Messner Memoirs: Wild West Adventure-Summer 2012 (Part 2)

After we left the Badlands, we drove to Wall, South Dakota. We were ready for some lunch by then! When we got into town we saw a BBQ place called “Fat Boy’s BBQ”. That sounded really good to Jeff and I (not sure why?) so we decided to try it. No one was there (that was a bit scary) but it was 2:00 pm, not exactly the lunch hour. They had a special that day of bbq sandwich that was a beef and pork mixture with waffle fries. That sounded good to everyone except daddy who noticed they had buffalo bbq (and I think Jacob got chicken fingers) Anyway, it was fabulous! Everyone loved it! The “beef/pork mixture” was wonderful! And that was the best waffle fries I have ever tasted! If you are in Wall, SD, be sure to stop in Fat Boys BBQ and see what you think.

After we ate, we went down the street to Wall Drugs. They are famous because back in the “day”, they had no customers. (I think this was during the great depression) so they started advertising “free water”. Everyone would stop in just to get their free water. They still advertise that (though it is just a small bathroom cup size of water).

Wait! I missed a few pictures from the Badlands…

Ok, now on to Wall, S.D.

In front of Wall Drugs, Wall, South Dakota. We all enjoyed a delicious ice cream treat!

Wall Drugs

This was a really cool place! It was much bigger than I expected. There were lots of little shops there. I was on the look-out for unique hair barrettes and found one I really like here. It is made out of real horse hair!

Worn out from all the driving and fighting the wind….

We spent the night in Keystone, S.D. which is right outside of Mt. Rushmore. The place was very crowded! Jeff had a hard time finding us rooms for that night (again) but we stayed in an Econo Lodge. It wasn’t the nicest place, but it was clean and safe and very close to Mt. Rushmore. We were thankful for a place to lay our head. Jeff and I had a really pretty view out our window. Mom said their room was so small they had to “go outside to change their mind”. Ha! The boys slept on the floor that night. Sad smile

That evening we went to Mt. Rushmore! Wow! I can’t say enough about our experience there. Here are the pictures. They don’t do it justice, but other than going there yourself, it’s the best I can do.

Wish I had gotten a better shot of the flags. There is one for each state lining the walkway up to the “view of the mountain”.

Jorden tried to get a good picture of this bird, but it wouldn’t turn his head around. I have no idea what kind it was, but it was very pretty. Not one you see in Alabama.

Messner Family 2012!

Getting ready to watch the patriotic program/light show. It was very cold!

These pictures turned out disappointing. We haven’t learned how to use our camera at night for long distances….

The Park Ranger called all the men and women who had served or were currently serving in one of our armed forces to come down to the platform to be honored for their service to our country. Pop served in the Army.

We were so proud to have him join the other brave men and women! (Doing the Pledge of Allegiance)

Mt Rushmore at night

Again, I wish these pictures weren’t blurry! All these great men and women got a standing ovation! It was very moving. They had us sing our National Anthem and then they picked a few of the service men/women to lower the flag for the end of the program.

The next day wee drove up to Custer State Park. We toured the Visitor’s Center, took a short hike and then let the boys pan for gold with one of the “Ranger Programs”. Jacob really enjoyed that.

We wanted to see a live one of these so bad! They told us they like to hang out at Mt. Rushmore, even walk out on the “faces” sometimes….

Wanted to see a live one of these too….there are only 26 in the park. They were all hiding that day. Sad smile

Getting ready to pan for gold!

Jeff was looking for a pink quartz…

I think daddy had as much fun as the boys did.

You have to look REALLY close here. But there was a little water snake in by the middle rocks. I didn’t have my zoom lens with me so it didn’t turn out very well. That was the only snake we saw on this wild west trip. Smile

“O give me a home where the buffalo roam, and the deer and the antelope play…”

We asked around for the best place to view buffalo. There was a certain area that they tend to “hang out” so we drove around till we found it.

Baby buffalo crossing!

Lunch time

Excuse me while I cross the road…

If buffalo can be called “beautiful” this one was a beaut! He was the only one that had lost all of his winter coat and looked normal.

The antelope part of that song….

This was a burro who was standing in the road. He came right up to our van, but we kept moving. Daddy stopped so they could see him closer and mom could take a picture. I wish I had the one she took to put on here. He would have stuck his head in her window had she not rolled it up! Instead he rubbed it on their side mirror. It was so funny. He looked like he was about 110 yrs old! Daddy said it was a left over from the old gold miners who used to come looking for gold…maybe his great, great, great granddaddy….???

More flags, blowing in the wind!

On our way to Crazy Horse we saw this view of “George”. Pretty cool!

