Our first stop on our way to Minnesota was at Martin's Cove. It had a very special spirit about it. You wouldn't want to get stuck out here in the winter or the summer. I don't know how the pioneers survived.

Martin's Cove visitor's center with Devil's Gate in the background. I always thought the pioneers came through Devil's Gate but they actually passed to right.

This is the actual cove where everyone set up camp to get out of the winter storms. It is about a 2-mile walk from the visitor's center but worth the hike.

This is the Rafter J Bar Ranch RV Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is between Crazy Horse and Rushmore. They could handle 200 or more RVs but they were scattered over many acres of pine forest so you didn't feel too crowded.

This was a wonderful RV park. In the evenings we did our laps and then sat in the hot tub before going to bed. We slept like rocks.

Crazy Horse has been under construction for 50 years and this is as far as they have gotten because they will not take government money. It was too expensive to get in for as little as there is to see, but once is O.K. Maybe we'll come back 50 years from now to see how much progress has been made.

This gives you a better feel for how big the sculpture is. There are three or four people standing along the fence line on top of his outstretched arm. For comparison, all four presidents at Rushmore would fit just on Crazy Horse's head. Keep that in mind as you look at the next few pictures.

Welcome to Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Welcome to Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

This is what government dollars buy. This was very impressive and worth every penny.

The detail of Rushmore is amazing. Now remember that these four presidents will all fit in the head of Crazy Horse in the earlier picture.

Check out the old guy behind Lisa. He has a black leather hat, sleeveless shirt, knee length pants and knee high socks. I have no idea who he is but that is one wild outfit.

You can't see it in this shot but behind Lincoln's head there is a giant vault entrance that was originally to be part of the memorial with art and other exhibits. It was never finished.

As the sun moves across the sky the faces change because of the shadows.

In this shot you can see the texture of the stone and the different colored veins running through the stone.

This was shot from the sculptors studio. A bronze sculpture was made first and then it was replicated on the mountain to the exact proportions. The original plans called for showing more of their bodies but money ran out and they stopped with what we see today.

There is more to the story than meets the eye here. We have been driving down the road for hours and we keep seeing these signs for Wall Drug just off I-90. I've counted close to 250 of them. By the time we get to the exit, I'm so curious that I tell Lisa we have to stop and see what Wall Drug is. There is virtually no town, just this block of hodgepodge retail stores that have grown and expanded over the years. Mixed among them are some open areas for the kids to play. Lisa decided, with some pushing from me to ride the bucking bronco. It looked like a real horse that had been stuffed. I can't believe I got her to do it. In celebration I bought a cowboy hat. You'll see it in later photos.

This is the kind of thing you'll find in Wall Drug. This is just a fast food place made to look like a saloon, including the cheating poker players. You can see Lisa in the mirror behind them keeping an eye on the action.

This is part of the Walker Art Center in downtown Minneapolis.

This is a close-up of the spoon and cherry sculpture at Walker Art Center. It is actually a fountain. You can see the water running off the bottom of the cherry.

The gardens at the Walker Art Center are spectacular.

The gardens at the Walker Art Center are spectacular.

The butterflies are trained to land on the flowers and pose for pictures. They must be on payroll because they were so cooperative.

The butterflies are trained to land on the flowers and pose for pictures. They must be on payroll because they were so cooperative.

When in Minneapolis you have to visit the Mall of America. Beyond the escaladers is an open court with amusement park style rides. This place is so big that they have the same store in two or three locations so people can easily get to them.

This is Flying Aces in Mall of America. These things don't take quarters. It's a little expensive but you get to fly WWII airplanes or modern jets for an hour. You can communicate with the other flyers, make teams and have dog fights. This is just before they pull the black canopy over the top to block out all other sensory interference.

Sean loved it. He was feeling a little full of himself for shooting his cousin Zach down more times than he got shot down.

This is the first official BSA scout camp in the United States. It is located in northern Minnesota in the middle of nothing but forest. There are actually 6 full camps at Many Point, all surrounding a wonderful lake. This lodge is actually a museum with the history of the area and camp over the years.

This is a High Adventure camp site at Many Point. The scouts canoe across the lake with their gear and then camp in the trees. Solar panels collect energy to power the lights at night.

We stayed in the family camp at Many Point. Families can spend the week on the lake in the family camp while their scout is off earning merit badges. This camp has its own swimming beach, showers and spots for tents and RVs. The scout camps are far enough away that parents can't interfere.

The trees and bushes are so thick in the family camp area that you can't see any other campers near by. You do have to spray for mosquitoes. They are big enough to carry small children away.

Lisa is preaching hell fire and damnation from the pulpit of the church at Many Point. The LDS scouts built this so they could have their Sunday church meetings. The small table on the right is for the sacrament.

This is the view from the fire tower near the Many Point Lodge. Most of the scout camps are on the left side of the lake. The family camp is on the right side of the lake. There is a little bit of private property sprinkled around the lake also so there are some summer homes and cabins along the lake.

Beyond the rocks is Lake Itasca. This side of the rocks is the Mississippi. From this point it narrows to a few feet wide and winds off to the north before turning and heading south to the Gulf of Mexico.

You are looking at the Mississippi just after it has left lake Itasca. It is about 4 feet wide and 18 inches deep right here.

The sign says it all.

Sunset at Ten Chiefs scout camp back at Many Point.

Sunset at Many Point.

Family camp is on the far side of the lake.

On Saturday after all the scouts had headed home we had the lake to ourselves and took full advantage of it. Dave is supervising to make sure everyone has fun.

Lisa found a good spot in the sun to tan and read Harry Potter.

Sean waded out to fish and managed to catch a few.

We managed to catch perch, blue gills, crappie and small mouth bass.

In the afternoon the winds camp up and Zach, who was on staff at Ten Chiefs, got permission for us to take out the sailboats. That's Sean and Zach.

Heidi and Dave spent the majority of their time sailing. Zak and Sean are trying to catch them.

The day we left Minnesota we came across this heard of elk. I didn't know Minnesota had any elk.