August 26, 2017 On the road again

 August 26, 2017

I had to be in the little house that moves a lot today.  I can totally fit between my humans, but I like to stretch out, then play with stuff my humans have near me.  And then I fall asleep.  My humans pet me so all is good.

I did my normal walk today, then it was back to the road.  We readied Hannah, then said goodbye to Mystery Mountain Campground.  It was actually a good location for us.  It cannot handle a whole lot of large RVs, but it worked perfectly for us.  I loved the woodsy character.  Other RV parks we saw had few trees and were quite crowded. 

Our GPS (Samantha) and I have had some disagreements on things.  I have had to slap her around some, but she is good in a pinch.  But, I always have a map on my lap.  Today we are headed to Wounded Knee where we massacred a whole lot of Indians for basically no reason.  Boy, we were cruel. 

The roads switch from rolling hills and woods, to rolling plains.  We cut through some of the Badlands and its rocky formations and prairie dog towns.  Then back to beautiful rolling hills.  An occasional canyon sunflower springs on the side of the road, as does a cottonwood tree here and there.  There really isn’t much to the site but a sign that tells the story.   

Here’s where things get fuzzy…. The map says the rte is 27, but the signs on the road say something different.  Really?  We had to trust Samantha as she took us out of South Dakota and into Nebraska towards the town of Gordon.  The rolling hills are green with swaths of canyon sunflowers swirling through.  It is gorgeous. 

The town of Gordon is about to dry up and blow away.  Rows of tiny houses are in desperate need of a lawn mower and weed whacker.  There is not much in the town.  We turn west on 20 and head to Chadron.  Rolling plains and farms line the road.  Here is the heartland of our country.  These farms feed us.  These are some real heroes in our country.  Corn and beautiful rows of sunflowers with the sunny smiley faces line the road. 

Chadron is a decent size town, big enough for a Walmart.  We take 385 south through Alliance, settling in Bridgeport for the night.  We found a state recreational area… a lake, with all sorts of boats and we didn’t see one skier.  Tons of inner tubes and jet skis…  Way too many things on the water.  I guess that is a good thing so I won’t spazz out wanting to ski!

This is an interesting place.  The campsites are ill defined; you pretty much park where you like as long as there is a picnic table.  It is warm, but we found a shaded spot on the lake on a Saturday night.  Lots to watch.  Rudy liked it.  I didn’t like the flies though…  And I am not sure if the trains will be a problem…  we shall see…

August 25, 2017 WE WON! not....

August 25, 2017

My humans took me for a walk.  Then I had to go in and use my potty box, so I ran to the door.  Then I used my potty box, and I buried it well.  Then I wanted to go out again and my humans didn’t let me go outside.  Why is that?

I started my walk looking for a trail out of the campground that I thought would take me to the back road I was on the other day.  I didn’t find a trail, but did find a flock of wild turkeys in our campground.  Pretty cool.  Oh well, back on the highway then the backroad.

Our banquet doesn’t start till 7:00, so today was free.  We decided to go to the Reptile Gardens right down the street.  Based on how many seats were open for the shows, I would say that it was not crowded in the least.  HOWEVER, there were so many little kids.  I finally yelled at a couple at one of the shows because they kept running up and down the bleachers using my shoulder as a launching pad.  I scared the bejesus out of them!  But their parents weren’t doing anything, so tough titties!  The guy next to me thanked me…

Anyhow, we saw gators the size of Texas, lots of snakes, prairie dogs and all sorts of frogs, toads, lizards, turtles and spiders.  The displays were beautiful.  Some had beautiful geodes and other types of collector rocks.  There were stellar mini trees snakes could crawl up, and pretty water features.  Under the dome, there were orchids… lots of orchids.  Exotic birds were free to fly and there were exotic lizards; iguana types.  The entire grounds were landscaped with showy flowers and lush foliage.  It was my type of botanical fun.

