Arrived in Spearfish, SD thinking we would surprise our friends Susan and Mark. However, as we drove around the campground to get to our assigned spot, Susan and Mark were lounging by the pool and spotted us! Still a surprise though. Everyone was happy to see us. We haven't seen each other in two months! Haven't see the Gardeners in almost one year as they are on a two year tour of the US.

The weather in Spearfish was not very good at all. Mostly rainy and cloudy. We were able to sit out by the campfire one night with everyone, but after that it was too rainy to be outside. We still managed to squeeze out time during the less rainy times to do fun things though.

The first day there, we headed for Spearfish Canyon which was absolutely breathtaking.

The next day, we headed for Devil's Tower which is a really spectacular site to see. Just pops up out of the earth. It is huge. Luckily, we were able to see it just before it started pouring down with rain.

Along the roadside, we encountered this little guy. He was just hanging out eating weeds and oblivious to all the people taking pics of him. 

Since it started raining more than ever, we decided to go to the Reptile Gardens. It was packed. I think everyone had the same idea. We started to watch the reptile show but I couldn't bear to watch the animals being prodded to make them move or pulled by their tails so we walked around their pretty gardens instead. All of the prairie dogs in their display had gone underground because of the weather, so we settled for looking at the snake displays. Dogs were not interested in any of it including any up close and personal with the alligators and crocodiles.

The next day, again with rain, we decided to try and see if we could get close to the Sitting Bull exhibit. It was so foggy that we could only see a little part of him. Quite disappointing. We headed over to Deadwood where we visited Saloon No. 10 which allows dogs INSIDE the bar! The dogs settled down for a long winter's nap on the sawdust covered floor while we visited with another couple who also had a dog there. There were supposed to be concerts in the evening and next day but it was pouring down rain, so I believe everything got cancelled.

The next day we drove through Sturgis to see what all was going on there.

Nothing!! Quiet and very few bikes. I guess you have to be there when the big motorbike convention is to see all of the bikes. Otherwise, it just looks like any other small town.

We also took a drive through Needle Highway. Very pretty and interesting.

 

We ended our trip with a drive to Mount Rushmore. We could only take the dogs as far as some posts a little ways before you got to the monument.  

 

The dogs got as much attention as the Presidents. In fact, they got so many pets that I thought they might have bald patches on their backs and heads! It was unfortunate that the weather was not so great while we were in South Dakota but we will be back.

The next day we headed for Glendo, Wyoming, where we stayed for just one night before heading home on June 18! It was a wonderful trip, the dogs were great, and except for a few rainy days, everything went smoothly. Stay tuned for our next trip which will be towards Oregon and California.

Today we headed for the Wisconsin Dells. Stopped for the night at a place called Diamond Lake Family Campsite in Porterfield, WI. Really out in the boonies!! This place was made for anyone with kids. Huge pond (lake?) with giant water slide and other toys. Beach area with sand lot.  Large playground. Many, many families. When we got up early the next morning, the playground already had a bunch of kids playing. Such a lovely place.

Drove to Wisconsin Dells today. Had no idea what to expect but certainly not the tourist trap we drove into. So many amusement parks, water parks, restaurants, bars, pubs, and other touristy things. Reminded us of the Boardwalk in New Jersey. Staying at the Wisconsin Dells for a few days while we see the actual Dells vs. the amusement parks.

Took the boat tour of the Upper Dells this morning. Very interesting scenery. Again, the dogs got to sit on seats and were all into that part of the tour, as in sleeping most of the time while lounging on seats.

All the above are part of the Upper Dells.

Saw many beautiful rock formations along the river. In the afternoon, we went on another boat tour of the Lower Dells. Not sure there was a lot of difference between the Upper and Lower Dells, but the rides were beautiful and we all got to relax.

Annie loving the boat ride.

Lower Dells

We head for Spearfish, South Dakota after today where we will be surprising our friends Susan and Mark and Kathy and Steve. Staying in Jackson, Minnesota for one night and then in Kennebec, SD

Took the road through Canada today to head for Pine Ridge Campground in Michigan for a one night stop. Of course the customs officer had to check out the dogs and the inside of the camper. I am thinking he just wanted to see what it looked like inside. We get so many comments and questions about the camper and the dogs. Don't think anyone would notice us if it was just us.

