Lawn Art?

This summer I decided to make a few changes to the driveway entry to our home. It took the form of some free style rock stacking and the tricycles have a story. When both Wendie my wife and I where 4 years old or so, our parents took a picture of us on our tricycles. Wendie found these trikes when her and Nancy were out shopping and looking for whatever.
She figured that I could do something with them. I just so happened to have a pile of rocks about 25 feet away, and they didn't look like they had anything else to do. So I moved them because they wouldn't move themselves.

Our early biker days.

End product. "Rocks and Trikes"

After I looked at it and was pleased with the creation, I thought where do I go from here?
After about a week or so I thought that something more was needed. Well I still had some rocks left and decided to try to make two stacked stone figures to go along with the trikes.

First I did this one.

The second one was completed soon after.

I'm not sure if something more is needed or not. Still a work in progress?
Hope you enjoyed this post from Hayward WI.

Interesting sights.

Wendie and I had to make a trip to Sioux Falls SD on Aug 18. Saw and interesting sight on the way down.
It was a BNSF unit train of wind generator rotar blades. They used 3 flat cars for each pair of blades. It appeared to be a load of about 50 blades. They used an engine at each end.

In the same area coming back the next day right outside Jasper MN we found this great collection of wind machines.

Alternative energy I guess never really died, it is just evolving for the better.

Day 9 - heading home

After getting up on thurs Aug 9, I had breakfast and checked the lastest weather report and decided to start the trip home and take advantage of the great weather. The ride home started cool but ended up being perfect for the ride home. I decided to end my day in Watertown SD. Stayed at the Econo-Lodge on the East end of town for ease of getting out of town the next morning. There is a Hy-Vee next door with a Market Cafe attached. It had great food and a super selection.
Pictures for the day started near Eagle Butte SD with a nice field of sunflowers.

Then when I got to the west side of the Missouri I stopped at a riverside picnic area.

A herd of Ford Crown Vic's in Lincoln Township SD.

The next day I was detoured through the town of Goodwin SD.

I also saw a solar garden being put in near Maynard MN.

Final tally. Gone 10 days, 2811 miles, 64 gals prem fuel, 43.9mpg, $2.93 per gal.
All-n-all a good trip.

Sturgis Day 8

Weds Aug 9 Carl led the group. Sorry very few pictures. We started out by going up Spearfish canyon to Cheyenne Crossing. After stopping for a drink, we headed up the hill to the turn for Rochford. It was a nice easy putt to Rochford and not to busy when we got there. After more liquids we headed to Deadwood for a little gambling. I lost and left and went back to camp to relax before dinner with Terresah down in Rapid City.

I like this Indian Scout.

Me in front of the Moonshine Gulch Saloon.

Sturgis day 7

Today Tuesday Aug 8 started out cool again. The mornings have been in the mid 50's. After breakfast I finished my blog and then went for a walk around the campground. I met Serenity (campground owners daughter) at the concession stand and gave her a T-shirt from the 1988 Sturgis rally. I've done this the past few years.

Later that evening I took another walk around the campground and took some pictures.
I thought it would be fuller by now. A smaller crowd is just fine with me.

And this is my spot. The brother-in-laws vehicle and trailer next door..

In between I went for a ride. I left the campground and headed out US212 to Alzada MT. You go from SD through WY and into MT in 20 miles. I headed for the Stoneville Saloon. It was topless tuesday. That meant the bartenders and anybody else that wanted to could go topless. I ended up not staying long. It was getting very crowded in a short period of time.

I only have G rated pictures on my posts.

Big crowd by 11am.

I left the Stoneville Saloon and took a circuitous route, ending up at Warren Peak fire tower.
Before leaving the tower I checked the radar and decided to head back to camp. It worked out that I missed all the rain, even the rain that fell at the campground.

A couple other pictures when I stopped to strech my legs.

The radar when I got back to camp.

I also got to see the train headed north with about 50 cars. It's main customer is the Bentinite plant in Colony WY. It's the product of 1000 uses. look it up.

It's carried in these style cars.

Not sure about wed. Maybe Spearfish canyon. We are to have dinner with Terresah in Rapid City.

Sturgis day 6, the big circle

Today Monday Aug 7th I decided to go down to Hot Springs SD. My friends there have a rock, antique, jewelry and glassware shop. It was good to see them and have some time to visit. I also stopped and took a few more pictures today.
A lot of the buildings in Hot Springs were made from the same type stone. I wonder where the quarry was.

And then there is the theatre.

After leaving Hot Springs I took the long way around to get back to camp. This way I avoided the rain around Hill City and Custer SD. I took a few photos around the Edgemont SD area. I was amazed at the number of BNSF locomotives being stored at that location. It must of been 200 of them. I know the coal business and the North Dakota oil business is down, but I was still surprised by the numbers.

I wonder what this buildings purpose was when first built? School?

Mileage for the day was about 285 miles.
A nice ride all in all. Not much traffic and good roads.