We began RVing in 2004, but this blog did not begin until we went into fulltime RVing in 2007. The blog has evolved to a time when we no longer have a RV, but we still consider ourselves vacationing on a perpetual basis.
WHEN? Saturday · July 28
WHERE? Devils Tower National Monument
WHAT? Professional Photography Workshop
Award-winning photographer and art teacher Catherine Cardarelli treated park staff and guests to a photography workshop this afternoon. Mae Dean expects to improve her shutterbug skills by focusing on three important elements of design:
WHEN? Thursday · July 26
WHERE? Devils Tower National Monument
Remembering that the Blue Angels were scheduled to fly over Devils Tower for a photo shoot this afternoon, Mae Dean planned ahead by bringing her camera to work with her.
Mae Dean's photo shoot: A soaring success!
See more Blue Angels photos on flickr
WHEN? Last weekend
WHERE? Wall Drug in beautiful South Dakota
Forgot to mention this earlier ...
Wendell and Mae Dean recently had the displeasure of meeting South Dakota's ugliest cowboy:
On the bright side, this guy
could make Elwood feel attractive
* Yo momma says you oogly
... is from Wildcats ghetto-riffic cheerleaders' version of The Ugly Cheer. View the link here to see the Wildcats U-G-L-Y Cheer on YouTube.SNL's Spartan cheerleaders made this cheer a pop-culture favorite, YouTube users began posting their own goofy versions.
After
WHEN? Saturday · July 21 (today's second post)
WHERE? Wall, South Dakota · find us on the map
Planning ahead for next weekend's photography class, Mae Dean purchased a pair of reading glasses at South Dakota's historic Wall Drug. Since the brightly-colored shopping bag she carried them home in is a souvenir on its own, she scanned it to share with her travelblog readers:
Mae Dean shares the good news of her recent
Wall Drug purchase with an unresponsive Santa Claus
No visit to Wall Drug is complete without
photo-opping alongside Annie Oakley
See more Wall Drug photos on flickr
WHEN? Saturday · July 21 · (today's first post)
WHERE? Badlands National Park · find us on the map
The afternoon's 104° high temps combined with 25 mph winds made the Badlands feel like an oven. The visitor center's 20-minute movie, Land of Stone and Light, allowed air-conditioned relief while teaching viewers about the area's geology, history and wildlife. Mae Dean compared the mountain views to a much taller version of Arizona's Painted Desert.
See more Badlands photos on flickr
WHEN? Friday · July 20
WHERE? Devils Tower Amphitheater
See more Buffalo Bill photos on flickr
WHEN? Sunday · July 15 · (today's second post)
WHERE? Cook Lake Recreation Area in Wyoming's
Black Hills National Forest · find us on the map
After a scenic 20-mile drive along a gravel road that ended up in a remote campground at Cook Lake, Wendell and Mae Dean's only regret was not bringing along a picnic lunch to enjoy while visiting this unspoiled neck of the woods.
See more Black Hills photos on flickr
WHEN? Sunday · July 15 · (today's first post)
WHERE? Sundance, Wyoming · find us on the map
Passing by Sundance's Crook County Museum on the way to the Black Hills National Forest, Mae Dean and Wendell noticed an irresistable photo op:
The Sundance Kids
WHEN? Friday · July 13 (today's second post)
WHERE? Spearfish, South Dakota · find us on the map
Take the night off from cooking!
A taste of Old Mexico at Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant, where Mae Dean and Wendell enjoyed authentic Mexican cuisine in a bright and festive atmosphere.
WHEN? Friday · July 13 (today's first post)
WHERE? Devils Tower Visitor Center
| One of Wendell's favorite National Park Service duties is certifying younger visitors who pass the rigid requirements of the Devils Tower Junior Ranger program. Once the appropriate paperwork has been completed and approved, a certificate is awarded to the new Junior Ranger: |  |
Students across the nation follow the Junior Ranger program to learn more about United States National Parks and Historic Sites. New York middle schooler Sam Maslow and his brother have accumulated hundreds of Junior Ranger patches, badges and pins. Junior Ranger Sarah Watts from North Carolina, who has also earned an impressive number of certificates, was quoted last April during the first-ever National Junior Ranger Day.
| Visit the National Park Service Junior Ranger Zone to learn more about its fun and educational programs.
|  |
WHEN? Wednesday · July 11
WHERE? Devils Tower campground
An unexpected crimp in Wendell's cooking plans:
Charcoal has been included in a temporary burn ban at Devils Tower. For perhaps the first time in his culinary career, he's considering purchasing (gasp!) a gas grill.*
This 2004 photo suggests that it's more
about the apparel than the grilling method
*IMPORTANT UPDATE!Wendell did indeed purchase a tabletop Char-Broil™ gas grill at an area WalMart while running an official park errand. Mae Dean's been pleased with the meals cooked on it. You reckon he's converted?