Drove to Mackinaw, Michigan today. It is really pretty around here. However, our campground is kind of sort of a mess. It is being remodeled and only has two bathrooms and showers and nothing else much works. If and when they get finished, it will be a beautiful destination.

We went to visit Fort Michilimacinac (or Chilly Mac as I like to call it), today. It was built and re

built over the years but was originally from 1775. There were people there who were dressed in the time period. All the little row houses inside the fort had real vegetable gardens in the back. We watched a couple of movies in the fort while the dogs napped on the wood floors. It was really cold inside and colder outside.







We had a very good view of the Mackinaw Bridge which is quite large. We went back and forth across it a couple of times. It is a toll bridge, so luckily we didn't have to go over too many times.

Later in the day, we found a little beach area and the dogs enjoyed a well earned swim in the water. They were really happy chasing each other around.

Next day we took a ferry over to Mackinaw Island. There were not many people on board, so the dogs were able to sit beside us on an actual seat. This may have spoiled them for other boat trips! They really thought they were all that sitting up with the people.

When Arlo relaxes, he really relaxes!

Twice a day, the ferry goes under the Mackinaw Bridge depending on the weather. We were lucky that ours was the one to do this and the weather was good. It was weird going under the bridge and seeing the underneath of all the cars and trucks going over the bridge.

Mackinaw Island was beautiful with many restaurants and gift shops. I asked this young guy if the hotel he was working at let dogs on the patio. He said no but then directed us to this place called the Ice House in back of an old house up the street aways. We decided to go check it out and were very glad we did! It was a beautiful patio surrounded by trees and plants. We had a really nice lunch there and the dogs loved being able to lay on the tiled floor. Other dogs there were not as well behaved. One loved barking every time one of our dogs moved just a little. The other was licking the underside of the table nearby. I tried the smoked fish dip that is advertised all over the Island. It was okay.

We were walking down the street a while later and heard a yell. It was the same guy wanting to know if we liked the Ice House! Too funny!

We also walked up to the Grand Hotel to check it out. We accidently came in the back way, but were told we could walk around the grounds if we wanted. It was absolutely beautiful! Flowers everywhere. Whole beds of just one color of tulips or rows of different colors of one type of flower. The porch on the Grand Hotel is one of the longest in the world and the hotel is famous for being on the movie "Somewhere in Time". Around the front of the hotel, it was like another world. Horses and carriages were everywhere. Just beautiful.

Front of hotel

 I took a picture of the dogs in front of a British phone booth in front of the hotel. Not sure why it was there, maybe something to do with the movie??

Tomorrow we leave for Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Dells.

Headed for Verona, NY today (6/1/2018). Nice campground on the grounds of a resort casino. Waaay to hot for me and for the dogs. Found a nice shady site for us though, so it was all good. Went down to Verona Beach State Park but it was closed to swimming due to some horrible blue algae in the water. Dogs were sooooo disappointed! It was right there and they couldn't go in. Bummer!

Arrived in Buffalo, NY today. Will be heading for Canada tomorrow to view Niagra Falls from the Canadian side (which we have heard is better than the American side) since we have already been on the American side in the past.

Very disappointed that the Maid of the Mist would not let the dogs on after all. I had read that they could go on but it is only for service dogs and we don't want to cheat.

Well, the view of the falls from the Canadian side is indeed so much better than the American side. Hundreds of people spilling all over to see them. Everyone is taking selfies, even the pups. Ours are the only dogs here except for one other with his parents and two wandering besides their owners and unleashed. The dogs are getting almost as much attention as the Falls lol. We walked the whole way along the falls. There was so much mist along one part, we thought it was raining.

Pups and Dad at the Falls  

          

                              Pictures don't do this justice

  

The beginning of the Falls

Going to and from Canada customs was quite easy and quick. Of course, we had to show passports and the dogs had to show their dog vaccination papers to go through.  When we were going back through customs, the guard wanted to know all about the dogs and even came over to the car and petted them. 

