SD, NE, OK, MO and Places in Between

      Leaving Mesa in July was a good idea.  Hot!!  I visited a few national parks and monuments along the way, getting good use of my senior pass.  I went to ancient cliff dwellings, pueblos, Bryce, Zion, and others.  Utah/AZ border area has spectacular places to see.  I then headed to Rapid City, SD.  I got to have a brief visit with family along the way and the opportunity to visit the Wounded Knee Indian Massacre site.   In Rapid City I renewed my driver's license, visited the place of my address, and spent time (and money) in Deadwood.
     I then volunteered a week just south of Rapid City at Storm Mtn UMC camp.  It is just a few miles from Mt. Rushmore.  There I cut, drilled, & stained 72 boards that would be used to mount memory plaques in their new gazebo.  It was a good week.  I was able to hike with some other visitors and go into the old gold mine that is on the camp property.
     Driving from there to NE, I stopped at the Archway Museum.  It stretches across I-80.  If you ever get the chance, stop there.  Great museum about the Oregon Trail.  The next week I spent at Camp Fontanelle just northwest of Omaha, NE.  There I spent the week painting and detailing both sides of their large entrance sign.  After ten years of weathering, the sign needed the paint job.  What a difference.
     It was then on to Tahlequah, OK.  I spent 3 weeks there with a great team remodeling the inside of one of the houses at the UM Children's home.  I did a lot of carpet removal, painting and, trim work.
While there we went to Cherokee historic sites, a rodeo, and even attended a Cherokee UMC service.
     I am now in Branson, MO waiting for the start of our NOMADS annual meeting.  Also, I am awaiting a new ac unit.  The other one quit about a week ago.  ugh.  hot and humid here.  Luckily I am in the shade.  Along the way to Branson, I visited the Will Rogers museum and had the opportunity to spend a few days with family.  During this time of waiting for the meeting, I am visiting with friends from AZ, going to a show, and catching up on paperwork.
     After this I will head west.  I plan to see some of the sights in Las Vegas, NM and Santa Fe, NM which I missed when I went through a couple years ago while following the Santa Fe Trail.  Then it's back to Mesa.  Let the parties begin.
     Someday I will figure out how to add the pictures.