It ultimately flows into Pend Orelle River in Idaho.  Notice some haze maybe from fires that have been in news.

We stayed at Ponderosa Falls Campground south of Spokane,WA

We had lunch  at excellent Burger Factory in Connell, WA - about half hour north of  Tri-Cities.

Arrived at Pendleton KOA.  Eclipse over the casino form KOA, Sunday PM, Sept 27

Sept 21 - Billings to Deer Lodge, MT

Dealership in Billings worked us in.  They found no evidence of our problem or the warning light we had at the time we arrived.  They did find error codes for the wheel sensor installed in Sioux Falls, and they adjusted this.  We are back on road just after 1 PM.

Crossing Yellowstone River

Jesus' statue watching over Boseman, MT

Later on road, stll no problems with RV.  Between (Butte and Deer Lodge)

 Overnight at Indian Creek Campground.  Good place with cable TV for Beth to watch Dancing with the Stars

Sept 19-20 Spearfsh SD and to Buffalo WY

We had overnghted at  Chris' campground (excellent place) and because of rain waited until late AM to head down Spearfish  Canyon along Spearfish Creek  to view black hills scenery featuring waterfalls and limestone palisades.

Beth crossing scary bridge in rain to Spearfish Falls

the Falls

Roughlock Falls was the best.

There were plenty of fish to watch in Spearfish Crek

Dottie  awaiting our return (see her little white nose in just in bottom of passenger seat window)

Had late lunch in Spearfish.  Numeros old boom town had oprahouses, bit this one still has performances.  Most recently Phantom of the Opera

Later, we had engine light came on and loss of power at highway speed as we approached Buffalo, so we ovenghted there at an excellent KOA two nights (19 &20) and arranged a tow to the Sprinter dealer in Billings MT.  Tow arrives 8 AM


On the road in tow truck


So unable to stop at Custer except Beth saw this in restroom stop off I-90


After the tow truck deposited us in Billings, we went for groceries and saw this kite meet.  Some of the kites wee well over ten feet.  Some are hand -painted art.


Beth talked to one of the participants, who invited us to his kite store in Livingston, MT





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Sept 17 -1880s town and to Spearfsh, SD

We stopped at  1880 Town.   We learned it was started on property adjacent to a gas station on I-90 near Huron.  This collection of buildings represents the 1880's and some through 1900's - the era western movies.

We entered through a circular barn that contained a museum including Dances with Wolves set memorabilia

A dog on a treadmill would have earned his keep churning butter (churn, left)

Dances with Wolves set memorabilia

1880 Town has more than 30 period businesses and homes

Offices with period furnishings.

Portrait studio, post office, and land office (left to right)

in the post office

Fire station, completely furnished

Boom towns needed good public transportation

RR station

Hotel for travelers

judging from the number of guest mail boxes, several people shared a room.

Travelers could get baths at the barber shop

Entertainment offerings included shows at the saloon and buggy tours

 

Saloon song and comedy by McNasty Brothers was fun.  Bottled tea and popcorn good too.

Beth with the McNastys.   She got a fre CD too.

Saloon entertainers doubled as tour guides and town characters.  Great story tellers.

Camels were imported by the army and subsequently sold to circuses. Some escaped and roamed until the early 1900s.  1880 town has it's camel.

There were two churches

Country church

City Church

In the bank

Where Beth found work

Leaving 1880s Town, the RS's ABS warning lights came and cruise control kicked off
Weovernighted at Chris's Campground in Spearfish, WY

Sept 13-16 Le Clare, IA to Sioux Falls, SD to Belvidere, SD

Last evening, locals at the campground mentioned the American Pickers original store, Antique Archeology, is nearby, so we set out north on the Great River Road along the  Mississippi toward their store in Le Claire, IA (childhood home of Buffalo Bill is nearby)

If you are a fan of the show, this building is familiar. It's an old re-purposed service station.

Mike and Frank were not there but were in Ohio, picking and filming the show.  This is their old van.

Inside the bay are Mike and /Frank's private collections as well as "picks" for sale.  Most picks sell within a month or two.

Inside the second store at the site.

           There are also plenty of souvenir caps, stickers and t-shirts for sale.

Closeup of the VW motorcycle from far right corner above.  Not for sale - part of their collection

During the day, our ABS and a couple other dash warning lights came on intermittently at first and then stayed on.  We camped at Albert Lea KOA.  Beth located a dealership in Sioux Falls, SD.  The dealership indicated the defective part was under warranty and ordered replacement overnighted. We spent the evening of 9/15 at Tower Campground near the dealership. It's Wednesday 1PM, and our camper fixed.  We are back on the road   Overnight several hours west at at Belvidere KOA, SD.

Home to Moline, IA Sept 10-13

On Sept 10, we left home and stayed that night at Hidden Springs Campground (which is actually in PA), because it was after hours for Rocky Gap State Park. (MD).  Friday night we stayed at Buckeye Lake KOA near Columbus, OH.  Saturday (9/12), we stopped at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Hall of Fame Museum. Around the turn of the 20th century, the area was home to many automobile builders.  In the early days, there were dozens of car manufactories in Indiana.  Paved roads were few, and builders need a way to test and show off their offerings. The brick track was built.  Annually, there was a big 500 mile race to demonstrate durability and speed. We took a narrated bus ride around the modern paved track. We had to sit in the back and discovered the back windows give unobstructed for picture taking. In the photo below, we have entered Victory Lane and are looking back toward the Pagoda and start/finish line. The finish line is the only strip of brick surface still visible today.

Then we enjoyed the Indy 500 Hall of Fame Museum.

Here is the winner's trophy with winning cars in the background.  Winner's likenesses go n the trophy.  Look closely and see the likenesses of some early two-man teams

The first winner (1911) was a Marmon (local manufacturer which introduced innovations including aluminum body and electric starter. The car here carried no second person to be rear lookout, so other drivers protested the hazard.   Consequently, a mirror (visible over steering wheel) was installed.   First known use of rear view mirror. Winning speed = 75mph.

One hundred years later, 2011

Many other Indy winners

Many other race cars, including this pre-Indy racer that was 300 pounds over limit,  So they drilled 300lb  of metal out of th frame and drove to a win.  Most early racers were also two-seater road cars which builders were showing off

There were exhibits of other racing disciplines

Fast luxury cars of Indiana (mostly)

Fast motorcycles of old.

 The three wheeler is French.

We over-nighted at Sugar Creek Campground.  Photo taken AM of 9/13

The following night we stayed at Castle Rock KOA outside of Moline, IA