07/31/17 - On 7/29, I finally got my license plates on the car.  I also needed help to get one of the front screws out and the gentleman was kind enough to put the front ones on.  I had no problem with the back plate.

Today, I met Sharon at 9 30 am.  We went to Hot Springs to an active archaeological site which is finding prehistoric bones with huge animals that wondered the world many, many years ago.  The short story is a guy bought the land and was bulldozing it to build a housing development when he dug up some old large bones so he stopped and did some research and sold the land for research.  It was a huge sink hole and the mammoths would walk into and then could not get out so died.  They have at least 60 unearthed.  It was very, very interesting.  They only dig in July because then the rest of the year, they  have to clean the specimens, label them and identify them.  Picture is attached

                                             South Dakota license plate

                                            A large femur bone on the left side of picture

07/27/17 - On 7/26, I returned a call to the insurance company in New York regarding cancelling that policy when I learned that I had to return the actual New York license plates to the DMV and get a surrendering receipt from them before they can cancel the policy.  So I dug around and found a shoe box of Aunt Esther's that was big enough to hold the license, include an address to mail the receipt and a dollar for processing.  Off the the post office to get them mailed right away.  When I get the receipt, I then mail it to the insurance company to finally get my refund.  What a mess!!  I had the privilege to have a home cooked meal with Sharon and Tom and spent the evening with them.  We had a great meal of barbecue ribs, green beans and mashed potatoes.  We had a great evening of visiting.

Today, it has really cooled down, is quite windy and we are expecting a little rain but I need to try to find the right tool to change the license plates on the car and then I am all finished with my business here and now a South Dakota resident!!

07/25/17 - a few more pictures

                                             Entrance to Mt. Rushmore with the 50 state flags

                                            The closest I could get to the monument

                                                           Just one of the many tunnels

07/25/17 - Here are the pictures

                                     My tour guide Sharon and a wild donkey that loved her

                                                  A little hard to see but mountain goats
                                                  on the small rock on left.  A while spot

07/25/17 - On 7/21, I spent a lot of time with the gal who does insurance policies.  She gave me some quotes and we went over them very carefully.  She talks alot and I am not sure how much to actually believe because she is an insurance agent, a card reader, a medium, no teeth at all, has had gastric bypass but is still quite heavy.  Who knows what all is true.  Anyway, we finally got the policies done, paid for and cards printed!!  Also, decided to apply for a disabled placard from South Dakota since I can't use the California one any more.  I thought it would be nice to have and use whenever I buy alot of groceries or use when going to events that have huge parking lots.  I thought it is better to have then to leave the area and wish I had one.  So I completed the form, call one of the physicians in my old practice to see if he is OK to sign it and he was, so faxed it to him for signature.  I was told after I had the signatures, I need to to go to the courthouse to get the placard.

7/24 - I called to cancel my old insurances policies and I got that all done.  I will have refunds coming for both the car and RV.  Also, called California to tell them not to fax signature form until 7/26 since I was going to be gone all day tomorrow.  Yuya told me she already faxed it but office was closed so not sure if they will keep it. Will check later.

7/25 -  Today, I got up at 8 00 am and had plans to meet Sharon at 9 00 am at the Flying J gas station next door to the campground.  Sharon lives in Rapid City and she is the sister to my sister-in-law, Ruby.  It was so nice to have a personal tour guide and she was the driver so I could see things as we were driving.  It was wonderful.  It was a cooler day and a little cloudy so was quite comfortable.  We did a lot of driving but saw Mt. Rushmore, Crazyhorse (which is also being carved out of rock but sure has a long way to go.  I actually could not really vision the final sculpture and they wanted $27 to get in and we could really see it from a little parking lot before the entrance.  We drove on Needles Highway which was named because of all the rock formations and there saw the mountain goats.  I will attach a picture.  We were also on Iron Mountain Road which was very curvy and up and down.  We went through some tunnels and one tunnel at the end you could really see Mt. Rushmore but it was too far for the camera so that will just have to be a memory.  We drove Wildlife Loop Road and there I saw a herd of Bison, wild donkeys, pronghorns and prairie dogs.  Quite an interested ride.  We had lunch at Alpine Inn (German restaurant).  I had a German plate and it was delicious and the ambiance was wonderful.  It was a wonderful day.   When I got back, I checked with the office regarding the fax and learned that she had it and also they can go to the courthouse for me!!  So I gave her all the forms and they plan to go tomorrow.  She also had my license plates for both car and RV so will try to put those on tomorrow.  This is very long so will put pictures on next post.

07/20/17 -  Today I had a bit of a separation anxiety.  I had to give up my California license which I figured out I have had for 25 years.  I did get my South Dakota driver's license and now my information is going to the court house either tomorrow or Monday to get my license plates for both the RV and the car.  So I am getting my business done.  I can't believe it has been a week that I have been here so now that business is almost all done, I plan to do some sightseeing.  I won't get much sleep until after  2 am because they have a severe thunderstorm warning out with wind and hail.  We are on the edge of it so am hoping it will pass over us.