That night we went to Crazy Horse. The worlds largest mountain carving, located in the Black Hills. Now there’s a story…http://crazyhorsememorial.org/ We watched a short video about the history of this carving. It was amazing! I wasn’t sure what I would think about this place, but I was really impressed. They do not accept any government money/help so it is taking YEARS to get the carving done. To put the size of it in perspective, all of Mt. Rushmore (the faces) would fit inside the side of his face (back where there is no carving yet). Anyway, this was a fascinating place. It was more pricy than Rushmore, but they put on a very impressive light/laser show with music. The worst part was how cold I was. A blanket would have been nice. Jeff didn’t wear a coat and he had a thin blanket wrapped around him but it didn’t help my legs much…ha! ha!

Thursday we headed out on the road again.

Wild life we saw along the road. There were tons of them!

We stopped in Lusk, WY at a Subway to eat lunch. While there we ran into a lady who was wearing Auburn flip flops! Mom asked her if she was from Alabama and she gave us a strange look. (probably forgot she was wearing her beautiful flip flops!!) Then said “yes”. Turned out she was from Decatur, Al. Small world!

We stopped at Ft. Laramie, WY to view the Oregon Trail. That was a really neat thing for me! I love historical fiction and non-fiction about the early west. It was neat to see the “jumping off place” for all those early settlers who were headed to Oregon, and California.

Marker for the Oregon Trail

Taylor was feeling pretty crummy this day. He was freezing when we went in to the visitor’s center to view a short film on the Oregon Trail.

Apparently, Jorden was freezing too?

It was very windy and very HOT! Thank goodness it was windy!

Bull Thistle

The Laramie River

The Oregon Trail!!

The settlers were so poor, that they didn’t have anything to build their houses out of so they came to the fort (after our government closed it down) and stole all the materials they could use. This is what is left…

We finally made it to Wheatland, WY! This is what was waiting on us!! Actually, though it tied knots in my stomach, we never really ran into any rain. I think God heard my prayer! Smile You can see a long way up there!!

Bro. Walt Hedstrom, our conference President and very good friend, has a brother-Alvin, who lives on and works for a ranch near Wheatland, WY. When he found out we were making this trip at west, he encouraged us to spend a few nights on the “ranch”. We are so glad we did!

On the drive out to the Cross C Ranch

Horses at the Cross C

In the back yard…

Beautiful!

The cabin at the Ranch

In front of the cabin there was a wonderful deck to sit on and fish or just relax and enjoy the pond/lake. I’m not sure what you would call it, but we really enjoyed it! Smile

First thing!

Rainbow trout!

Showing off his catch…(and release)

Daddy let Jacob help him reel in another one

Getting ready to release him

Showing Jorden the ropes of fly fishing…

Daddy and Jorden, fly fishing on the other side…

I believe they have shot a few deer/elk here, what do you think? I forgot to take pictures on the inside of the cabin. There are elk, deer and caribou hanging everywhere, all shot by the owner of the Cross C Ranch.

Jeff took me in the Land Cruiser for a ride off the beaten path (and I do mean beaten! We learned where they get the term “wash board road” from.)

Don’t know what this flower is called. I looked it up, but had no results. Didn’t look like something you would want to pick, but it was very pretty.

An enormous dandelion gone to seed…

Jeff enjoying driving the Land Cruiser

There were some really pretty wildflowers growing there.

Jorden has been wanting to practicing to driving, so Jeff thought this would be a great time. The Land Cruiser was a stick shift, what better way to learn?

One happy teenager!

They had a paddle boat that we were allowed to use. Jacob especially loved this!

Adding another body to the boat…

And yet another body…notice how low the boat is sitting in the back??? Hmmm…yes! I was a nervous wreck on the deck. Notice that no one had a life jacket on?

I finally convinced Jeff to move to the middle.

Taylor and Jorden take it for a spin.

I think Jorden likes “driving” the boat!

Friday was a special day for Jeff and I. We celebrated 21 years together!

Jeff, showing me how you drive the boat

So much fun!

The week he asked me to marry him (21 yrs ago) he took me to several different places. One of them was Oak Mt. State Park, in Alabama. We went paddle boating…This is the first time we have done that since that week…. Smile

NanNaw gets in on the fun!

Relaxing time…

More fishing

Water gun fun….

Now they’ve got Pop in the middle of this…

They had so much fun playing in the water!

Pop got a little wet here….(but he asked for it!)

God’s Beauty!

This guy came down our last night there to drink from the water.

He blended well with the landscape.

Isn’t he beautiful?

Messner Men

So glad Pop got to go with us again! This is his 4 trip with us! We are so blessed!

This picture cracks me up! I didn’t know Jorden was “up of the rock” like that. No one caught it! He said he was afraid to sit down on the deer antlers…(ever thought of moving them? Ha!)