Mount Rushmore, Chicago and beyond!!

Saturday, 24 October 2009 20:28:18 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  USA

CALLING CALLING!!
CALLING..... CALLING..........we are trying to get into contact with Sandy and Margaret from Vermont, who we met in Alaska, earlier this year..........we could be in your area soon and wondered if we could meet up again? Please send a message if you get this in time!!
Thursday, 22 October 2009 16:05:34 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  USA

Montana and beyond in pics!

Thursday, 22 October 2009 16:04:04 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  USA

All the way to Michigan........
SO- we made it out of MONTANA!! Nothing personal but we would not want to out-stay our welcome! We first travelled through to Billings and camped at Trailer Village and then went off to see the “Little Bighorn Battlefield”. After studying this event for my GCSE’s, the battle and events of that time all make a little more sense to me now that we have visited the site. Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer was only 34 years old when he commanded a regiment of 1,200 men on the 1876 expedition to the Black Hills of South Dakota. The expedition lasted 60 days, 48 of those spent marching an average of 18 miles per day. Twelve days were spent resting and a total of 880 miles was covered in the 60 days. Custer decided to split his regiment into groups and was unprepared for the great number and fighting power of the Lakota and Cheyenne Indians that his group of approximately 220, were to meet their deaths at the hands of......when the guns fell silent and the smoke and dust of the battle had lifted, no U.S Cavalry soldier had survived......this event is very significant in history, as although the Indians won this battle, they subsequently lost the war against the military’s efforts to end their independent and nomadic way of life. The Devil’s Tower in Wyoming was a very unusual National Monument. Today, the massive columns are popular with climbers. Approximately 5,000 climbers visit in a year and there are over 220 routes that have been used in climbing the tower! The Junior Ranger programme was carried out to the best of abilities – in the snow! The Jewel Cave National Monument in South Dakota was another hit for the budding Junior Rangers and we are sure that we saw a cougar footprint in the snowy trail around the grounds. In Custer, South Dakota, we camped at the French Creek Camp and we would like to thank Rock and Diane for being able to help us out once again. Phil has been unable to purchase any new footware in our time away – as he needs to have a heel raise. Rock and his Shoe Repair shop(Cobblers) were able to help Phil to get some dry boots, in all this snow! Mount Rushmore, was to us another place that we had heard of – but it meant so much more to see it ‘for real’. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum was given the task of designing and overseeing the creation of the President’s sculptures on Mount Rushmore. The memorial commemorates four significant presidents who worked towards the foundation, preservation, and continental expansion of the United States. First, was the very first U.S President, George Washington, who was commander of the Revolutionary Army. Second was Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, third President and the mastermind of the Louisiana Purchase. Thirdly, Theodore Roosevelt, who promoted construction of the Panama Canal and as 26th President also ignited progressive causes such as conservation and economic reform. Finally, we saw the face of America’s 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, whose leadership restored the Union and ended slavery on U.S soil. The sculptures were worked upon for 6 and a -half years. However, due to financial constraints and the seasonal nature of the work, the whole project was not completed for a total of 14 years – 1927-1941.It is now recognised as a National Memorial...... Onwards we travelled – staying a night along the Cheyenne River, through more of South Dakota. At Sioux Falls, we stayed at the Red Barn RV Park and we all enjoyed meeting Rascal the Raccoon! As we trekked further through Minnesota and into Wisconsin (we are on a mission!) we stopped off at La Crosse, and the Pettibone Resort along the Mississippi River. So we got into Michigan, through Wisconsin, Minnesota, some more of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and finally Michigan – we made it to meet back with Phil’s brother Steve and Penny – all set just right for a Saturday night!! And all the rest, as they say, is history! Five States in a day – no worries!! We shall have to return to see more of those States that we whizzed through – as our time is running short this time and we are sure they also have lots to offer!
Thursday, 22 October 2009 15:59:15 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  USA