One of the most beautiful dog parks we have come across in our travels was Ellicote Dog Island Park. It is literally a small island with quite a bit of land surrounded by water. There is a bridge that we walked across to get onto the island. It was so made for dogs! Water all around, beautiful shade trees, just a beautiful place for the dogs and us. There was even a statue that someone had carved.

Part of the dog statue

Arlo exploring in the park,

Dog statue in the park

We met this lady with what had to be the most beautiful puppy I have ever seen. She was a Shibu Inu (some sort of Japanese breed) and looked exactly like a little fox. I so wanted that dog. The pups were not interested in her one bit. I think they knew I really wanted her.

Isn't she the cutest little dog. 

Took the dogs for an ice cream last night. They got a little more than they should have and one of them woke up with a little upset tummy. That will teach us!

A funny incident at the campground last night had us in stitches. There was a particularly yappy poodle in a camper close to the end of the campgrounds. Every time somebody with or without dogs passed by, he or she started yapping very loudly. This particular time, we had gone by with the dogs on their walk around the campground. The poodle of course was incensed by this and started throwing itself at the door of the camper and yapping away even more loudly. Suddenly, this man came flying out of another camper nearby and yelled, "Shut up, shut up! You are a horrible little dog!" It was so funny. Of course, the dog did not shut up at all.

Arrived in Rhode Island to not so nice weather but happy to see our good friends, Linda and Ron. We have missed them so much since they left Colorado to come home and take care of their moms. We went out to dinner at the Wharf Tavern, where once again the pups were a huge hit with the staff.

The weather the next day was really nice, so we headed into Newport to see the sites. We drove down Belleview Avenue which has all of the beautiful and very extravagant mansions from the 1940s. It is an absolutely beautiful drive and ends up going around the bay.

One of the beautiful mansions

 We stopped in downtown Newport to check out some little shops we really like. After shopping, or in my case, non-shopping, we decided to go to Fort Adams for a visit.

This is a really beautiful area and is part of the area known as "the sailing capital of the world. For a reason! There are hundreds of boats, sail and motor, big and small. There were a load of workers who were cleaning up after the huge Volvo sailboat race the Saturday before. I stopped a policeman to ask him if we could walk in. He said I could, IF I told him the names of my dogs! So, of course I did, and he had to spend some time telling them how wonderful they are.

It was a bit of a mess down where the race was held. Hundreds of people attend this event and leave quite a mess behind.

Sailboats at Newport.

Stopped at Salt Water on their waterside patio for a quick lunch. Guy had a bowl of clam chowder that was so prettily displayed, he almost didn't want to eat it. But he did! 

Two ladies at an adjacent table were so taken with the dogs. They kept looking over and talking about them. They could not believe how well behaved they were. They asked the waitress to ask us if they could send over a chicken breast for the dogs and of course we said yes! Shortly after, a little packaged up chicken breast was placed on our table. The dogs got to eat it after lunch and outside of the restaurant, and thought they had died and gone to heaven. They usually get one fry or piece of bread each after we eat. Outside the restaurant of course.

Linda and I went shopping the next day and then we had all had a wonderful late lunch of lobsters and shrimp on her beautiful front porch. None for the pups but they loved hanging out on Linda and Ron's huge wooden front porch with views of the river. What a nice day! 

Next day, it poured all day. Good day to catch up on laundry and computer stuff. Leaving tomorrow for Verona, NY. Will miss our friends but will see Linda in July and August so not all is lost.

