Author: Van-Tramp

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Badlands National Park

We nearly had to pass by Badlands National Park in central South Dakota, but as luck would have it (what does that saying even mean?) we had made the trip out no matter the hell-on-earth-heat that was rolling through South Dakota. Actually, we took numerous trips into the park over...

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A 3 year old Moose

A few weeks after finding a dog in the Washington forest, I accepted that he was now my travel partner and brought him into the local vet to start his shots and vaccinations (yea, I vaccinate). It was that first visit that the vet gave me a ballpark on Moose‘s...

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Wind Cave National Park

The plan was to loiter in the Black Hills for a few weeks and take our time to see all the sights. Unfortunately, family matters have once again changed our plans. We need to get back to an International Airport for Kerri to fly back to California in early August...

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Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse

We had found an “OK” spot (not great, but would have done the trick) to camp in the National Forest, but thanks to the heat of being waaaay down here at 4,000 ft elevation, we chose to home base out of an RV park in Custer, SD so the A/C...

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Jewel Cave National Monument

With our arrival into South Dakota happening a bit earlier than expected, we had a day of freedom to explore before settling into our work week. It has been a while since I went underground, so why not eh? Jewel Cave National Monument (my 76th National Park visited since starting...

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Agate Fossil Beds National Monument

I don’t want to talk bad about Nebraska, but the truth is that Nebraska’s National Parks are… well… boring. Scott’s Bluff was cool and all, for the 30 minutes it takes to visit, but Agate Fossil Beds National Monument (my 75th National Park visited) was very “blah”, especially considering how...

The big 4-5 3

The big 4-5

Ah crap, I’m officially over the hill now. Today, July 22nd, is my 45th birthday. I don’t celebrate birthdays thanks to my Jehovah’s Witnesses upbringing (that surprised you didn’t it? Just breathe, it will be OK) but if anyone wants to send cash… or maybe gold since either one of...

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Scotts Bluff National Monument

It was quickly realized, that we are not at 8000+ feet anymore, once we exited the air conditioned truck after two hours of driving through Cheyenne, WY and into Nebraska. The heat and humidity was quick to slap us awake to the reality of summer in the Midwest USA. It...

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Camping and hiking in Vedauwoo

The Vedauwoo is an area of large granite rock formations just off Interstate 80 near Laramie, WY. The granite is said to be 1.4 billion years old, and some of the oldest (and most fun, in my opinion) rock in Wyoming. It is here that we setup camp for the...

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Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site

We spent a portion of an afternoon at the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historical Site which marks the only time we went into Laramie proper during our stay here. We toured the old prison which was in use from the 1870’s to 1903 both as a Federal and State penitentiary,...