The Wagon Queen Family Truckster Goes Northwest - Update 10/3 pg 6 (Canada)

[middlepat]

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

Are the Wall Drug billboards (that I’m sure stretch back across the entire state) as entertaining as the ones for “South of the Boarder”, or do the folks in South Dakota show a bit more restraint then the folks in South Carolina?

Having never been to South of the Border (or South Carolina for that matter) I can't comment on this. Wall Drug does have billborads on I-90 for 500 miles or so, but they are fairly tame in their content.

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

Hope she got to feeling better. Ornery can quickly put a crimp in your whole day

{ominous forshadowing}

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

And... I didn’t know about the Flags memorial part of the site or the origin of “Black Hills”.
You learn something new every day if you aren’t careful.

Don't worry too much, this is a middlepat production, redeemable content is few and far between.

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

They should have added that detail to the website as well.

I reviewing the website at a later time, I realized they did have the tour times there, I just didn't commit that to memory.

[middlepat]

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

I'm still trying to figure out if that is meant as a compliment or an insult.

Oh that's definitely a compliment.... isn't it?.... isn't it?

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

A trip report that actually tells it the way it really happened.

We like to "keep it real" here at middlepat productions. (don't worry, it won't get too real though)

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

Not so excellent timing.
Always fun when you make the effort to do the research and plan it out just so the plan can be blown to pieces.

I seem to have a knack of researching things to the 90% level and forgetting the important last 10% of things.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

Well, look at it this way. At least she was still talking to you.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

That 15 minutes thing is kind of becoming a running theme.

Um, yeah. 15 minutes can really throw a wrench in your day, can't it.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

It isn't an official DIS Dad trip report until his wife has to come in and correct an omission.

to my DW who's always there with a helping hand to correct my errors and ommissions.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Brian is a lot like Barry and me, only more evil-er.

This coming from the guy who lives near the Murder-Kill-Death-To-All River or something like that. I'm the evil one. Sure, we'll go with that.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Not me! Wall Drug: the South of the Border of the West.

Because we're in Wall so often, right?

These might help with pictures:
http://walldrug.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Drug

Apparently my nemesis is also willing to point out an error / ommission in my TR as well. Thanks Captain.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

I see Delaware's flag! We're #1! We're #1!

I suppose we have to give that one to you. Of course, when the last thing you can say that you were #1 at happened in 1776, you are getting pretty close to Loveable Loser status, ala the Cubs.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Below that it says, "...Bribed first public official: 1819."

I think you don't quite understand Illinois yet. For us to get admitted to the union, we had to bribe plenty of public officials.

Also, to give this a bit of a Disney tie in, Illinois is similar to the Haunted Mansion, just because you're dead doesn't mean you can't vote.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Did they have a big talking moose in front of the visitor center that you could punch out?

No, but they did have a park ranger that I considered hijacking at gun point to take me on the elevator ride....

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

"Oh, I know you're emotionall devastated, but don't worry honey. Tomorrow, if you're good, I'll buy you a popsicle."

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Drop Shannon off and pick her up on the way back?

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

It's sort of like watching Mystery Science Theater 3000. Sometimes it's fun to wallow in the truly craptacular. Hopefully you got to see some jackalopes.

I actually have to agree with you here Captain. I think your analogy here is bang on the mark. (OK Barry that's for you too).

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

I think they're more restrained than the SotB billboards. They save the main event for the store itself.

Um, yeah... that's it.

[erika412]

Originally Posted by middlepat

I reviewing the website at a later time, I realized they did have the tour times there, I just didn't commit that to memory.

Oh, is that right? I don't remember you telling me that. Hmm.

[Captain_Oblivious]

Originally Posted by middlepat

This coming from the guy who lives near the Murder-Kill-Death-To-All River or something like that. I'm the evil one. Sure, we'll go with that.

Well, I haven't actually sent anyone down that river...yet.

Originally Posted by middlepat

Apparently my nemesis is also willing to point out an error / ommission in my TR as well. Thanks Captain.

Anytime, buddy.

Originally Posted by middlepat

I suppose we have to give that one to you. Of course, when the last thing you can say that you were #1 at happened in 1776, you are getting pretty close to Loveable Loser status, ala the Cubs.

Just let us have this one moment!

Originally Posted by middlepat

I think you don't quite understand Illinois yet. For us to get admitted to the union, we had to bribe plenty of public officials.