 As we were leaving, it was cloudy and cold.  As we got in the truck, the thunder started and so did the rain.   Bwwahhhhhaaahhh!  Four great weather days for golf, then it rains after we get back indoors!

As predicted, we did not win anything for our golf antics.  We did win some skin money and we won a couple of door prizes, so we were happy with that.  All in all, it was a great tournament.  And after the torture of the Club at Red Rock, there is talk that guys with high handicaps may hit from a more forward set of tees.  I think that would make a world of difference since there are quite a few guys in the club that are in that category.  

August 24, 2017 The Club (over the head) at Red Rock

August 24, 2017

My maternal human sometimes uses this big thing and runs it over the floor and it makes a big noise.  I don’t like it.  When she uses it, I run.  This time I went and jumped on my paternal human.  He will keep me safe.  I don’t wanna get eaten.

Today we played a scramble at The Club at Red Rock.  Let me say this about that… I am REALLY glad we didn’t have to play our own game!  This course is a BEAST! 

First, let me say that from the ladies’ tees, there wasn’t a shot that I couldn’t do.  They were all reasonable.  Some were intimidating as all getout, but they were doable.  Let’s not talk about when my spazzy evil twin came out…

From the men’s tees;  here are some, but not all,  of my reactions to seeing them…

Really?  REALLY?  REALLY?

You have got to be kidding.

Which way is the fairway?

There is a lot of native grass on the course.  It is about 1-2 feet tall, maybe taller in places.  The sole purpose of this grass is to eat balls, and it does a fine job of it!  The one good thing about the grass, while you might not find your ball, you will most likely find someone else’s, so there is no net loss!  Oh… watch for snakes.

While the women have to hit over the grass in places, the men have to hit over vast expanses of the grass.  If they hit the ball straight, they have to carry it at least 150 yards, probably more.  IF they are not exactly straight, kiss it goodbye.  Long hitters can do this ok.  Shorter hitters, not so.  Especially when they try to swing out of their shoes to get some distance.  What usually happens is they duff it into the grass. 

On one par 3, it was 178 yards to the pin.  Ok, the guys could hit it that far.  But where is the pin?  There is about 120 yards of the grass, and there are two huge pine trees that somewhat block the green.  You have to thread the needle between the trees on this one.  I had to walk to the ladies’ tees to get a view of where the flag was then come back to the mens.   Crouch down below the left tree and look below the branches.  Now, look one hair to the right and that is the pin.  Really?  Two of our guys made it… poor Spouse…

Oh, and let’s not forget some of the chasms they got to hit over… I mean into.   It was very uphill.  There were a few downhill shots, but it sure seemed there was far more uphill than downhill.

Ok, I think you get the idea!

This was by far, the most difficult course we played.  And to make things worse, my 7 iron was not in my bag.  I left it (my favorite club) at Hart Ranch yesterday.  ARGGGGG!   I still enjoyed the day, but I didn’t enjoy watching my Spouse suffer so.  At least he enjoyed the whitetail deer bounding around the course.

The day was long, good lunch afterwards, then home (via Hart Ranch) and a really nice shower…  yes!  My 7 iron is clean and resting comfortably after its experience…

August 23, 2017 Have a Hart

August 23, 2017

My maternal human is laying down.  My humans have been gone so much and I have been so lonely.  I must lay on her and curl my paws.  My purr box is on high.  Human, it feels good to curl my paws on you.  Don’t move.

Today, we played Hart Ranch.  It was only a 5 mile drive for us.  The course looks benign at first sight…  HAH!!  It chewed us up and spit us out!  The greens are as fast as I have even seen!  There are creeks, and barrancas.  It was diabolical!  We played as a 5 some, which is never good for me.  It messes with my concentration.  Plus, I had to ride in a cart.  Sure, I walk quite a bit, but it was aggravating not having the right club and having to yell for it.  That messed with my concentration big time.  One of the guys withdrew after about 14 holes.  The course was just too much for him.   

