We visited the Pipestone National Monument in Sothern Minnesota where we watched a very good video on the history and culture of the Indians who quarry the pipestone which is up to 100 feet below the hard quartzite to the soft pipestone (catlinite). Ask Karen t show you her pipestone earrings and necklace.

Quartzite along the trail

Face of Oracle

Winnewissa Falls

Smooth sumac, one of the plants smoked in the pipes

The sky turned ominous so we walked faster!

Sorry for the lack of posts the last few days but the internet connections were slow and not available. I did finish another stained glass window for one of our club members. Karen and I did not go into the park. We pushed to get to Yellowstone and were tired from all the stuff going on with a stent installed about 10 days before we left, the house and are still waiting for a final closing date. I am posting some of the photos taken by our friends. We did enjoy ourselves and glad we made the trip. We are on our way back to Ohio and taking our time, walking every day and relaxing. Our first stop was Billings, MT then Sundance, WY. We stopped in Wall Drug for lunch and another 5 cent cup of coffee as well as their wonderful fresh baked donuts then arrived in Oacoma, SD this afternoon. Tomorrow off to Pipestone National Monument in MN.

Grizzly in the snow

Our camping family

WOW, the weather man was correct. We got up and the temps were in the high 30s and got to a high of 42 and after lunch it started to snow! We had a pancake and egg breakfast in the unheated shelter; it was enclosed but not heated. I continued to work on the stained glass window which was a challenge because even though I could cut and assemble inside the trailer I had to go outside to grind. Karen read and colored.  We had our potluck dinner and I was going to make my Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler but did not want to be outside in the snow and cold so we decided to do it later in the week. We just got a notice from the park to disconnect our water hose tonight due to freeze warnings tonight! 

BURRRRR!

 

Yesterday we kind of relaxed at least from traveling. Karen is rearranging the 5^th wheel as we go to find the best solution for living in the RV full time. I spent the day working on another stained glass window for friends we will see at the Yellowstone rally.

Today we left Hardin, MT early, had a good travel day and arrived at west Yellowstone about 1:30. We were greeted by our friends and socialized and talked about the week. Temps will be in the 30s tonight and 40s tomorrow but getting warmer as the week goes.

Here are some photos on the way to Yellowstone

When we got up this morning in Wall Drug, SD the temp had dropped from the 80s to the 50s so we had the fireplace going to break the chill. I received an e-mail from our realtor that the house appraisal was good and now we wait for a closing date, YEA!  As we prepared to leave, it started to rain a bit. Once we were on the highway this rainbow greeted us like a sign from God. The rain soon stopped and had sunshine the rest of the day.

We are now in Hardin, MT for two days for a bit of R&R then off to Yellowstone Sunday Morning.

The last couple of days were just travel, good weather and good traveling. Tuesday we were in Clear Lake Iowa and yesterday Sibley IA traveling on I 90 across Minnesota then back down into Iowa to meet up with some friends, from our Cardinal RV Club, who ask me to do a stained glass window for their RV door. I have done several windows for our club members and have orders for more. We had a good visit, installed the window and had a good dinner with Brad and Gayle and their friends.

Here is the finished window, installed and at night

Today we traveled to Wall Drug South Dakota and enjoyed a 5 cent cup of coffee, dinner and did a little shopping then ice cream. Now to rest for the evening.

Today Karen and I did something we thought would never happen. We left our driveway on Meloy for the last time probably to never return. Our home of 33 years sold in only one day with multiple offers and we are in the final stages just waithig for the appraisal report then closing.

We are on a journey to Yellowstone National Park for a rally of our Cardinal RV Club who have become like family to us. We will be with them for five days then head back to our new home at Friendship Acres in Atwater, Ohio where we will stay to finish up some projects and doctor appointments. We then depart for the winter to Ocala Florida and return home to Ohio the first part of April.

I will try and publish something daily as we make this journey and share it with our friends and family.

Today we drove 439 miles to Utica, IL and had a very good travel day, now to relax from all the work and stress leading up to today.