Before we could leave the Badlands we had to make one last trip to the Visitor’s center for the last purchases: a Junior Ranger hat for Christabel, books for Elias, water bottles for the RV. Today is July 4th so we wanted to take the kids to Custer, S.D. We were here 8 years ago for the 4th and it was so fun that we thought that the kids would like that too. I found on-line that there was to be an old-time parade and fair in the afternoon and a kid’s area for old-time games. After a drive thru the black hills we got to Custer when it started pouring rain. We dropped off the RV at the park and then went downtown to the fair. The fair was held at the historic courthouse and ... read more

We did arrive in Yellowstone but not when we wanted, it was late in the evening and the park campgrounds were full. I should have guessed that the campgrounds would be full before leaving but I had no time to think about this trip so I was just hoping that our luck would hold out. We looked for a campground in West Yellowstone but everything was full so ended up driving back west to something a little further out where we snagged the last site. Looked like lots of people were in the same situation. It was Christabel’s turn to make dinner and she had chosen to make French toast and crumbled sausage. We’d found some fresh gluten free bread at Whole Foods so I was able to eat with everyone. By the time we’d parked ... read more

It seems like so many trips have mini disasters just as we are trying to leave: kids have emergency issues; appliances break down like the fridge and freezer last year. And so this year is no different. I had a ton of stuff to do before we could leave; needless to say it included about 8 loads of laundry and getting our RV home. I started a load of clothes 1st thing in the morning and then at 8 called the RV repair shop. The guy who answered the phone said he would call right back. I went to check the clothes only to find that the washer had stopped washing and was doing nothing. I started the machine but when I went back later I found that it had stopped again and clothes were soaking ... read more

So having been home for a few weeks it is now time to start major planning on our upcoming road trip as we leave on Sat. Talk about putting things off until the last minute. Last year on our way home from Alaska a wheel bearing burned up and Dale patched it enough to make it home. We took the RV into the shop finally and found that all 4 wheels needed repairs, the fridge vent cover was falling apart and needed to be replaced and that a board was out on the water heater. Dale wanted to do the repairs but the shop came down in price so that it was easier to let them do the work. Now the RV is still in the shop so I’m now wondering how I will clean and ... read more

As I promised some time ago, I wanted to write about the hotels in Europe, at least the ones we stayed at. I have referred to each of the hotels in various blogs but will write some additional details now When we first planned this trip I wanted to stay in hotels within walking distance to the middle of the towns. I didn’t want to take trolleys or buses every time we wanted to go to the squares and we didn’t want to spend much over $100/night. I picked up a travel book with hotel recommendations and a good map with the recommendations located on the map. Then I got on hotels.com and trip advisor, reviewing the ratings for each hotel along with the location. Our 1st hotel was in Munich which I booked at the ... read more

Dieter had to return to work after leaving Salzburg until noon today and then he and Inge were going to head our way so we anticipated an early evening rendezvous somewhere near the Charles Bridge around 6pm Just in front of our hotel is a square named Kafka after Franz Kafka, an influential writer from the early 1900’s. This square is very small but nevertheless it is a square, maybe the size of the lot of our home. Next to the square is the St. Nicholas Church built in 1735 and it is one corner of the Old Town Square. We decided several things yesterday: 1. We’d take Dieter & Inge to a concert tonight 2. We’d introduce Dieter and Inge to champagne and chocolates on the Charles Bridge and 3. We’d visit the Lobkowicz Palace ... read more