It is now Tuesday June 4th, and we have been gone 10 days, with only 25 more to go. Now, I know how that sounds, but really it’s been great. We have already put so much “vacation” into our time that I have four separate photo albums, with over 350 photos in them, so get ready for the vacation pictures! We will have a Vacation Picture Viewing Party at the house after we return and decompress, as long as Ryan hasn’t burned the place down.
Last time I spoke with him, he said he burned down half the house, but he said he got Dirk and
Ryan says Dirk and Dixie miss me terribly and are barely eating. Ok, I made him tell me that part. Actually he sends me pictures via the phone and email almost every day and the kids are having a great time. He brought his Lab, Parker, over and said Parker could have been a cow for as much as Dirk cared there was another dog in the yard.
Well, as soon as we got up into the panhandle, we started to realize that leaving in a motor home on Memorial Day weekend, to go camping in the State or National Park system in Alabama, was a bad idea. It would have been OK, but one of use did not want to make reservations. So we ended up bypassing 
which is also beautifully maintained and the county seat. This is a thriving town from what we could see. There were probably only 3 or 4 vacant storefronts, and there were an eclectic mix of shops.; from a party supply store, to medical supply to bail bonds. There were several restaurants to choose from. We selected the local favorite, which happens to be our favorite kind of restaurant. Over 100 years ago that building started out as a stable, and downstairs the stalls are still there. There is also a "Liars Table", where the local politicians and busybodies sit when they come in for breakfast or lunch. The restaurant was exactly what I would have cast in the town if I were making a movie. But wait I am not done with Woodbury....they have a DRIVE IN. No really, I swear. First run movies, double features on two screens, so technically four movies, three nights a week. We had to go, so we saw Indiana Jones and Iron Man. It was so fun.
Before we could leave Woodbury we saw a billboard advertising a Renaissance Festival. When we looked it up on the map it was within 10 minutes of where we were boon-docking, Walmart. Remember I said there was no camping in Alabama for Memorial Weekend, same in Tennessee, no biggie, I am working on being a converted fan of Walmart. I know shocked gasps from certain people. I still don't like the crowds, but darn those prices...anyway, on to the Renaissance Festival.
What makes this one unique is that it is the only one held on the grounds of a real castle. With acres of forest and grass around it. The only negative is, that about 10 years ago the state came in and put an interstate through the back of his property, like 3 acres away. It's not like in Florida, now the guy is on a giant cliff, which actually makes it kind of romantic. You can't see or hear the traffic.
The 
big picture is an actual front shot of the castle that the guy built on his own, with 
his own money and labor over the course of twenty years. The little picture on the left, that is the entrance the the actual festival that is held on the grounds of the castle under the trees. It just winds along paths cut out through the forest, where you could just happen upon the next picture; fairies sleeping in the grass. One does not wake fairies though, they tend to be grumpy. Seriously though, the whole festival was cool. If you have never been to one before, it is something you should do at least once. The people that go to these things REALLY, REALLY get into it, so it almost as much fun people watching as it is watching the shows or shopping.
Back on the road; In Kansas City we treated ourselves to some legendary BBQ at Jack Stacks. We timed it wrong for BBQ in St Louis, so we pushed through for a late supper in KC. It was worth it. The building alone was pretty cool.
Next stop, Badlands, South Dakota. I am not even really sure where to begin. I thought I knew what to expect after doing some reading before we arrived, but the beauty of the land and the geology really take your breath away. We have been to the Grand Canyon, and I have to say I think that this was better. It was more accessible and so much less crowded.
There were animals everywhere. We saw pronghorn, mule deer, prairie dogs, and of course buffalo.
There was a main road that drove through the park, but you could go anywhere in the park you wanted, as long as your vehicle could safely navigate the road. Which leads me to my first really great adventure of the vacation.
SO..Dugger and I are exploring a back road in the Wrangler. Keep in mind the following picture as a visual of what it looks like all around us. That's the Wrangler with the kayak strapped to the top way off in the distance in the picture. 
We were a couple of miles deep on the reservation checking things out and getting some amazing pictures, when we started getting a little more water on the road than we had seen up to this point. I was not worried, I knew he can handle it, and I knew the Rubicon could too. I wanted to get a picture of the Jeep with water up over the top of her tires, but I didn't want to use my digital camera, because I didn't want anything to happen to it. (foreshadowing!) So I used my camera phone and held it out of the window really far to get a good shot of the water splashing, when BAM! there's a hole, and SPLASH! there goes the phone. Seriously. I can officially say that South Dakota mud will not do a phone any good. Therefore we are using Dugger's phone the remainder of the trip.
On that note, I will sign off for now...coming up next Custer State Park and baby Buffalo, a visit to the Roo Ranch with pictures of us holding a baby Kangaroo, and an underground gold mine.
From Deadwood South Dakota,
The Dugger's
