What a view!

WHEN? Wednesday · May 30

WHERE? Devils Tower Campground

Wendell and Mae Dean don't expect to tire of waking up to the magnificent view from their motorhome:

Creepy photography

WHEN? Sunday · May 27

WHERE? Devils Tower National Monument · find us on the map

Mae Dean's recent snapshot suggests an eerie (perhaps extra-terrestrial?) phenomenon at the exact location of Devils Tower!

Note: This image has not been photoshopped, altered or retouched

The nearest town is ten miles away

WHEN? Saturday · May 26

WHERE? Hulett, Wyoming · find us on the map

Sculptures of giant cowboy boots have been placed in various cities and towns throughout Wyoming. One in Hulett is pictured below, with Mae Dean providing a size comparison to indicate just how giant:

These winsome civic-art displays naturally bring to mind the Catfish on Parade exhibit in downtown Jackson, Mississippi several years ago.

See more Hulett photos on flickr

The hired help

WHEN? Thursday · May 24

WHERE? Devils Tower Picnic Pavillion

With Employee Orientation behind them, Devils Tower seasonal staff pigged out and visited at a potluck picnic. Mae Dean and Wendell are now ready to receive Summer sightseers, campers and climbers.

Suited up for work and lookin' good!

Treated to a special guest

WHEN? Wednesday · May 23

WHERE? Devils Tower Administration Building

Summer employees were treated to an inspirational talk by rodeo announcer and local celebrity Willie LeClair.

Road Hogs

WHEN? Monday · May 21

WHERE? Devils Tower Administration Building

Lots to learn! Devils Tower summer employees have been warned to avoid the overcrowded highways during August's Sturgis Bike Rally:

Going up-up-up

WHEN? Saturday · May 19

WHERE? Spearfish, South Dakota · find us on the map

When departing Spearfish for yesterday's travels, Wendell noticed a local station selling gas for $3.07 per gallon and made a mental note to fill up the Saturn there on the way back to Devils Tower.

Upon returning to Spearfish that afternoon, the same station's gas price had increased to $3.28 per gallon.

If you do-the-math, that's a 21¢ increase in just a few hours!

Remember when 99.9 seemed unthinkable?
Then again, it would be unthinkable today as well.

Scenic drive-thru

WHEN? Friday · May 18 · (today's second post)

WHERE? South Dakota's Black Hills · find us on the map

Although Mount Rushmore's a hard act to follow, Custer State Park was up to the task. Today's wildlife sightings:

My first pronghorn antelope

... only two bison

... and several wild burros

See more Custer State Park photos on flickr

A magnificent memorial

WHEN? Friday · May 18 · (today's first post)

WHERE? Keystone, South Dakota · find us on the map

A grand start to the three-day weekend:
The breathtaking Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Mae Dean wondered if Mt. Rushmore's creation was envisioned because of the monster-like "facial features" that naturally appear in the Black Hills:

Wendell promptly found his home state's granite marker:

See more Mount Rushmore photos on flickr

Dick Cheney golfed here

WHEN? Wednesday · May 16

WHERE? Hulett, Wyoming · find us on the map

Surprise! Even though Wendell and Mae Dean aren't golfers, they were pleased to discover The Golf Club at Devils Tower.

See more Golf Club photos on flickr

Close Encounters: We are not alone

WHEN? Tuesday · May 15

WHERE? Devils Tower National Monument · find us on the map

Wyoming's abundant native wildlife is a daily reminder that Mae Dean and Wendell's citi-fied lives have been left behind in Mississippi. Wendell reports that there's so many rabbits "you almost step on them", and Mae Dean has had daily encounters with herds of deer. A neighboring prairie dog town is such a prevalent part of the landscape that it's even included in the Devils Tower Park map. They've also seen many birds, including vultures, turkeys, a bald eagle, and the biggest robins Wendell's ever seen.

Turkey Vulture

At the top of the food chain ... kinda

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Gazillions of prairie dogs

This morning's well-camouflaged visitor

Erethizon dorsatum · Porcupine

VIP Orientation

WHEN? Monday · May 14 - Thursday · May 17

WHERE? Devils Tower Administration Building

Both Wendell and Mae Dean will serve this summer as Volunteers in the Park. This week they'll attend various employee-orientation classes. Wendell, who will work in the park's Visitor Center, has been told to expect overflow crowds of Summer tourists. Mae Dean's administrative job will include accepting all Devils Tower public-inquiry emails (perhaps hundreds per day?) – whew!

Devils Tower Administration Building

Whew!

WHEN? Sunday · May 13

WHERE? Devils Tower National Monument · find us on the map

Mothers Day morning began with brisk a hike along Joyner Ridge Trail, located on the park's north side. It was hard for Mae Dean to believe that this trail was only two-tenths of a mile longer than the one she walked a few days ago.

Morning views along Joyner Ridge Trail

See more Joyner Ridge Trail photos on flickr

Wish you were here

WHEN? Saturday · May 12

WHERE? Received in Olive Branch, Mississippi

Today's mail included a postcard from Wyoming:

The nation's geographical center

WHEN? Friday · May 11

WHERE? Spearfish, South Dakota · find us on the map

While in Spearfish to purchase final uniform gear, Mae Dean made arrangements to have several hundred photos swapped to a CD, to share them with friends and family.