All the way to Michigan........
FACTOIDS: • At the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, the scattered marble markers record the approximate locations where the Seventh Cavalry soldiers, scouts and civilians fell in battle against Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians on 25-26th June, 1876. • Custer National Cemetery contains burials that are historic to Northern Plains events as well as burial of veterans and dependents from 1879-present. • The Devil’s Tower was proclaimed by President Theodore Roosevelt as America’s first National Monument on September 24th, 1906. It may also be referred to as a ‘Natural Monument’. • The Devil’s Tower began its creation about 50 million years ago, as molten magma was forced into sedimentary rocks above it and cooled underground. Today the tower rises 867 feet from its base and stands 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River. • There are many different versions, from each local Indian tribe, that tells a legend of how the Devil’s Tower came into being. The Tower is considered sacred by many American Indians and plays an important role in many of their stories, and traditional cultural beliefs. • The Black-Tailed Prairie Dog, a type of burrowing rodent, is a social animal that lives with many others in ‘towns’. The Prairie Dog town at Devil’s Tower National Monument is approximately 40 acres in size. Prairie-dog tunnels may extend downward from 3-10 feet and then horizontally for another 10-15 feet. • In 1927, then President, Calvin Coolidge dedicated the worksite at Mount Rushmore with the words, “ The union of these four Presidents (Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt & Lincoln) carved on the face of the ever-lasting Black Hills of South Dakota.....will be distinctly American in its conception, in its magnitude, in its meaning.....” • “A monument’s dimensions should be determined by the importance to civilisation of the events commemorated .....Let us place there, carved high, as close to heaven as we can, the words of our leaders, their faces, to show posterity what matter of men they were. Then breathe a prayer that these records will endure until the wind and the rain alone shall wear them away.” (Gutzon Borglum, Master Sculptor). • During the fourteen years of construction, over 360 men worked on the Mount Rushmore, with an average of 35 men working at any one time. • The faces of the 4 President’s are 60 feet from chin to forehead. The Sparkle in Lincoln’s eye is a block of granite 12 inches long! • Mount Rushmore was named, in the 1880’s after a New York Lawyer who was being driven through the Black Hills. He happened to ask the name of the particular mountain, and as it had no name, it was decided have it named after him. Rushmore later donated $5,000 towards the carving of the monument that bore his name. • The Jewel Caves in South Dakota are among the longest known caves in the world. It was given National Monument status by Theodore Roosevelt in 1908.
Thursday, 22 October 2009 15:58:06 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  USA

All the way to Michigan........
WILDLIFE HITS: • Mountain Goats • Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs • Red Squirrels • Cougar footprint in the snow? • White-Tailed Deer • Prong-Horned Antelope • Wild Turkeys
Thursday, 22 October 2009 15:57:17 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  USA

All the way to Michigan........
FACTOIDS: • Most of the reasons why Montana’s official nickname is ‘TheTreasure State’ are located in Gold West Country, where gold, silver, copper and sapphires may be found. • The Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, may be the world’s most famous geyser! The eruption heights range from 106 feet to more than 180 feet, averaging 130 feet. 3,700 to 8,400 gallons of water are expelled per eruption, depending on the length of the eruption. • Just prior to eruption, water temperatures at the vent of the Old Faithful reach 204 degrees F (95.6 degrees C).
Thursday, 22 October 2009 15:56:11 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  USA

All the way to Michigan........
CALLING..... CALLING..........we are trying to get into contact with Sandy and Margaret from Vermont, who we met in Alaska, earlier this year..........we could be in your area soon and wondered if we could meet up again? Please send a message if you get this in time!!
Thursday, 22 October 2009 15:54:59 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  USA

Yellowstone and Beyond-in Pictures.......

Saturday, 10 October 2009 06:59:08 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  USA

