Wild West Trip Day 4

It's Sunday morning and we found

a wonderful, serene house of

worship.  This is the Chapel in the Hills

on the south side of Rapid City.

The Chapel in the Hills was dedicated on July 6, 1969,

as the home for the radio ministry of Lutheran Vespers.

The church is a special ministry of the South Dakota Synod

of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

 The Chapel in the Hills is an exact replica of the

Borgund stave church in Norway.

The Borgund stavkirke was built around the year 1150

and is considered the most completely preserved

stave church still standing in Norway. It is
one of the inspirations for the movie "Frozen".

 We came across Bambi and her

mother when we were doing a prayer walk.

 The prayer walk takes you past statues of

the apostles, angels, etc. and is under the

canopy of these beautiful Ponderosa Pines.

 We drove through the Black Hills National Forest

and into Custer State Park.  We did a little

rock climbing.

 We waited for this big boy to cross the road.

There were about 100 buffalo on the highway.

 Mountain Goats

 The needles.

 A little more rock climbing.

 Next stop, Mt. Rushmore.

Great day and I think this picture is worth

1000 words.

Wild West Trip Day 3

Growing up around Wright Patterson Air Force Base,

we learned to love airplanes and all who serve our nation.

We went to Ellsworth Air Force Base today and the

South Dakota Air and Space Museum.  Wright Patt

also had a SAC wing so we grew up around the B-52

and of course particularly interested in the Missile Defense Systems.

It's all here at Ellsworth and on display at the museum.

The Stealth Bomber was constructed and

painted to reduce radar and thermal production.

The B-52 saw active duty in the Vietnam War, Persian

Gulf War in 1991 and over Afghanistan in 2001.

 Modern engineering analyses showed the B-52’s expected

lifespan extending beyond 2040.

There are only 74 still active and 20 in reserve.

Under the belly of the beast.

We descended the stairs into an actual missile silo.

 

Minuteman II Intercontinental Ballistic Missile

 

Looking down into the silo.  This missile system

was halted in 1994 when our government

signed a nuclear treaty with the Russians. 

 

This is what computers looked like in the "old" days.

 

 

Next stop Big Bear Country.  There were also

lots of other animals here.  Much more than a zoo.

The animals are actually roaming around your cars.

Rocky Mountain Elk

This big Grizzly actually crossed

in front of us

 

As did this Black Bear

 

Some well deserved R & R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Wild West Trip Day 2 - 494 miles

First stop today is the Corn Palace

in Mitchell, South Dakota 

Great Kids Education Center

Little Indian Culture

As you can see, it's a straight shot out

to Rapid City; we don't have to turn

for 350 miles

Flexibility is the name of the travel game.

We decided to stop at the Badlands today

instead of back-tracking tomorrow.

These guys just blend in and we almost

missed them.

There is a prairie dog on that mound.

They were popping up everywhere.

Much needed pool time.



Wild West Trip Day 1 - 496 miles

We left on the 21st of July to take our

grandson, Anthony, out west.  It's extremely

hot out here and in much need of rain.  Lots of good looking crops though.

First stop State Capitol of Wisconsin in Madison

 Loved the Badgers and Anthony

View of the dome from the main floor

View of the Floor from an observation area

on the 4th floor.

Going down from the fourth floor

just had to take this picture..beautiful.

And, Yes, my thighs are burning this

morning from all these stairs.

Assembly Chambers glass ceiling.

Anthony and I walked to the top and

strolled around the dome on the

observation deck.

Governor Scott Walker was in Cleveland for

the RNC convention.

This is his conference Room

Plaque placed by Governor Walker

This is truly one of the most beautiful Capitols

we've seen.  Highly suggest you stop if

in the area.

Now on to Blue Earth, MN

Home of the Jolly Green Giant.

It's a little hard to see but Anthony is

standing above the Welcome sign.

Lots of fun here.