Trip Update

Mitchel is driving, and there are too many bugs on the windshield to see out, so I'll catch up on our trip. Today is Thursday and we are just West ofSioux Falls SD. Two days ago we had a wonderful stay with the Carnines at their ranch in Nebraska. Dan, the third generation Carnine to run the ranch, generously took the afternoon off to show Mitchel and me around to his enormous sheds to see the amazing rolling stock of cultivator-fertilizer-planter machine, harvesters , stackers, semi trucks, etc,and even a Piper Cub plane to check on his cattle. Between the cattle, alfalfa, corn, and beans they are farming 6,000 acres. Forrest, Dan's Dad grew up doing all the work on horseback, now Dan and all his kids who are old enough drive ATVs. Forrest's dad homesteded in the early 1900's in a sod house. It is wonderful to see a family holding and successfully farming the land to their fathers'. We left the Carnine Ranch on Wednesday, drove up to see Mt. Rushmore, and camped in a lovely campground last night in the town of Wall, SD, famous for its featured Wall Drug Store. This morning we toured the Badlands, and we are headed to a small town of Jackson, SD for tonight. Tomorrow we are looking forward to visiting with Jim and Carmen Loveland in Mason City IA. Jim was a Law nforcement Professional (LEP) who stayed in my guesthouse a couple of years ago, and we became good friends. Time to stop for fuel and clean he bugs off the windshield! Love, Liz