It was actually quite a beautiful course, loaded with deer and wild turkey.  The Hart Ranch Cattle Choir serenaded as we started, moooooving us along quite nicely.   I would play it again, but now I know a little about it so I can play it differently.  All except the one par 4 hole that I actually birdied with my 25 foot miraculous putt…  I am sure you had to have heard my scream…

Another dinner with the brothers Weingartner.  Hey, I saw that Rich Hill pitched 9 no hit innings for the Dodgers but they didn’t score and he lost the game in the 10^th.  OUCH!

August 22, 2017 A free day

August 22, 2017

My humans have been leaving me all alone.  I don’t like that.  I haven’t seen any mousies lately.  I am all alone.  I guess I will nap.  I will listen for them though.  I am all alone.

Today is a free day for us, which is good since my poor back needs a rest.  Yesterday, it killed me to swing my driver for the last 4 holes or so, which was represented in my score.  But a day off ought to help.

The brothers Weingartner joined us for another day at Custer Park.  We drove by Mt. Rushmore again, and wouldn’t you know it, the same cars that were waiting in line the other day were still there!  On we drove, through the beautiful Needles Highway.  No mountain goats this time, go figure. 

We stopped for a hike at Cathedral Spires.  It is nearly a 3 mile roundtrip hike.  The trail is lined with wild raspberries (a few of them landed in my mouth) and ferns and other undergrowth.  It starts getting steeper and we have to climb up rocks, but it eventually levels out to meadow surrounded by cathedral like spires.  There are needle eyes, and other jagged formations.  So many of them look like penises!  At the beginning, the trail looked wet, but it was only the way the mica covered the trail.  We all had to touch it to see if it was wet.  Quite an illusion.

After the hike, we did another wildlife drive.  This time the buffalos were in different places.  We also got to see the donkeys.  They are friendly and they are mega cute!  And of course, the prairie dogs sang for us.  It is a fabulous place worth two days of visits.

Back to Hannah, the boys left and we visited with our neighbors, Doyle and Judy for some wine, then headed to old town Rapid City.   There are lots of little shops and some bars and some restaurants.  There are bronze statues of presidents on every corner.  If you know what you are doing, you can turn left at Clinton, and right at George Washington, then left at Pierce to get to wherever you are going!  Lots of charm, but limited food options for us California types.  We are definitely in a meat eating part of the country…  Plenty of alcohol tho…

Painters Alley

August 21, 2017 Our game was eclipsed

August 21, 2017

My humans walked me around and I got to sniff all sorts of things and eat grass.  I saw birdies… I wanted them.  My humans brought me back.  Darn.

Today we played golf at Arrowhead Country Club.  Of course, the wind started blowing on the first hole.  I was able to walk the course and it is in excellent condition; beautiful dark green grass like carpeting.  There are lots of hills, and lots of hidden hazards.  The greens are treacherous.  And best of all, in the middle of the day, it got kind of dark and cold…

Ok, we had about 98% of the eclipse.  I was able to use someone’s eclipse glasses to view the event about half way through.  Then we poked a hole in a scorecard and watch the shadow through the hole on the cart path.  It was very effective.  The temperature dropped at least 10 degrees, and I did not need sunglasses for about two holes.  Dogs started barking.  It was great fun…  Almost as entertaining as the golf game!  I took some pictures at the optimal time, but they didn’t really capture the event.  Oh well…

I don’t think anybody in the club played very well.  It’s not that I didn’t hit the ball well most of the time, but the wind wreaked havoc on my game.  And when I didn’t hit the ball well, I paid big time.  And not having course knowledge proved to be costly.  Who knew there was a creek on the other side of that hill?  Really?  It may have been a tough day, but I actually loved the course and would play it again if given the opportunity. 

We had a visitor on one of the greeens:

On the way back from the course, we had our tire repaired, so we are good to go now.  The tire guy said ‘you had a stone in your tire’.  Duh…  no flies on him!