Although details are currently unavailable, Wendell and Mae Dean also visited Belle Fourche, which means Beautiful Fork.

(find Belle Fourche on the map)

Getting down to business

WHEN? Thursday · May 10 (today's second post)

WHERE? Hulett, Wyoming · find us on the map

Although the National Park Service supplies the fancy name badges, employees are reimbursed for various uniform basics. After visiting the local stores this afternoon, Mae Dean plans to tackle the task of hemming several pairs of her slacks.

Communication to and from Devils Tower will be less convenient than family and friends have been accustomed to. Cellphone service isn't expected to be available at Devils Tower. As for Internet connections, the closest WiFi Hot Spot is provided at Devils Tower Trading Post, where Wendell and Mae Dean each enjoyed ice cream cones while catching up on recent emails.

The Tower Trail

WHEN? Thursday morning · May 10 · (today's first post)

WHERE? Devils Tower National Monument · find us on the map

Airstream parked at: Devils Tower Campground

Beautiful weather enhanced a 1.3 mile morning hike along the Tower Trail at the base of Devils Tower.

A typical view along the Tower Trail

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Mae Dean's not even winded!

Wendell provides size comparison for a great big boulder

See more Tower Trail photos on flickr

Moving Day

WHEN? Wednesday · May 9

WHERE? Devils Tower National Monument · find us on the map

Airstream parked at: The Official Campground of Devils Tower

Wendell and Mae Dean's accomodations are not actually part of the primitive campground available to public campers for a mere $12 per day. Instead, the Airstream is parked in one of two RV hookups available by the campground office.

Although this area of Wyoming typically gets little rainfall, 2007 has been a wet year, so they're surrounded by lots of green.

Welcome to the neighborhood!

Sundance Kids

WHEN? Tuesday afternoon · May 8 (today's third post)

WHERE? Back in Sundance, Wyoming · find us on the map

Airstream still parked at: Mountain View Campground

Before returning to the motorhome, a stop by the Crook County Museum included a bronze statue of convicted horse thief The Sundance Kid serving time in the local jail:

Sundance, Wyoming's claim to fame

See more Sundance photos on flickr

Thanks to Wi-Fi available at the campground in Spearfish, Wendell has listened to several Mississippi State baseball games.

Lots to see in South Dakota

WHEN? Tuesday afternoon · May 8 (today's second post)

WHERE? Spearfish, South Dakota · find us on the map

Airstream still parked at: Mountain View Campground

After touring the Buffalo Jump, Wendell stayed several steps ahead by planning the return drive to Sundance through Spearfish Canyon on its scenic byway, on which they passed Bridal Veil Falls.

See more Spearfish Canyon photos on flickr

Since Wendell and Mae Dean never tire of traveling such scenic byways, they also drove through Lead and Deadwood, South Dakota before returning to Sundance.

Small town charm

WHEN? Tuesday morning · May 8 (today's first post)

WHERE? Quaint Beulah, Wyoming · find us on the map

Airstream still parked at: Mountain View Campground

After visiting the Vore Buffalo Jump outside of Beulah, Mae Dean shared these links about this historic site:

• Vore Buffalo Jump Research, Education and Cultural Center
• Vore Buffalo Jump Foundation includes several nice panoramic displays

See more Vore Buffalo Jump photos on flickr

Jerry would be proud

WHEN? Sunday · May 6

WHERE? Sturgis, South Dakota · find us on the map

Airstream parked at: Mountain View Campground in Sundance

Mae Dean and Wendell toured Sturgis Motorcycle Museum, where they found a family historian and author's name in the museum's Hall of Fame.

See more Sturgis Motorcycle photos on flickr

Just visiting

WHEN? Saturday · May 5

WHERE? Devils Tower Campground · find us on the map

Airstream parked at the appropriately-named Mountain View Campground

Mae Dean and Wendell drove over to Devils Tower for a look-see at where they'll spend the summer. Both noticed that the Visitor Center where Wendell expects to be working was half the size they were expecting.

Park entrance

The Wild West

WHEN? Friday · May 4

WHERE? Sundance, Wyoming · find us on the map

Airstream parked at: Mountain View Campground

Wendell's navigational skills are right on target!

He and Mae Dean are now ready to Discover Wyoming.

Current weather conditions: Overcast to rainy (aka dreary)

All you ever wanted to know about
The Equality State

Just bluffing

WHEN? Wednesday · May 2 · / · Thursday · May 3

WHERE? Gering, Nebraska · find us on the map

Airstream parked at: Robidoux RV Park

Scotts Bluff National Monument

Original Indian name ma-a-pe-te means
hill that is hard to go around

In the footsteps of weary travelers from centuries past, Wendell and Mae Dean visited Scotts Bluff National Monument.

See more Scotts Bluff photos on flickr

After learning about the area's Oregon Trail history, Mae Dean recalled a popular educational computer game that Lori played in grade school.