Wall Drug

Wall Drug is quite an amazing place. When we got on the interstate in South Dakota we saw sign after sign of all the things to see and eat at Wall Drug. Cowboy hats, boots, hamburgers, stamps, ice cream, T shirts, homemade pie, homemade fudge, homemade donuts and on and on. Yes, of course, I fell for the tourist trap. It was a fun place to walk around with buffalo trophies, huge praire dog, a stagecoach and a big T-Rex dinosaur.

Here are Lane and Karis after they went mining for rocks.

Here is where I made all four of them sit while I took their pictures. They need to just get used to it. There are going to be lots photo opportunities.

And even though Jack is in shorts and a T shirt and Karis is in a T shirt, it is pretty cold. The wind is really kicking and it is 51 degrees. Tomorrow looks like a sweatshirt kind of day for me.

Island Oasis, Grand Island, NE

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be at a water park without any other people??? We went to Island Oasis Water Park in Grand Island, NE. It was opening day and the crowd was, well, shall I say, sparse. As you can see from the pictures, there are no people. WHERE DID EVERYBODY GO??? It was still fun and we had a nice relaxing afternoon after lots of drive time.

Tomorrow: Drive Scenic Route 2 through Nebraska to Wall, South Dakota.

Gateway to the West

We finally got loaded up and ready to head out on our journey west. We didn't get but 1/2 mile down the road and the bottom fell out of the sky. We were pounded with hugh hail and heavy rain. So much so that we had to pull over for a moment until the hail let up. What a way to start a trip!!!

We chose a place to stay for the night in East St. Louis. We called on the way and we were glad to hear they had available sites. It was getting late and we were getting tired. When we arrived at the campground, we had second thoughts and just turned around in the parking lot. CREEPY!!!

So, we finally found a KOA in Granite City. Much safer, cleaner and in a better part of town.

The next morning we got up and found this great jumping pillow on the playground. It was a ton o fun!!!

It seemed appropriate that our first stop on our westward journey should be the Gateway to the West, the St. Louis Arch. It was spectacular. Chris, Jordan and Karis rode the tram to the top.

After the Arch, 400 miles to go. Destination: Nebraska City. Campground: Victorian Acres.

The Beast

I'd like to introduce to you "The Beast". We call her the Beast because, well, look at her. She's huge, loud, rough, and, as you might guess consumes a ton of gas. But, we all here at the Weaver household, love her because she takes us places. She has taken us to Kentucky, Washington DC, Maryland, all over Virginia, Alabama and Florida. Now, we are looking forward to her taking us to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Yes, that's 1800 miles, one way.

We'll keep you posted along the way. Hopefully, The Beast will be good to us and get us there and back safely and with maybe a dollar or two left in our pockets???