Good point.

Originally Posted by middlepat

I actually have to agree with you here Captain. I think your analogy here is bang on the mark. (OK Barry that's for you too).

Wow...high praise from my nemesis! Must be a full moon.

[middlepat]

So as we pulled away from Jewel Cave disappointed and unsatisfied we headed over to our hotel in Gillette WY.

For this night we were staying at a Fairfield Inn and Suites. This was a nice hotel for us as we had stayed at this brand previously and we got the same layout that we had the previous stay. This included 2 queen beds and a pull out couch. The only knock on this particular night was that the beds were a little too soft. (DW and I both prefer a little more support) Overall this hotel got a B rating.

So where were we.... oh yeah, to change plans or continue according to schedule.... well you guessed it, we changed course. Of course we changed course. Can I say course one more time just for fun? Of course!

So at the hotel, I pulled out the handy dandy laptop and connected to the free WiFi provided by our Fairfield Inn and Suites hotel to not only cancel our next night's hotel room, but then jump on to the AAA.com site and start working on how we could re-direct to be able to go back to Jewel Cave. So after some wheeling and dealing I was able to change our plans to go back to Jewel Cave and then we would make our way around the Eastern and Southern parts of Wyoming to set up for the following day through the national parks.

With that out of the way, a decent night's sleep and some hotel provided breakfast, we once again loaded up the van and headed back to Jewel Cave.




So we get our tickets to go into the cave where our tour guide informs us that Jewel Cave is the second longest cave in the world, with over 150 miles of mapped passages. On average, volunteer cavers discover and map over 3 miles of passages in Jewel Cave every year! (or did I steal that from our national parks website. )
Actually our tour guide was very good and very informative. He also mentioned that there was an opportunity for volunteers to explore more of the caves and one spot had only a 7 inch wide passage. Guess I won't be able to help out in that section of the cave.

Here are some of the views inside the cave.





One thing I forgot to mention is that when you enter the cave they tell you that you are not to touch the walls or rocks as they don't want to introduce the oils from our fingers as this could deteriorate the crystals in the cave. The reason that I mention this now is that there is.....

ONE ROCK WHICH MUST BE TOUCHED.

Here is Shannon with "The rock that must be touched".



And here is a closer picture of the crystals that give the cave it's "Jewel Cave" name.





So having been through the short tour of the cave since we felt that Megan was not old enough to do the Scenic tour, we once again packed up and headed back to Wyoming for our scenic tour of.... Wyoming.

Actually, the area where Jewel Cave is had a bad forest fire a few years back and there was still some residual effects on the landscape as seen here:





It was very stark against the lush forest that we were driving through. I do believe that fire brings life, especially in the forest, but the impact on the scenery was very impressionable.

Coming up next.... Wyoming, Wyoming and more Wyoming.... and an unexpected blast from the past.

[KatMark]

Brian, I somehow missed updates (my brother was in the hospital and I got all backed-up). Great pictures of Mt. Rushmore. I was in South Dakota way back in like 1976 or something and NEVER got there for some reason. The Jewel Cave pictures are neat too (although I have to admit...not a fan of caves: caves equal bats and and I do NOT do anything with bats).

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Originally Posted by middlepat

So where were we.... oh yeah, to change plans or continue according to schedule.... well you guessed it, we changed course. Of course we changed course. Can I say course one more time just for fun? Of course!

Of course you can change course because you set the course in the first place so as a matter of course your entitled to change said course, and…

A horse is a horse, of course of course,
and no one can talk to a horse of course,
that is of course, unless the horse,
Is the famous Mister Ed!

Originally Posted by middlepat

So at the hotel, I pulled out the handy dandy laptop

Don’t leave home with out it…

Originally Posted by middlepat

…and connected to the free WiFi provided by our Fairfield Inn and Suites

That’s better then the deal at WDW

Originally Posted by middlepat

…to not only cancel our next night's hotel room, but then jump on to the AAA.com site and start working on how we could re-direct to be able to go back to Jewel Cave.

‘Cause you’re a dad... that’s what you do.

Originally Posted by middlepat

So we get our tickets to go into the cave where our tour guide informs us that Jewel Cave is the second longest cave in the world, with over 150 miles of mapped passages.

That’s one very big hole in the ground

Originally Posted by middlepat

there was an opportunity for volunteers to explore more of the caves and one spot had only a 7 inch wide passage.

