What a snow storm!!

It started on Monday evening, and went for the better part of 2 days nonstop!! When it was all said and done, we ended up with 18 inches of snow here in Custer!! The roads were a mess, but the crews quickly got it under control! Just this past Sunday, I was setting outside drinking coffee right here!! About mid afternoon, I cruised up to Mt. Rushmore because I wanted to see what it looked like with all the snow.....the roads were in really good shape, and I had the place almost to myself!! Such a beautiful part of the country, these Black Hills!!So happy to be here!!!

The beauty of the Badlands

Took off at daylight this morning to go and explore the Badlands.....a short drive from Custer and it started out real nice and not to chilly. It seemed I had the countryside all to myself, until I rounded a curve and found this character...... He was grazing along the edge of the road, and seemed oblivious to my prescence for at least 15 minutes. The buffalo by the way have the right of way here, and do not like it when you honk your horn or holler at them! I didn't do either by the way!! He finally looked my way, snorted, and ambled into the grass, stopping only to give me "the look" as I snapped his picture. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A few miles farther along, and I saw some people stopped and out taking pictures and pointing....pointing at what I didn't know until I asked.....off in the distance, there were at least a dozen horses, apparently wild and free, grazing......I had to zoom the full 30x to get this, but it was worth it! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The sun was now out nice and bright, but still very few people here.....still early in the season. I continued my drive, enjoying the scenery, looking for that one shot that would sum up my visit..... Pretty cool huh?? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On my way back to Custer this afternoon, I got off US16 and onto SR244, which is the main drive by Mt. Rushmore. Again, virtually no other cars out here but mine, so waited until I had just the right spot for the perfect shot.... And then just another mile along got this one, much closer, but still had the zoom on full power..... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ And that pretty well wrapped up my day.....weather is to change drastically tonight into Tuesday, with up to 15" of new snow and dangerous bitter cold winds! May hibernate the next few days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Greetings from South Dakota!

Hello all!! Yeah I've been off the blog awhile, but am back at it again, trolls be damned! Got bored setting around the midwest watching it snow then warm up and then snow some more!! YUCK!! Decided it was time to take the STEALTH trailer on the road again and use it for why I had it built in the first place---to go and explore!! Have accepted a workamping gig in Custer, SD for the season, and have arrived safely this morning.......I was out here 2 years ago, at a bookstore up the road a bit at Mount Rushmore, and loved every minute of it! Now I am farther south about 20 miles and as I was coming in this morning just had to pull off and snap this beauty...thats Crazy Horse Memorial, from about 2 miles away at 20x zoom......they are definitely making progress, but have a long way to go! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Will check back in after I get settled in and situated. Take care everyone!!

Where did he go??????????

I have to wonder, where did my little troll go?? He has not sent me any messages for months now.....maybe he went to prison, very strong possibility, since it was revealed on another blog whose owner told me my little troll was a pedophile!! Must be locked away someplace without internet access.....oh well, we don't need a pedophile blogging anyway. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Still in Chicago this week, but it is definitely cold up here!! Work is going very well and we have months and months scheduled! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catch you all later! Everyone, stay warm!

Back at it!!

I know its been a while since I posted, but the spammers were getting so crazy, I just shut down for a break!! So many comments were coming in from bloggers overseas that included a link to their website seeking free advertising that I just said the heck with the blog until I got a handle on it. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After a relaxing visit to Florida back in December, I headed west to Arizona for a few weeks. Camped in the desert on BLM land outside Quartzsite, and Yuma as well. Temps were mild and had a great time! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The company I worked for last year called me 2 weeks ago wanting me to come back on the road with them on a new project in Ace stores, so I said OK and here I am! Presently in the Chicago market for the first 6 weeks, then heading into the Grand Rapids, MI market for a couple months. The work is similar to that of last year, and the money is good.....and it all just goes into the travel fund! We have enough work scheduled right now to get thru April.....then I might head back out west for a few weeks. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hope all is well with you wherever you are! Stay safe, and stay warm!!

Shell Mound State Park

Just outside of Cedar Key, FL is an area known as Indian Shell Mound. Thousands of years ago, Indians inhabited the area, and generation after generation they raised their children, buried their dead, and lived peaceful lives, on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico.

Their sources of food included abundant wildlife, as well as even more abundant seafood! For decades, they tossed the bones and the shells not far from the waters edge, and the result were mounds reaching heights of 28 feet, stretching far along their camp boundary....the mounds served multiple purposes, including a windbreak as well as a means of protection from other Indians attacking them.

The entire area is now a state park and an archaeological site, and has multiple boat launches, a small campground with full hookup sites, as well as a walking trail to the mounds area itself.

The Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge surrounds the area, and development will likely never happen. Rich in history, but other than that just not much to see or do here.....but the views are spectacular!

Meet Katie and Jess

Every now and then, I meet some very interesting people! Saturday out at the Tiki bar behind the Low Key Hideaway in Cedar Key, FL I met not 1 but 2 very interesting as well as pretty young ladies, who are on a very interesting journey of their own!! Here they are.............

Thats Katie on the left, Jess on the right....these girls are fascinating to talk to! I could NOT believe what they are doing!! Rather than even try to explain it here, I will just refer you to their website---katieandjessieonaboat.com and you can read all about it for yourselves! They are on a once in a lifetime journey, that they will remember all their lives! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I know that if these young ladies were my daughters, I would be worried sick about them, but I would also be so proud of them for what they are doing! Hell, I'm proud of them now! Go to their site, and tell me how many 23 year old girls you know that are doing ANYTHING even remotely close to what they are doing!! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Katie.....Jessie.....I am very glad that our paths crossed! You are amazing young women, on a great journey! I will be following your voyage! I will pray for you to have smooth sailing, and may the wind be always at your backs. I am very proud of both of you!