A nice dinner with the brothers Weingartner topped off the day.

I am totally frustrated with Spouse’s laptop.  It deleted my original writings of the day somehow.  I hate this thing.  The cursor has a mind of its own, Word gets cranky if it cannot load to the cloud.  Internet access here is very sketchy and I DON’T want to have to rely on that to use word.  I have to fight to avoid it.  ARRRRGGGH!

August 20, 2017 Let the games begin

August 20, 2017

Where are my humans?  They have been gone, like forever…  I am hungry… not really, I still have a little food in my bowl, but they are supposed to give me more!  I look outside and I don’t see them… where are my humans?  Oh!  Here they are!  Let me run to the door!  MEOWWWW!  MEOOWWWW!  My humans are here!  Feed me!

Today is an 8:30 tee time at Elkhorn Ridge.  It is about an hour from Hannah so we were on the road by 7 am to get there early enough to hit some balls.  The course is a little north of Sturgis – motorcycle haven.  It is a little breezy and too cool for being sleeveless and in shorts.  On with a long sleeved shirt AND a jacket.  At least for now.  I usually try and walk courses if they let me, but because we had a team thing going, I rode in the cart.  I actually still walk a whole lot, but when I need to, I can use the cart – Spouse is my driver.  For this course, if I had walked, I would probably still be making my way to the tenth hole…

The course is challenging.  On the first two holes, you have no idea where you are hitting, just aim for that marker up there.  Having no knowledge of the course cost everybody some strokes, as you think you are hitting in the middle of the fairway, then when you head for your ball, you see some type of hazard; a barranca, tall grass, water.  I think I lost 3 balls and found 3 balls!  I was actually hitting the ball pretty good.  On the back nine, the winds came.  WINDS!  It was even difficult putting.  All in all, the course was fun and had great views.  The food was awful, and the bar was minimal, but, oh well.

Since we were in this area, we decided to go over to Deadwood.  You know, home of Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickcock.  It was a mining town with gaming and saloons.  Don’t know about the mining, but there is still gaming and saloons.  And there are souvenir shops, and restaurants and stately hotels.  We ate, we browsed, then we thought we would cruise some of the back streets.  We like to go on off streets because you see how the locals actually live.  We rode up this tiny street, then we saw a sign pointing to Mt. Roosevelt, whatever that is.  It is a dirt road but up we went.  After about a mile and a half, we realized we don’t know how far this road goes, it is getting late and we should start heading home.  It has been a long day… and now it is about to get longer…

Loved this train set...

Why is my tire down to 39 lbs?  It should be 70.  Its 35 now, 33…  Oh oh…  At 20, we pulled over and Spouse pulled out this little pump.  Could we put in more than was coming out?  We are still a mile back on this dirt road…  We moved a little to see where the problem was.  SSSSSSS…..  When we got the tire back up to 32, we made a run for the paved road. 

At this point, it was like a Star Trek Episode.

‘Captain, we only have 32 lbs of pressure.  The ship can’t operate like that.’

‘Scotty, we are going to have to make a run to the pavement.’

‘But Captain, we can lose a tire.’

‘We will have to chance it.  We will go fast, we will take the 10 mph curves at 11mph.  We must get to pavement so the rescue ship AAA can get to us’.

‘Ok, Captain… we are 32… 30… 27…  Faster Captain… we are at 24… 22…  I see the ‘slow dogs playing’ sign.  We can’t stop for slow dogs.  Keep going!  We are down to 20!  I see pavement!  Yes!  We made it and we still have 18 lbs of pressure!  The rescue ship AAA is on the way!’.

While we were waiting for AAA, Spouse worked on getting the spare out – that was an event.  We are now both dirty and tired.  AAA finished the job.  And at 7:30 pm, we were on our way… prime deer time…

We didn’t get home till almost 8:30 and poor Rudy was crying at the door.  He was so lovey…