I’ve seen me in the mirror before… it ain’t happenin’.

Originally Posted by middlepat

The reason that I mention this now is that there is.....

ONE ROCK WHICH MUST BE TOUCHED.

Cool… at least they tossed you a bone… errrr… rock.

Originally Posted by middlepat

Here is Shannon with "The rock that must be touched".

Good thing, ‘cause someone would be touching something. Just the fact that they asked you not to… ensures that someone, somewhere in that cave, who would otherwise never even have thought to do so, would be compelled to do so.

Let’s hear it for the “Rock That Must Be Touched” for taking one for the team.

Originally Posted by middlepat

Coming up next.... Wyoming, Wyoming and more Wyoming....

We spent a week driving across Kansas one day…
I suspect you saw more in Wyoming than we saw in Kansas.




Actually… all kidding aside, I’m enjoying you TR. This part of the US has its own unique grandeur. It makes me think of words first used by Buzz Aldrin to describe the lunar surface: “Magnificent Desolation”. That’s what I’m seeing here and your doing a good job of guiding us through the landscape.

[afwdwfan]

Originally Posted by middlepat

Gillette WY

I've been there!

Originally Posted by middlepat

So after some wheeling and dealing I was able to change our plans to go back to Jewel Cave and then we would make our way around the Eastern and Southern parts of Wyoming to set up for the following day through the national parks.

Good work!

Originally Posted by middlepat

He also mentioned that there was an opportunity for volunteers to explore more of the caves and one spot had only a 7 inch wide passage.

*Volunteers with claustrophobia need not apply

Originally Posted by middlepat

Here are some of the views inside the cave.

Gotta say, I was expecting one of the pictures to be nothing but blackness.

[Captain_Oblivious]

Originally Posted by middlepat

So where were we.... oh yeah, to change plans or continue according to schedule.... well you guessed it, we changed course. Of course we changed course. Can I say course one more time just for fun? Of course!

Was there a golf course involved? That's the best kind.

Originally Posted by middlepat

So after some wheeling and dealing I was able to change our plans to go back to Jewel Cave and then we would make our way around the Eastern and Southern parts of Wyoming to set up for the following day through the national parks.

Nice work. Every road trip calls for flexibility. And good bargaining skills.

Originally Posted by middlepat

So we get our tickets to go into the cave where our tour guide informs us that Jewel Cave is the second longest cave in the world, with over 150 miles of mapped passages.

I wonder what the longest could be...

Originally Posted by middlepat

He also mentioned that there was an opportunity for volunteers to explore more of the caves and one spot had only a 7 inch wide passage.

That rules out all of the dads. Too many Dole Whips. Here, Megan, take this flashlight and a sketchpad. We'll meet you in 8 hours.

Originally Posted by middlepat

Here is Shannon with "The rock that must be touched".

Where are the other kids? Did they vanish after touching it?

Good stuff Brian! Looking forward to more of...Wyoming.

[middlepat]

Originally Posted by KatMark

Brian, I somehow missed updates (my brother was in the hospital and I got all backed-up). Great pictures of Mt. Rushmore. I was in South Dakota way back in like 1976 or something and NEVER got there for some reason. The Jewel Cave pictures are neat too (although I have to admit...not a fan of caves: caves equal bats and and I do NOT do anything with bats).

KatMark, glad to have you back. As you can see, we really fly by over here, so if you miss a month, you'll only be 1 page behind.

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

Of course you can change course because you set the course in the first place so as a matter of course your entitled to change said course, and…

A horse is a horse, of course of course,
and no one can talk to a horse of course,
that is of course, unless the horse,
Is the famous Mister Ed!

This is funny mostly because as I was reading my post internally, I was singing this exact song....

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

‘Cause you’re a dad... that’s what you do.

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

I’ve seen me in the mirror before… it ain’t happenin’.

You stole my mirror?

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

Good thing, ‘cause someone would be touching something. Just the fact that they asked you not to… ensures that someone, somewhere in that cave, who would otherwise never even have thought to do so, would be compelled to do so.

Let’s hear it for the “Rock That Must Be Touched” for taking one for the team.

Yay for the rock!!!

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

We spent a week driving across Kansas one day…
I suspect you saw more in Wyoming than we saw in Kansas.

I've done the Kansas run before as well (Denver to St. Louis) and I can say with certainty that yes there is more to see in Wyoming.

