Dogs and chickens and ducks... oh my!

 Whatever happened last week cannot possibly overshadow the weekend events. To start the week on the "right" foot, both kiddos are sick with "symptoms". We did not arrive home until after midnight, the traffic through Denver was horrible even as late as it was. Not that there was an overabundance of traffic, but the majority of those out felt the need to be first in line. We had taken the stance that we would drive at night on trips. That stance was tested two days in a row. To be sure we did not leave when planned and then there were road closures that were not on the to do list.

This is what you do while riding in the MH

Where we stayed the first night being off track

First Stop at a gas station

Food was not important... beanie boo's were

Eating pizza in the MH table

Other SNAFUs happened but it is a learning experience. Let me put it this way. I am VERY glad it was only supposed to be a 6-hour trip. It took us longer. We arrived at Mount Rushmore 24 hours after we left home. 

After discovering we were way off track, I called it a night against objections of the crowd we stopped at a rest area, extended the slides and tried to light the stove to cook dinner. That was futile so the ramen cups came out. After feeding the kiddos we set up all the beds and tried to sleep

My granddaughters and the girls at the rest area swings

Never too old to have fun

There were even historical sites to see! 

the stove didn't work but the little coffee pot did

Can you see the excitement on their faces? 

Not here either

Ah the torture of it all 

It was cool to see again

If we were homeschooling still this would have been a good history event. Even the pay phone! The girls took one look and said, "What is that?!" Of course, we are not so it was still cool but had no connection with what they were learning at school. After about an hour of visiting here we headed on our way. We did make it back home in less than 24 hours, but not much less. Once back home there was still a car to load on a dolly for a drop off appointment at 7am.

the view of the tow vehicle from inside the to be towed car

 0100 makes things look different

Yep, still dark

 Finally at 0220 I went to bed. The dogs were in their kennels when we arrived, and the big dogs had returned from their adventure. It seems they dug out from under the fence and left while we were driving home. My daughter said they ran off about 2pm and returned home about 0030 Monday morning 20 minutes before we arrived.

Well, that's enough for this morning. There are things to get ready for the day. Have a great adventure... or a small one!