                                          Picture is horrible but need to record  this moment

7/18/17 - Today, I found a farmer's market and it was very small but one stand was selling tomatoes and I decided to buy a couple to see if they would be good.  They were delicious.  The vendor told me that on Saturdays, it was a much bigger farmer's market and that I should come back and I probably will since those few tomatoes will be gone.  The problem is they are rather expensive at $3.49 a pound!!  I then came back and started my process for putting South Dakota license on the RV, car and getting my driver's license.  We had another thunderstorm tonight but NO wind so it was OK.

07/17/17 - Not sure what I did wrong but I could not type under the picture of the previous post.  That was President Hoover.

                                                                The Chapel

                                                             I could not resist.  Outside of
                                                             the log cabin

07/17/17 - Today, I got up by 8 30 am which is early for me but I wanted to try and be out of the RV soon after 9 am to run my planned errands.  I needed to go to the bank, to the post office and then I tried to find the Chamber of Commerce and that was really a mess.  I drove around one building three times and stopped once and went in to the reception area to ask where the office was to be told that he did not know.  Then I tried again and this time ended up at the courthouse so went in to ask there and  be told it was just two blocks down the street and was a red brick building.  The red brick building was there I had been twice before.  So I parked again and someone was walking across the lawn and I asked him and he was quite knowledgeable and I finally found the office.  I got some valuable information so am set with the sightseeing things that I am planning.  During my drive, I noticed on several different streets they had statues of the presidents on the corners.  I took a picture of President Hoover.  I will attach a picture.  The statues were very interesting.  I had seen some information regarding a chapel up on a hill so I decided to check that out.  It is located in a little park and is very Norwegian. The gift shop had a grass roof, they are a small log cabin and then the chapel.  They still have active Lutheran services in the chapel.  When I got to the chapel, there were about 15 or so individuals and they were singing the old fashion hymns from song books that were in the back. They had great harmony so I decided to join them.  It was a really neat experience.  I later learned the kids were in a children church choir.  The families were from Billings, Montana.  I came back for lunch, worked on the puzzle, made some phone calls since I need to repair the vent in the bathroom.  Then we had quite the thunderstorm.  I don't mind the lightening and thunder but I hate the wind that comes with.  Tonight it even shook the RV a little so I was a little uneasy but we made it through.

07/16/17 - On 7/14, I finally got to move into the space that is assigned to me.  It was noon before I got things hooked up since it was rather hot and humid and I was working in the sun but finally everything was working.  Off to take a cool shower and relax.

7/15, 7/16, things are quiet around here since they office is not open on the week ends.  I have been trying to stay cool since we are in the high 90's.  Today, it is better because it is very windy so have had a breeze all day so does not seem as hot.  I got a puzzle out to put together so my time has been going really fast.

07/13/17 - I left this morning around 8 30 am since I could not go back to sleep.  I had about 270 miles to Rapid City, South Dakota and all I could think about was that I would be off the road after today and just to get going.  I stopped for gas, stopped for lunch and got here just about 1 pm since I also gained an hour.  I am now in the mountain time zone.  Of course, being tired, filthy since no shower for the past three days and just wanting to get set up so I can do nothing tomorrow, I learned at the office that my intended space was occupied for tonight and that I would have to set up temporally in another space for one night.  I was so upset but tried to be kind because I don't want to set up tonight and then put everything away and re-set up tomorrow.  I am also in a 30 amp and not a 50 amp.  So I decided to take things in stride and just hooked up electricity so I could use the computer and my phone so I did not need to use the generator.  I can't move until noon time tomorrow.  I sure have found the northern campgrounds much  less accommodating than the southern campgrounds.  This campground is very, very small and no patio.  The office is quite nice and not sure yet where laundry is, or is they have cable or wi fi.  I was to frustrated to ask any questions.  Just wanted to get the car off and get parked.  Will see if I have a better day tomorrow.  Traveling did go very well.

07/12/17 - I need to go back and write something about last night in the parking lot at Walmart.  There was a small RV parked across the parking lot from me and it appeared that they also planned to stay for the night.  There were a couple of 5th wheelers that pulled in but then did leave.  After while, I noticed that two people were walking the parking lot near me so I was watching to see what was happening when all of a sudden, I only saw the female so I was hoping the male was not messing around with my car because I could not see him anymore.  Soon, here comes they RV from across the parking lot and they parked one row away from me.  I am not sure why but it was interesting.  It was rather warm and humid and when I was ready to go to bed the bedroom was just so much warmer than the living/dining area so I opted to sleep on the couch.  I did fall asleep but then it cooled off and I went to bed.  I am not sure but my sleep was rather hit and miss last night.

