Big Horn Sheep in the Dakota Badlands

Corn Palace

South Dakota Badlands

Badlands of South Dakota

We are putting on some miles.  From Buffalo we drove through Pennsylvania (a corner of it), Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and now we are in South Dakota.  We left Buffalo early on Monday morning and arrived here in Rapid City, SD on Thursday afternoon. 

Near Cedar Rapids, Iowa we stayed in a huge RV park near the Amana Colonies.  The Colonies were established by a religious group from Germany in the 1800's.  There are 7 villages with shops and beautifully kept homes. 

Next up was the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD.   Bob had to replenish his favorite T-shirt.  The one that says 'If a man stands in a forest and there is no woman to hear him is he still wrong'.  He bought two shirts so that he will never run out.

Up next was a drive through the Badlands of South Dakota.  Beautiful day for a little detour off I-90,  We are near Mt. Rushmore but decided not to visit.  We have been here before.  We took a drive over to Hill City, looked through the shops,  then drove to Rapid City and wandered around their downtown before calling it a day.

Cave of the Winds at Niagara Falls

So much for doing my hair and makeup!

Buffalo, NY

I was born in Buffalo almost 68 years ago.  My dad was from here so that is where my mom and dad settled after World War II finished.  When I was 9 months old and my brother was 1 year and 9 months they drove to Washington state which is where I have spent most of my life.

My dad was from a family of 7 so I have lots of cousins here in the area, plus 3 of my dad's brothers and their wives are here.  Friday night my Aunt Mary Ellen and Uncle Norm hosted a get together for us and the brothers and wives.  It was a lovely evening sitting outside and visiting.  

Friday morning we went to Niagara Falls and did the Cave of the Winds and the Maid of the Mist.  I don't know why I bothered to do my hair or put on makeup as everything was wet when I finished both of these activities.

Saturday morning we went to the Canadian side of the Falls.  Walked a couple of miles while enjoying the beautiful gardens and seeing the falls from the Canada side.  In the afternoon we met two of my cousins, Joanne and Barb, for a walk around a newly revitalized area called Canalside.  We walked around and then had an early dinner at a harbor restaurant.  A really nice day - weather was perfect.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

American Falls viewed from Canada

Finger Lakes Winery

One of the Wineries we visited in the Finger Lakes.

Finger Lakes, NY

We left Glens Falls, NY and drove to a campground in the Finger Lakes area of New York.  We were near Cayuga Lake which is a huge wine region.  There were about 15 wineries within 15 miles of where we were camped.  Of course we had to check out a few of them.  We also drove to near Itaca, NY and did a hike at Robert Treman State Park.  It was beautiful.  We hiked up one side called the Rim Trail, then up the staircase (220 steps), then back out along the Gorge Trail.  Total hike was about 4 miles, but it had lots of ups and downs, plus it was muggy and hot.  We were pooped when we finished.  Of course, a nice cold ice cream cone helped a lot.

Enjoying the view in Adirondack Chair on Lake George

Covered bridge in Vermont - Bob and his sister, Lynn

Steeple on island in Lake George

Sagamore Hotel on Lake George, NY

This is a beautiful old hotel right on the lake.  Snapped this picture while on our boat ride.

Bill, Bob's first cousin once removed who owns the boat

Glens Falls and Lake George, NY

We spent a week in Bob's hometown of Glens Falls.  The first 4 days we were in an RV park north of  Glens Falls, and then we moved to his nephews home and dry camped in his yard.  Bob's other nephew hosted a barbeque on the 4th.  The weather pretty much cooperated and we were able to sit outside.  NY has had a fair amount of rain this summer.  Bob's sister spends the summer in Glens Falls so we were able to see her quite a bit.  We took a drive one day over to Manchester, Vermont. We also had breakfast one morning on a restaurant deck overlooking Lake George.  All in all a very good visit.

The beautiful boat built in 1945

Lake George Boat Ride

Boat ride on Lake George

Bob's first cousin once removed, Bill Baldwin, took us on a wonderful ride on Lake George.  The weather was perfect.  He has an old Criss Craft Boat (build in 1945).  As Bill tells it the boat is holder than him as he was born in 1947.