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The Kitchen Table

Out and about in the west

11 years ago

Thought I'd say hello ..haven't been around lately because we are on a 6/8 week RV tour in some of the western states. Having a blast and. Discovering the beauty...we are at the moment headed toward Spearfish SD. Loved Yellowstone...just beautiful. We have been gone close to a month now and every vista more amazing than the previous..awed by the beauty of this wonderful country.

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Comments (21)

marilyn_c
11 years ago
I know you are having a wonderful time! I'm a little envious here!
missmaggierock
11 years ago
Ruthie

It is so good to hear you are healthy and happy and
having a good time.

Enjoy, Enjoy!!
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patti43
11 years ago
Ruthie, I'd just love to take that trip--enjoy every minute. I'm envious, too!
ruthieg__tx
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks Ladies. We will be here in Spearfish SD for a few days. Have to see mt Rushmore and of course Deadwood and the gold mining Museum..lots to see and do here. John has gone to get our rental car so we can get started.

To tell you the truth doing an RV trip was something I really didn't care a thing about but now we are wishing we had started a few years back...when we were younger. I guess we will have a few more good years, God willing. We have been on several cruises and decided that we wanted to see our own beautiful country. We are just amazed at the beauty.
kacram
11 years ago
I didn't know South Dakota was in the West! ahahaha,..
sorry, couldn't resist! Glad you are having fun! Wish I could tag along!
jennmonkey
11 years ago
Ruthie I just got back from a road trip around the west, and South Dakota was my favorite part! Deadwood was AWESOME! We really want to go back there. Saw Mt. Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Monument (check that out, it's right by Rushmore). Definitely go through the Badlands Nat'l Park too. It blew my mind!
two25acres
11 years ago
Definately try to get to Crazy Horse, you won't be sorry. It helps to understand how Mt. Rushmore came to be.
The black hills in general are a great area to spend time. Deadwoods fun, can't remember if Kevin Costner still has a resturaunt there or not but if it's there, the food was good. He also has a native american tourist stop I believe it's in Spearfish. It's interesting.
Nita__AZ
11 years ago
Ruthie don't miss Custer State Park, it is wonderful. You could spend days in there. I have been following your trip on FB. Have a great time and see as much as you can. We have a spectacular country.

Here is a link that might be useful: Custer State Park
iowagirl2006
11 years ago
Kat - believe it or not - South Dakota is in the West! The "West" was basically everything west of the Mississippi. Although now it would be considered the Midwest, culturally it most definitely Western!
Jodi_SoCal
11 years ago
Ruthie, you coming to Southern California (Orange County, Disneyland-land)? If so, would love to see you.

Jodi-
tami_ohio
11 years ago
I thought maybe you were on the road! I'm glad you are having a great time. If you go to Deadwood, look to see if one of the "cowboys" is around 7' tall, with thighs about the size of a small tree. This guy was HUGE!!!! Of course he may not be there anymore, as it was in the mid 1990's when we were there. He took part in one of the gun fights when we were there.

Tami
lazypup
11 years ago
South Dakota is in the west, North Carolina is in the south and West Virginia is in the east,,,now I am confused....LOL. Now if you want the statistic that will really blow your mind,,,Los Vegas, Nevada is west of Los Angelos, California.

Years ago I drove 18 wheelers running all 48 continuous states plus 5 provinces of Canada and three trips up the Alcan to Alaska, and just as Ruthie says, I could not help but marvel at the diversity and beauty of this country......

Now Ruthie, allow me to share a thought with you that used to go through my head constantly.......As your wizzing down the interstate at 70mph in your air conditioned comfort, try to imagine what it must have been like for our forefathers to make that trip in a horse drawn wagon in a wagon train that was making an average of 10 to 12 miles a day and passing through arid regions where it was 50 to 100 miles between rivers or water holes.
sheilajoyce_gw
11 years ago
I always think about that, Lazypup, when we fly over the purple mountains and the flat arid lands of the west. I look down from my airplane window and wonder how on earth did they manage it.

A neighbor once told me about visiting her relatives in Arizona. Their family had come by covered wagon to settle there. She said they were long-lived and amazingly healthy, strong people who never got sick. Survival of the fittest!
ruthieg__tx
Original Author
11 years ago
Not going to make ot to California. We wanted to do iton a separate trip...I have to tell you all as mentioned by Lazypup, we are constantly remembering what occurred in this area and what it must have been like. Spearfish Canyon was breathtaking...

Jodi I'll let you know when we do California...

Thanks everyone for your responses.
nicole__
11 years ago
The mammoth dig in Hot Springs SD is cool too! Jewel cave & wind cave....awesome!

Don't forget Devils Tower in Wyoming! We saw that and thought it was fantastic!
kacram
11 years ago
see, when I think of the west I think...
Washington, Idaho, Montana
Oregon, California, Nevada,
Arizona, Utah, Wyoming and Colorado! lol

Geography has never been my strong suit, but I do think
Las Vegas is East of Los Angeles. If you meant Los
Angeles. I've never heard of Los Angelos.

I always think about the travelers of long ago also.
Also how hard it was to homestead. Crazy hard!

It sound wonderful Ruthie!
lazypup
11 years ago
Kat,,,My spelling was wrong but not my georgraphy,,,that is a popular question on Jeopardy...

The California coast curves inland as you go south...if you check the longitude lines on a map you will see that Los Vegas, Nv is actually west of Los Angeles,Calif.
lazypup
11 years ago
I STAND CORRECTED,,,it is Reno,Nevada that is west of Los Angeles,California
OklaMoni
11 years ago
Ruthie, the distance you cover in one hour in your RV, I cover in one day on my bicycle trips. I know, how awesome those areas you mention are. I have seen some on bike trips, others on car trips.

If you go through Oklahoma City on your way home, holler! I would love to meet you for an ice cream or something.

Moni
Granlan_TX
11 years ago
Sounds so wonderful Ruthie and I'm happy you and your Beloved have chosen to enjoy your retirement years in this way. What a blessing!
Jodi_SoCal
11 years ago
Great Ruthie, hope to hear from you as soon as you know.

Jodi-

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