After 27 hours in the car driving much of the time in the rain from Western Nebraska, we are almost home. 
Steve caught Carol and the baby on the floor enjoying each other.
Steve caught Amaya and Grampa having a good time after a long two week trip.
Whats new? Carol and Michael put in a walkway in the backyard.
We discussed our plans for maximizing gas mileage before we left. I have always wanted to go on a road trip and achieve 50 mpg with my VW etta - we almost made it. Steve learned that there is no secret method to maximizing mileage - check out the speedometer... you just need to have the intestinal fortitude to just meet the minimum highway speeds.
3,174 miles Total, 64.4 gallons Total
Steve and I went from the Black Hills to Crawford to look up a grade school friend, Jim. (He moved after 8th grade and we haven't seen him in about 45 years.) Jim is an accomplished oil-on-canvas artist and we had fun looking at his works, workshop and house. PJ finished a wonderful visit with a great meal - I conned her out of her chili recipe. 
Jim and PJ own 7 acres - a diverse little farmstead - he has finished one of the barns into a studio heated by a massive old wood stove. He has a wood working workshop in another old building - their old farmhouse (built in the 30's) is sturdy and in very good repair - tastefully appointed with beautiful artwork. (Jim hangs all of the finished product in the house where he tries to decide that it is "either done or needs more work".)
PJ's Great Chili Recipe !!
" No mo chickens"... a picture for my next painting!!
Jim let me go out to his studio to take some pictures for my blog. While I was out there I decided to do a little painting. Unfortunately all I could find was some green paint. Even though the painting turned out sort of overly green, I like it. I entitled the painting "Green Sunrise Over Green Farm Looking Out Jim's Green Studio Window." (Jeepers, I am rather proud of my work... Jim, sell it... Just make sure you get lots of green for it.)
Back Up Tight Ass! 
Jim, I only used one brush (the one labeled grass & trees) on my painting, how come you have so many? If I take up some of this painting business, will I need to buy more brushes?
Jim presented Steve with a print that he admired as we were looking at his work. This painting is of two of Jim's musical friends (both gone now). He entitled it "Blues Time-Out."
Jim gave me a print of a picture that he gave Steve a couple of years ago. (Jim met Steve's sister at an Art Show and gave her this print to give to Steve - that is how we all ended up meeting again.) Jim calls this painting "Mountain Bluebird."
Thanks Jim and PJ for the hospitality and the prints. Steve and I want you to visit either of us if you get in our area. Good luck with all of your plans... we are cheering for both of you. 
We stopped to see Mark and Anna in Rapid City. They just had a baby by the name of Viviana. She is a real cutie... This was the first time that I was able to see their China wedding pictures so I took some shots of them. 
The baby is precious, really tiny for the moment although it was 8 lbs+ at birth.
Steve decided to teach the baby open mouth tricks. I was pretty impressed with his ability to get the baby to imitate.
It was really getting to be quite the show - each one trying to outdo the other - suddenly Anna took the baby back and said something to Mark in Chinese then she went and got this little blue fold up fan and put it next to her. I was nervous... Mark was amused... Steve was still making faces at the baby from acrossed the room. Thank goodness the baby could not see that far and kept his mouth shut.
Mark has a special wedding ring in his right pocket. I think the ring is made of plutonium or something because it appears to glow right through his clothing. This is exactly what you get when you marry a mining engineer - they always find the best stuff down deep.
Another picture of the pretty bride.
This is my favorite picture. Anna boxing Mark's ears... I think that all countries in the world give the young ladies the same wedding rule book. Welcome to married life Mark! 
Steve just after I got the inspiration for naming the road trip. He just fell on his ass off a 3-15 foot tall rock. I thought I was going to have to call in the helicopters... I yelled down to him. "Hey Steve, you alright." All he mumbles back is "Cowboy Up." I decided to name the road trip after him at that point. I started to call it the "Broken Butt Mountain Tour." The name stuck - Steve got blood all over my seat from his left elbow. Still, Broken Left Elbow Mountain Tour doesn't have the same ring to it.
This is Steve climbing rock on the opposite side of the mountain. I told him to do a Crazy Horse imitation so he pointed that-a-way and then shortly thereafter fell on his arse off his harse.
Steve climbing in the mountains carrying a cup of energy drink - as if climbing in the mountains without any climbing gear is not exhilarating enough. Shortly after this, we followed up the energy drinks with cigars, a little non-smoker's buzz to get you hyped up for the way back down.
We started yelling "Horn" before going through any tunnels after seeing this sign.
Some of you may recognize this as the old Ramsey cabin near Keystone. Still there...
Heart shaped feature in the walkway... I miss my girls...
Biggest, most massive picnic table I have ever seen.
Get your boots shined, your red shirt on and climb outa the saddle... feedbag time. 
The waiting room magazines at the world famous Hill City Desperados Cowboy Restaurant.
Steve at the Desperado, wanted to eat a hotdog. Wouldn't let him...
Desperado Doug - not so good a picture as the lighting was screwy. I tried to get Steve to eat buffalo since we are in buffalo country. The wait staff convinced him to try it (they were all out of all other beef meats). Lo and behold, Steve liked the taste - very tender and not much fat. We are thinking of taking buffalo to Wall Street.
Breakfast or Lunch, not sure which... heavy on corn, raisins and oats.
More rain in the Hills... we were in the southern hills, next to the entrance road to one of the caves, cannot remember which one. I did not do any caves, Steve is a cavaphobic, Doug is cheap.
Feeling lucky? This motorcycle selling in a Crazy Horse raffle for $20 each. 
I am not sure who did this gate but it was pretty.
The Crazy Horse Planned sculpture as seen against the actual product.We ended our Black Hills visit with a trip to the Crazy Horse sculpture. It is a massive undertaking and it appears that our children's children will be taking their children to watch the occasional "Big Blow" featured above. The original family is still running the private operation and every year they allow people to bring cans of food to replenish the local food bank in lieu of admission fees. Steve and I did our part, hopefully they like peaches.
The World's only Corn Palace. Thank goodness...
Carol's house when I was dating her in high school.
Carol's house after she went off to college.
The family house before the move to Firesteel. Pretty overgrown... kind of scary.
The house that Steve grew up in.
Klink's house.
Janine's house.
Pat and Sandy's view from their deck - it is gorgeous.
Sandy and Alexa met us at the Depot for supper one evening. Alexa is getting ready to go to Europe on a singing tour in some of the most beautiful opera houses and cathedrals in the world. Have fun Alexa!!!
Pat and Andrew getting ready for a 4-day, 317 mile hike in Wisconsin.
Pat and Sandy, brother and Mitchell Host and Hostess.
John and Linda live near Pat and Sandy - we did not know that until John's name came up in conversation with Sandy. Pretty soon, John and Linda surprised us on the back deck. We had a couple of G & T's and caught up on all of the happenings. John took us back to his house and gave us a ride around his garage in his cool little wooden boat.
Steve got a little sea sick so I got to take his place. John has a big garage, we drank a whole bottle of gin and I only saw the rake hanging on the wall twice.
The Firesteel house back yard.
