Preserved

2 Chronicles 7:14

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

Visiting Historic Sites

We love to visit sites that are rich with the history of our land. What a privilege to live in this country with its many freedoms and heritage. We always come away with an increased knowledge of those who have gone before us!

Mt. Rushmore National Memorial

Although we have been here before, this memorial, so grand in scale still moves us with its history. Each of the four figures represent important times of our national history. The dedicated careful work of the sculptor, his employees and his family have no equal.

The idea for carving figures into the Black Hills was actually a plan to promote tourism to the state of South Dakota. From the number of tourists we saw at the memorial and elsewhere in the area I would say it was a very successful plan!

National Presidential Wax Museum 

Not far from Mt Rushmore, we visited this wax museum, which contains amazingly lifelike representations of all of our country’s presidents. 

Most every Presidential figure is placed into a historic tableau highlighting a pivotal moment in history. 

An audio recording gives interesting facts and stories of each individual president, along with their legacy and accomplishments or shortcomings.

Custer State Park

This is a great home base to camp in when visiting the Black Hills of South Dakota. The park is vast in size, providing ample range for bison, elk and other animals. Additionally there are trails and lake to enjoy. We visited two lovely lakes within the park for some gentle hikes. 

• Sylvan Lake 

• Legion Lake 

Gordon Stockade

This stockade was erected in December 1874 by the Gordon Party, an expedition of white settlers who travelled to the Black Hills at the beginning of the gold rush, on the site of a previous encampment by George Armstrong Custer. The party's settlement of the area was illegal under the1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie and the group was removed by the United States Army in April 1875, who subsequently began using the Gordon Stockade as a base. Now part of Custer State Park, the fort was recreated in its current form in 2004.

But you can’t stop a gold rush and the Treaty of Fort Laramie was soon revised, removing much of the Black Hills from the reservation. A sad tale indeed!

Casper, Wyoming - National Historic Trails Interpretive Center

Between 1841 and 1869 hundreds of thousands of people moved through this area on their way to Oregon, Utah, and California. They travelled along the North Platte River by wagon, mule, foot, horse, or stage, in groups or alone, and for a variety of reasons. They all came together here to cross the river and continue the journey west.

Located in Casper, WY this wonderful interpretive center recounts the stories of the four trails that came together here at the last crossing of the North Platte River.
-Oregon Trail
-Mormon Trail
-California Trail (Gold rush)
-Pony Express 

During our many travels,  we have been on the lookout for a museum that focuses on the history of this great westward American Migration. This Center exceeded our expectations by bringing together details of these various trails and the various reasons for heading west!

We learned that there is actually a site where we could view Oregon trail ruts that are carved into the sandstone of a hilltop. Wow!! We revised our route to include a stop at this site.

After spending time reading all about the trials and troubles of crossing the country on one of these early trails, we are so thankful to live in a time with such great highways and byways to travel to amazing places! Although our transportation corridors may follow these early trails we can travel great distances in short time, making any number of stops for fuel or food. The pioneers committed themselves to a 2,000 mile journey, over six months, walking alongside all of their possessions! What an Adventure on the road (trail) that was!

We appreciate your interest in our travels, and as always your prayers mean the world to us!

Unexpected

“Seeing God’s love in small unexpected ways." 

This was the lesson Josh was learning after two months on the road with his brother Zach. We met them at a coffee shop in Spearfish, SD.

Josh, who had just graduated from Purdue University, at 23 and Zach were traveling and camping in their van during summer break, from Indiana to California, surfing up the coast and heading up north on their way back home.

 

 "Seeing God's love in small unexpected ways." This thought may challenge our perception of God's love. Do we think that if things are difficult it means we are not loved by God? Or do we look for, and find those little reminders of God's amazing love for us each day! 

We arrived at a new campsite in Idaho a couple of days ago, and we stepped outside to enjoy the sunset. I noticed this puddle in the roadway, from an earlier rain shower, reflecting the clouds. I did not notice the shape of the puddle until I looked at the picture on my iPhone display. What a sweet reminder that in the midst of storms, the Lord loves us. 💓 

 

How do we see and know God’s love? The lyric from a Christian song states, “I see the evidence of Your goodness all over my life!”

So we need to be looking for that evidence, God’s love is displayed all around us when we look for it.

Have you heard the expression “There’s your sign?” Some of the “signs” or unexpected evidences of God’s love for me have come during this road trip,

in His provision and protection

in His Care and the beauty of His Creation

in splendid sunsets and storm clouded skies

 

 

 

In Spearfish, SD we drove through                  

Spearfish Canyon which follows the 

course of the Spearfish River. We hiked along paths lined with wildflowers to beautiful waterfalls. 

We camped at Spearfish City

Campground next to a delightful little 

tree lined creek.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a few days in Spearfish, we moved on to Custer State Park in South Dakota. This state park is well known as an animal refuge so we hoped to see some wildlife, especially the bison herd. The park is home to over 2000 bison which on our first day were rather elusive. We drove about 40 miles along the Wildlife Loop and although we did see a herd of

bison they were resting in the heat of the day on a far off  hillside.

 

When we woke the next morning and looked out our window we were surprised to see about two hundred bison in the meadow between our campground and the roadway, maybe 50 yards from our trailer! We were separated by only a rail fence. The bison were still there when we left for an afternoon drive on Needles Highway and Iron Mountain road.

 

Needles Highway and Iron Mountain road are popular roadways through the Black Hills because of the scenery, the curvy roadway, and the tunnels! The roadway led to spectacular views out over the forested mountains. We came around a corner and an oncoming car was stopped to enjoy the mountain goats high on the rocks above the roadway! There were views of Mount Rushmore from the tunnels! I couldn't really get that to come out as a picture, since I only use my iPhone for taking pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We enjoyed a break from the drive at Sylvan Lake for a nice hike 

around the shore. There was an area where we had

to scramble over some rocks and up the side of a hill 

and squeeze through a narrow mini slot canyon with 

cliffs beside us and boulders above us! This was a great lake to visit with families as it had lots of beaches for swimming and jumping off boulders into the water.

 

 

The roadside contained many beautiful meadows of wildflowers.  The deer also loved to graze along the roadside and we had to be extra careful as we returned to our campsite near dusk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we neared the turnout for our campsite later that evening the herd of bison we saw in the morning was up and moving on the roadway; we were stuck in a “bison jam” for about 45 minutes to travel a 1/4 mile, with the bison crossing back and forth between cars and motorcycles. It was quite an experience to have bison walking alongside the truck, in front of the truck, behind the truck!

 

 

 

 

 

We have had such an amazing trip with unexpected little blessings along the way. From finding great camping spots, to seeing amazing places, we have driven beautiful roadways and have seen all kinds of wildlife and birds. But some of our most amazing blessings have come as we have had the privilege to pray with people and share about Jesus - from meetings in coffee shops to museums and elsewhere with divinely arranged encounters.

Thanks so much for your continued prayers for our safety and health on our "Adventures on the Road"!