WHEN? Tuesday · July 10
WHERE? Devils Tower Visitor Center
Bienvenidos Devils Tower!
Wendell's park assignment has given him the opportunity to meet travelers from all over the world, including England, Germany, Switzerland and Japan. He offers brochures in their native language to Japanese visitors, who arrive each Tuesday by the busload, and who thank him with lots of bowing. Several have even asked their gracious Devils Tower host to pose for photos with them.
Brochures are available in
Japanese / French / German / Spanish
 |  |  |
WHEN? Sunday · July 8
WHERE? Devils Tower Outdoor Canopy
WHAT? Devils Tower Cultural Program Series presents
Climbing the Tower Fifty-Nine Years Ago – In Song and Story
Mae Dean is glad she didn't miss this engaging presentation by Jan Conn, who is best known as the first woman to climb Devils Tower. Jan spoke about her adventurous life during the 1950's. Since that time, she and her husband Herb remained active charting cave routes while spelunking in the Midwest .
| · Gearing up to climb?  | Jan's husband Herb came along for the ride  |
See more Jan Conn photos on flickr
WHEN? Friday · July 6
WHERE? Whitewood, South Dakota · find us on the map
A plumbing leak inspired Wendell and Mae Dean to pull up the Airstream's stakes for the first time since settling in at Devils Tower. They visited Northern Hills Homes & RVs in South Dakota and returned home with unleaky pipes in just a few hours.
An enormous selection of campers and RV's were available for sale on the seven-acre lot. This unusual design is either newfangled or retro:
WHEN? Thursday evening · July 5 (today's second post)
WHERE? Devils Tower Amphitheater
WHAT? Devils Tower Cultural Program Series presents
An Evening with Mr. Theodore Roosevelt
After spending the afternoon working alongside Wendell in the Visitor Center to promote his upcoming show, historical impressionist Gib Young recounted President Roosevelt's dedication to conservation and stewardship.
Wendell ended up participating in the evening program, posing as the bear whose life Roosevelt spared. At the end of his presentation, Young presented certificates to several Junior Rangers.
See more Gib Young photos on flickr
WHEN? Thursday afternoon · July 5 · (today's first post)
WHERE? Devils Tower Visitor Center
Your friendly Devils Tower host
Wendell enjoys helping guests at the Visitor Center's Information Desk. During an afternoon visit to Devils Tower, Gypsy Journal editor Nick Russell snapped a photo of Wendell as he shared brochures:
(click on image to enlarge)
WHEN? Wednesday · July 4
WHERE? Across the street at Devils Tower KOA
Airstream parked at: Devils Tower Campground
Independence Day ended with a bang! After a BBQ dinner with live entertainment, a local campground hosted northeast Wyoming's largest fireworks show. Mae Dean and Wendell had a great view from the Devils Tower amphitheater, while area climbers watched from the tower's summit.
- Got a minute?
- Exercise your brain with this fireworks match game.
WHEN? Monday · July 2
WHERE? Devils Tower National Monument
Leafy Spurge · Euphorbia esula
Heavy Spring rainfalls have encouraged heavy growth of non-native leafy spurge. To diminish its ecological impact on native plant species, out-of-state professionals arrive by the truckload to spray these noxious plants with chemical weed killer.
WHEN? Sunday · July 1
WHERE? Devils Tower campground
Fellow RVers had warned Wendell and Mae Dean to expect unwanted mice, who moved in as soon as the Airstream was parked at Devils Tower. This week, Mae Dean reported that several traps have served their intended purpose.
Cute little varmints
... until a clan of them invades your living space
- Looking on the bright side ...
According to recent mice news from China, things could be two billion times worse.
