Minuteman Missile Sites,SD

This is the Missile launch facility where they have remote control over the launch of 10 missiles. There are no missiles located at the control center.

Ultra high frequency antenna at the launch facility. They have control with all the remote missile sites hardwired, and radio contact. In the event the ground control cannot launch missiles they can be remote launched from signals from aircraft.

Control pod access door underground 30 feet below the control building. They described the "control pod" to be the yoke in the egg, the yoke was able to move independently in the "egg" up to 3 feet in any direction in the event of a nuclear explosion shock wave.

Inside the control pod where at any given time there are two officers with access to launch controls.

The red box with the two locks contains the launch keys and each of the two officers have a separate combination and the launch key switches were over 12' apart so one person could not activate launch by themselves.

This is the actual missile silo site out in the middle of the prairie. Not much to see that would reveal what it is. The missile is launched along with 9 others by the control center miles away.

Minuteman II in its silo.

Heavy concrete slide door covering silo that normally opens on a rail and gear drive. During an actual launch the door is blown open with explosives.

The Badlands National Park, SD

Prairy dogs in the grasslands

Custer,SD

My horse was a little lazy, I can't say I blame him... Perfect day for a ride in the Black Hills of South Dakota

Come on Clark, we had an agreement. I don't use the crop, you don't fall behind..

Deb's horse Annie was all that speedy either but it was just fine for her first ride

Custer State Park,SD

Big herd of Bison on the wildlife loop in the park.

Halfway through the loop we came upon all these donkeys, they obviously knew the place to be because the people stop and feed them even though the area is surrounded with signs saying not to feed the animals..

Friendly types ;-)

Custer, SD

We didn't actually visit this park I just took the picture from the highway.

Mt. Rushmore, SD

It incredible to see how these faces were carved out of granite. They were originally supposed to be carved down to the waist.

Teton National Park, WY

There was about 30 people stopped in the road taking pictures of this moose, obviously he must be used to it.

View of the Teton range and Jenny lake

Lily was all excited she got to go and play with tourists!

Driggs, ID

OK, this is the only thing I found interesting in Driggs which is still a real stretch. We used it as a home base to travel to Teton National Park

Yes, there is a potato driving...

Gunnison,CO

Blue Mesa Reservoir. The largest lake in Colorado.

Gunnison, CO

Various pictures from around Gunnison

Gunnison River down below in the Black Canyon

Portage road going down to the river in The Black Canyon. Good thing we aren't towing!

You can see the portage road off in the distance. Don't want to lose your brakes on this.

Taylor Reservoir.

Black Canyon NP, CO

Another short drive from our Gunnison campground is the Black Canyon. We took a short drive through that was cut short from passing thunderstorms but will come back. Gives a different view without the sun shining.

Deb is so more photo friendly than I am!

Painted wall. The light color lines were from molten rock fissures before the river cut the canyon.

I was told I needed to be on the blog too, although I have no idea why ;-)