I got up at 7 30 am but really did not want to leave until at least 9 am because it was a short day or driving.  I did take my time in getting things back ready for the trip and left a little before 9 am because I decided to waste more time at the rest area where I planned for lunch.  When I stopped at the rest area, it was a little warm but I opened some windows and had a nice breeze.  I decided to lay on the couch and read a little before I had lunch since it was only a little after 11 am.  I must have fallen asleep because they next thing I knew it was 12 24 pm. I got some lunch and then took off for Mitchell, South Dakota where I was spending the night.  I had good traveling and got to the Walmart 2 40 pm according to the GPS.  I found a great stop and even tho it is in the high 80's I have a great breeze so things are very good. A few minutes ago, another RV pulled in behind me since there was room and there is at least 3 across the parking lot from me.   It has been a good day and evening.

07/11/17 - On 7/10, I did some chores in the RV and started to put some things away to get ready for the next move.

Today, I got up at 8 15 am and started to put everything away.  It was nice because I was able to put the car on the back since I had an empty space behind me before moving the RV.  I am not sure when I left but my first stop was to get some propane which was just down the road.  I had to wait a little since the gal was busy with another customer.  My next stop was a gas station since I was told to full up if I had used a quarter of a tank since the fill up before, I did not realize was diesel #1 which does not gel and is used in the winter time.  I could not figure out why it was so expensive so was a little upset but two different people told me I should be OK.  Now, I know to always put in diesel #2.  I had a good traveling day and even got to drive most of it on interstates.  Going thru Minneapolis was a little tricky but I made it.  I am now in Mankota, Minnesota and this Walmart has signs posted "no truck or trailer parking" but I am not sure where to go so plan to stay and see if they come and make me move!!  Maybe, I will need to sleep on the couch so I will for sure hear them if they come!!  There is a semi truck here as well.  The farther south I drove the warmer it got.  Right now is it 81 degrees and they are predicting rain around 11 00pm tonight.  Just hope it is not a bad storm.

07/08/17 - On 7/6, I left at 11 00 am for Hayward, Wisconsin.  I have a cousin (Mabel Mast) that lives there and I have not seen for at least 15 years.  I checked and had 75 miles from Duluth to Hayward but my total mileage was about 91 miles because I am 15 miles from Duluth and she is out in the country from Hayward.  I got there around 1 00 pm and we had such a good time just visiting and catching up.  She then decided she wanted to take me out for dinner and there was a Mexican Restaurant down the road so we went there for dinner.  When we were ready to leave, a storm came up and it poured rain and some hail and lots of wind.  We got home and into the garage which was great.  It did storm for quite a while but settled down.  During the evening, her granddaughter stopped for a short time.  We finally cut off the visiting and went to bed after 10 pm.

7/7 - I had planned to leave around 10 am but we started talking again and the next thing I knew it was 11 15am.  Mabel then asked me to stay for lunch.  She had made a wonderful chili soup and we had crackers and cheese.  Because of severe headaches, she has been on a special bean diet and she gave me a piece of chocolate cake made out of bean flour.  I have not tasted it yet.  I left her house at round 1 pm and was not on the road very long before I got into lots of rain.  At one time, I pulled off on a side road to wait out the sheets of rain that were coming down.  When it decreased, I took off again.  It rained off and on until I almost got to Duluth.  I got back to the RV a little after 3 pm.

7/8 - We have nice weather today and just opened some windows since it is 75 degrees and I need to air out the RV.  I did some chores around the RV, wrote a birthday card that will be late and missed the mailman at the campground so found the post office about 5 mles away so took a little ride and saw more territory.  That post office is hidden on a little road off of another small road and there is absolutely nothing else there but the post office.  Really interesting.  Now, plan to do some crocheting and then want to do laundry yet today sometime.  I am in slow gear so not sure when I will get motivated!!

07/04/17 - On 6/30, I did some chores in the RV, walked to the office to get some change for a birthday card and asked a little bit about the cruise and the train ride and was told that the cruise was good but the train ride did a little bit of Lake Superior but the majority of the ride went along residential back yards and that did not sound very interesting.

7/1, I made the reservation for the two hour cruise on Lake Superior for Monday 7/3 since it would be a little warmer day.

7/3, I drove to downtown Duluth to the water front for the cruise that was scheduled at 2 25pm.
The cruise was full but I did get to sit on the top deck.  It was a three tier boat.  It was very interesting but most of the trip was around the bay area.  We did have to go under a lift bridge which was interesting.  We cruised out on Lake Superior and saw at less three huge cargo ships that were docked out there to wait for the signal to come into the dock to get loaded.  One of they had been there already for 17 hours and still waiting.  We then turned around and sailed back the other way to learn about all the loading docks that were there.  One of them was General Mills, a huge coal area and the last one we saw was loading iron.  I am glad I had that experience.  I was trying to take a picture of the loading but my phone camera decided not to respond.  I stopped off at a Verizon store on the way back to the RV to find out what in the world went wrong to learn that if the phone and camera is exposed to direct sunlight for a while, it will shut down.  What a mess.  Now I have no picture of the loading.

                                            The lift bridge that is up as we passed under it