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

Actually… all kidding aside, I’m enjoying you TR. This part of the US has its own unique grandeur. It makes me think of words first used by Buzz Aldrin to describe the lunar surface: “Magnificent Desolation”. That’s what I’m seeing here and your doing a good job of guiding us through the landscape.

I'm so glad that I can guide you though desolation?
All kidding aside, I absolutely agree that the simplicity of the landscape in that part of the country is amazing in both it's simplicity as well as it's beauty.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

I've been there!

Sorry

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

Gotta say, I was expecting one of the pictures to be nothing but blackness.

Thanks for the vote of confidence in my photography ability.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Was there a golf course involved? That's the best kind.

Although when I hit the golf course the following quote may also apply:

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

That’s one very big hole in the ground

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Nice work. Every road trip calls for flexibility. And good bargaining skills.

Isn't that the beauty of the good old American Road Trip, flexibility. For example, if you say get sidetracked by a hurricane or something, you can point your car in a different direction. (sorry trying to stay topical)

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

I wonder what the longest could be...

I'm not sure...
It would be nice if someone had a trip report about that cave.... (subtle enough hint Mark?)

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

That rules out all of the dads. Too many Dole Whips. Here, Megan, take this flashlight and a sketchpad. We'll meet you in 8 hours.

Here Megan, use this to map out the cave,

but be careful you don't shake it.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Where are the other kids? Did they vanish after touching it?

There's some magic in that stone. It calms the mighty beast.... or they were busy touching the rocks that must NOT be touched, one of the 2.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Good stuff Brian! Looking forward to more of...Wyoming.

Thanks Mark. More to come soon.

[erika412]

Originally Posted by middlepat

This is funny mostly because as I was reading my post internally, I was singing this exact song....

Thank god you were singing it internally too.

Originally Posted by middlepat

I've done the Kansas run before as well

Careful there, you don't want to make people think you've taken up running and are running marathons.

[FreezinRafiki]

Originally Posted by middlepat

So as we pulled away from Jewel Cave disappointed and unsatisfied we headed over to our hotel in Gillette WY.

Bummer about the cave thing, but at least Gillettte WY is the best a man can get. Or something like that.

Originally Posted by middlepat

(DW and I both prefer a little more support)

Go Brian! You can do it! We believe in you!

(Is that enough support?)

Originally Posted by middlepat

So where were we.... oh yeah, to change plans or continue according to schedule.... well you guessed it, we changed course. Of course we changed course. Can I say course one more time just for fun? Of course!

I hate being late the comment party. Rob already took the Mr Ed joke and Mark took the golf course. Well, I guess I shouldn't be to coarse on myself. I just need to try harder next time.

Originally Posted by middlepat

So at the hotel, I pulled out the handy dandy laptop and connected to the free WiFi provided by our Fairfield Inn and Suites hotel

WAIT! Did you get a sponsorship deal for this TR? How much are you pulling down? After taxes.

Originally Posted by middlepat

So after some wheeling and dealing I was able to change our plans to go back to Jewel Cave and then we would make our way around the Eastern and Southern parts of Wyoming to set up for the following day through the national parks.

You're middle name's not Mapquest for nothing, is it?

Originally Posted by middlepat

and some hotel provided breakfast, we once again loaded up the van and headed back to Jewel Cave.

You should have mentioned the hotel name again. Keep the sponsors happy.

Originally Posted by middlepat

ONE ROCK WHICH MUST BE TOUCHED.

What if you don't touch the rock? Do they jam you though the 7" opening and make you sit there until you decide to touch the rock?

And how to you get through a 7" opening without touching a rock?

Originally Posted by middlepat

I do believe that fire brings life

That's what I told the arson investigator when my neighbor's garage caught fire, but we wasn't buying it.

[KatMark]

Just popping over to see if any kind of updates going on over here. Alas, I do not see one (kind of reminds me of emma's dad and his updates--don't happen).

[middlepat]

Originally Posted by KatMark

Just popping over to see if any kind of updates going on over here. Alas, I do not see one (kind of reminds me of emma's dad and his updates--don't happen).

Hi Kat! So I'm getting grouped in with Don? I better get an update done soon.

[KatMark]

Originally Posted by middlepat

Hi Kat! So I'm getting grouped in with Don? I better get an update done soon.

Yes, you best. I'll be in Disney three weeks from today and I don't want to be trying to read TR's while I'm on my trip.