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.