Bozeman to Bozeman............................
We had a comfortable night in the Bear Valley RV Park at Bozeman, and were happy when our West Yellowstone friends popped in to pay us a visit! They were even brave enough to offer to take our children to the toy shop and Jemma and Ben are still eternally grateful! As we left Bozeman – Livingston bound, Nessie decided to have another rest, along the high-way. We met Joe (of Millers Towing, Bozeman), who towed us all along to Livingston and to the Yellowstone Country (Sprinter Dealership). Everyone here was also extremely kind to us and we got settled into a spot right outside the garage. To cut a very long story short – and after many phone calls from Dave (the Service Manager), it was discovered that the USA only have a very limited number of data leads and software, needed for a Mercedes Benz, to read a fault in the computerised transmission system.. We would need this to be able to ‘read’ the system and determine what Nessie’s trouble was......we left it in capable hands and took a walk around Livingston, where we found a park for the children to use some energy. We were kindly loaned a car and took the stranded opportunity to have a very full day back in the Yellowstone National Park. It was great to see the geysers, boiling mud and steaming pools, especially the cave that sounds as if a dragon lives inside there! The children did their work to become Yellowstone Junior Rangers and we watched the Old Faithful Geyser erupt into the rainbow filled skies. We saw a variety of wildlife throughout the day, including a black wolf. Back in Livingstone it was determined that we would have to move 220 miles further west to the Mercedes Dealership in Missoula, as they were able to get the necessary permission from Mercedes and to be sent the diagnostic equipment. We met Joe for the second time (NO thanks to Good Sams RV Roadside Assistance , who refused to cover our next tow), and Joe kindly towed us all on, to the one and only Mercedes dealer in Montana, (Demarois of Missoula). Well, actually, Phil found himself driving the tow truck, across Montana, with Nessie on the back, for 100 miles or so! This was to give Joe a break as he would be turning around to head home and this was very strange as Phil had mentioned to us about how he would love to drive truck in Montana –just as soon as we had gotten here a couple of weeks ago! The roads are so big and so empty....another dream come true......... We would like to thank Linda (customer Services) and Dan (service manager) for all their help towards getting us back on the road! Another stranded weekend, this time in Missoula, so we explored the town and all enjoyed a swim at Currents. Come Monday morning and Dan was able to use the diagnostic software to determine a problem with the electric pump, in the transmission system. Due to more red tape, and the fact that this part was ‘not allowed’ access into the USA from Mercedes.......we had to make do with a whack of the hammer to get Nessie going again! This method was successful until Cardwell RV Park and then the next day Nessie was feeling worse. We eased her back to Bozeman and back to, our now good friend– Joe the tow truck driver’s and his workshop! Phil had to go ahead and order the part from England and we would like to thank Alex, of Western Truck Rental, in Devon, for all his time and trouble, for the second time on our travels. As we waited in Bozeman for the part to arrive, we would like to thank Joe and his wife Sharlene, for taking such good care of us all. Phil has enjoyed spending time with Joe and being involved in yet more towing work and mechanics back in the garage!!Nothing like being put back to work! We were kindly lent another vehicle and landed back to see our West Yellowstone friends for a long weekend! We all enjoyed spending more time with the family and Phil got to do more towing work with Craig of Westgate Towing. The children were pleased to go to the boy’s school for lunch time and it was strange to take the time to remember what a school setting looks like! Upon leaving West Yellowstone, we cruised 32 miles back into Yellowstone National Park and we felt like we had been here – done that –as our loaned car came to an abrupt stop! What is it with us and Yellowstone? We sure know some tow truck driver’s around here now ...and as we had no cell phone reception – Phil was kindly given a lift to a nearby ranch – and after a phone call we were back in the hands of Joe! Phil got a lift back to us and had a good chat with Sisco and Aaron. The word of mouth between locals is fantastic around here and we need to say thanks to Westgate Towing, who had also been alerted to our troubles and were already on the way to rescue us themselves! Back in Bozeman and the snow really took hold- Jemma and Ben loved to have time back in the snow! Our ‘PART’ arrived on time (THANK-YOU ALEX) and Phil was able to mend Nessie himself! (With the help of Joe, his workshop, and his tools!) We were taken aback to see that the part in question was actually made in Italy. Our test drive run was a moment to go down in history – maybe we shall be able to leave Montana after all!! – Only kidding – we love it really!! So - after being shipped to and fro, to garage after garage and 3 weeks, to the day, after breaking down in Yellowstone National Park – we were officially back on the road again and Macswayround continues!! We need to send special thanks, once again –to Dave (of Yellowstone Country, Livingstone), Dan and Linda (of Demarois, Missoula), Joe and Sharlene (of Millers Towing, Bozeman), and to Craig and Stephanie (of Westgate Towing, West Yellowstone), for really helping out a stranded family in their time of need! We were not leaving until we had purchased a set of tyre chains – as this white stuff really means business...... So- there we go on the update – lots of technical hitches for us in the last few weeks but we are strong believers in fate - everything has a purpose and all of this was meant to be. We now have special friends in Montana –and we will be back!! Please remember our door is always open to those special people we have met, so far, on MACSWAYROUND– if only we could return some of your favours.......
Saturday, 10 October 2009 06:33:30 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  USA