Heading to Montclair, NJ to see Tracey and the big grands, Lily and Ben. Stopped in Hagerstown, Maryland on the way. It has been raining for a couple of days now and everything feels so damp. We have towels on the couches and on the floor so the dogs can lay down wherever they want.
Arrived at the Mahlon Reservation where we will be staying for the next few days. It is REALLY out in the boonies! Only 20 sites and very few people here right now because of the rain. It is truly the quietest place we have ever stayed. There are bears out here too so we have to be careful with food and the dogs.
Had dinner with Tracey at Fresca's. Really nice place and dinner was great. Lily stopped by on the way home from her job (she is an ice cream scooper). She has grown so much since we last  eld on Wednesdays to avoid kids staying out all night. They do skip school the next day though.
Still raining the next day on and off. The dogs are enjoying being at Tracey's house. She has a little patio outside and when it's not raining.
Ben came over the next day to see us before he left to do his comedy show in NY. He is taller than I am now and such a nice young man. Guy and Tracey and Jason and his mom all went to see Ben's show. They said he was really good. Maybe we have a comedian in the making. I stayed with the dogs since we had nowhere to leave them.
On Sunday, the dogs got to meet their cousin, Clementine. They was all very happy to see each other and it was immediately as if they had always been together. No snipping, growling, or being mean. Just three little pals hanging out together.

Clementine

Tracey did her second half marathon to qualify for the PA marathon next year. She did very well but did it in the pouring rain and cold, and came home with a well earned medal, and a sore knee!
Guy helped Tracey with a few daddy does such as light bulb changing in her very high ceilings.
Monday, everyone was in school or working, so we drove to Pennsylvania to see Guy's cousins and the dogs' other cousin, Bonnie. Guy's cousin just has a bone marrow transplant and had to wear a mask and stay away from the dogs and crowds but we figured it out and had a wonderful visit. We had a wonderful pizza night with the kids and Tracey before heading on to our next stop in Rhode Island. It was so good to see them. I had to keep asking for extra hugs to make up for lost time. I do love my grands (anD their momma)!

Lily and Arlo

Just a funny sign I saw in Montclair!

Mothers' Day! Today, we travelled through the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway on to Fancy Gap, Virginia. There are no pictures or words that can really describe the beauty of this area. It was very slow going for us in our little camper and we only saw one other small camper. I can't imagine driving on the BRMP in a large camper. Scary!
We saw two large pull outs which were actually huge mowed fields filled with at 50-100 or more people all with blankets, picnic baskets, balls, and volleyball nets. They were having a blast. Cars were parked all over and anywhere. Nowhere for us to park though so on we went. Sure was a neat place to picnic though.
Our campground in Fancy Gap, VA is gorgeous. It is just off the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway and  so quiet! The dogs have their own fenced in doggy yard right at our campground. It is only for their use believe it or not. The dogs were not impressed. They preferred to go for a walk and take their business elsewhere. They have already had their pictures taken twice in the short while we have been here and now they think they are all that!

The next day we went back out along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was so pretty everywhere. We drove for two hours to take the dogs to a certain winery (of course it was for the dogs lol), only to find it was closed for the next two days. Headed back to camp and took a long walk around the grounds. Had several people stop by to talk about the Airstream and the dogs. It's so funny, it's as if we are not even there with all the attention the three of them get! I have changed the name of the Airstream again. I think this one will really stick. It's The Ritz!!

On Tuesday, we went back out on the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway again. We wanted to go to the Blue Ridge Mountain Folk Music place, but again...it was closed for Tuesday and Wednesday. Not having such good luck. We decided to hit a hike instead. We hiked up the hill and around and back down for 2.5 miles. It was really hot higher up because the trees were so many and close together. Arlo never slowed down. He went probably 10 miles to our 2.5. Annie just plodded along. She seems to be showing her age more than Arlo even though they are both the exact same age.
Found a nice little restaurant called Chase and Charley's that had a really pretty deck over looking a small river and forest. Smoking IS allowed here unfortunately, and so we had to smell a cigar for a bit while we ate. Started raining on the way back to the campsite which was fine as we were leaving in the morning.
When we were at our last campground, we kept finding little painted rocks all around the area. Found one at our site with a dog paw on it and put it on one of the kids' chairs of the family camping next to us. Well, I found another at this camp site and found out that you are supposed to take a picture of it and put it on Facebook on the RVers Rocks site. So I did and have had several responses to my post including a lady who found it where I left it. You are supposed to take it with you and leave it there for somebody else to find. Next time, I will do that. Haven't seen any since though but people find some really neat ones that they post.