Hello from Sioux Falls!

A cheery good morning to you all from Sioux Falls, South Dakota! The funny thing is, we're technically supposed to be in Mt. Rushmore. But a couple hundred miles doesn't matter that much, right? Naw...

You see, we got a nice early start yesterday morning (we didn't even unhitch the van the night before)...we woke everyone up, fed 'em all a bowl of cereal, put everyone in the van, and started off on the 10-hr drive to Mt. Rushmore.

Theeeeeen, about 30-45 minutes down the road (we made it to Sioux City, Iowa), a lady drives by us waving her arms and mouthing, "Your tire!" Whereupon we start craning our heads to try to see what's wrong, and lo and behold, there's a highway patrolman behind us with his lights going. We pulled off double-quick and Dad hopped out to see what was going on. He returned a few minutes later, laughing and saying that we might be in Iowa for just a little longer than we were thinking, since one of our tires was gone and the axle was pretty banged up.

You'd think we'd notice losing a TIRE. But we were all having a great time singing worship songs and just being delightfully cheery, and the trailer never jerked or jostled or anything to cue us in on the fact that there might be a problem, and we can't see the trailer tires from where we sit in the van. Go figure.

D'ya think that might be a problem? 

The trooper, who was very nice, escorted us to the next off ramp and down to a nearby truck stop. There were some RV repair shops close by, and we tried to call a tow truck, but it turns out that no one in town has the equipment necessary for towing a trailer. Go figure again. So, having no other options, we set out cautiously  and very slowly and with a whole lot of prayer for an RV shop about a mile down the road. We were literally counting down with our GPS..."0.9 miles...0.8 miles..." and so on until we finally got there.

The folks at the repair shop were very friendly and sympathetic, and they've hustled on the trailer so we can get back on the road. Practicing our flexibility (Plan B), we grabbed our ice chest, the lunch we'd planned to eat on the road, and headed out for a nearby park where we spent a few hours and let the boys run off some of their energy. We also swung by a Lewis and Clark monument to Sergeant Floyd, the only member of the Expedition to have passed away during the journey.

About 1:00 pm, we got a call from the trailer shop...they ended up having to overnight some parts, and the RV wouldn't be ready until tomorrow afternoon. Plan C: get a hotel room in town and chill until the following afternoon.

Conclusion: as a general rule, people in the midwest are really friendly! Moreso than their CA counterparts, we think. The folks at the RV shop shared with us local sights and attractions to keep us busy during our unexpected detour and just had a cheerful and friendly attitude the whole time. The guy in charge gave Dad his cell number and told us to call if we needed anything after hours; his house is nearby, and he'd be happy to come open up the yard for us. Then, as we began driving out of the shop, another car rolled up alongside and stopped to talk to Dad. The guy, who's from South Dakota, had seen our CA license plates and figured we were stuck here away from home, and he wanted to give us some things to do while we waited. He also gave us his cell number and told us to call him if we got lost or needed anything.

What our trailer looks like WITHOUT wheels...

 We found a good hotel and went in to make a reservation...only to discover that they were completely booked, as were the other hotels in town (they had a call list), since some big event was happening in this small-to-mid-size town.

Plan D: google any sort of reasonably priced attraction or water park within 200 miles.

Turns out there aren't any reasonably priced attractions, at least for a family of our size.

Plan E: drive an hour and a half from Sioux City, Iowa to Sioux Falls, South Dakota and spend the night in a hotel there that also has an indoor water slide and pool.

We actually have had a lovely time! We're going to head back to Sioux City, Iowa right after lunch and go pick up the trailer. Our plan is to actually finish off the way we had intended—up to Mt. Rushmore, and then home. We're so blessed to know that God has this entire thing under His control, and we've really enjoyed the break we've had before starting off on some very long driving days. Outside of stopping for repairs, why else would we have spent a few hours relaxing at the park, enjoyed a good night sleep at a hotel, and exercised with hours in the pool? (After being cooped up in the van, that was great!!!)

Laramie enjoying the slide

Whoo-hoo!!!

Mom and Dad loved the fact that we were able to take advantage
of this speed limit, since we had no trailer driving to Sioux Falls!

Update...the trailer is done, we're hitched up, it's 5:30 pm our time, and we are setting off for Mt. Rushmore. We would really appreciate your prayers for safety and alertness as we've got a long row to hoe!

A Brief Note as to the Timeline of These Important Events...

                We apologize, but at this point some of our future posts might be out of chronological order in order to allow us to post them efficiently! Some of the newer posts have been completed before the older ones, but we don’t want to delay the completed ones while we try to finish previous posts. So bear with us!

The Kentucky Horse Park

And they're off...on yet another adventure, this time fulfilling one of the girls' bucket list items!

Our sweet relatives in Kentucky live about an hour from Lexington and the Kentucky Horse Park, and it was evident from the earliest stages of our KY planning that an equine escapade was going to HAVE to be included. So bright and early Friday morning, we sent the dads off to golf, got the boys settled at home, loaded the girls up in the van, and set out for the Kentucky Horse Park!

 The park has memorials to some of the greatest racehorses of our time, such as Secretariat...

...and still houses some of the most amazing competitive horses in America, like Da Hoss (two-time Belmont winner)...

...and Mr. Muscleman, a record-breaking Standardbred trotter, who's also retired here! 

AHHHHH!!! We had to hurry by and didn't get a good look at this big guy, but still...wow!

One of the performances was this "Horses of the World"; it was fun to see a lot of different breeds in the same place.

This little Quarter Horse was cute...

And this little Chincoteague Pony! Childhood Marguerite Henry moment...

The Kentucky Horse Park has a mounted police force that patrols 24/7 over its extensive acreage. It seems very fitting to have equestrian officers! The police force primarily use draft crosses for size with athleticism. 

Cute horse!!!

And the horse girls' favorite part (if a favorite can be chosen)...a huge hunter-jumper show taking place the Friday we were there! The Horse Park had about five different rings going simultaneously, plus warm-up arenas, and there are over 2,000 stalls available for events (which are usually not enough). Add that to some of the (very) wealthy competitors, with some very high-quality horses and equipment, and it's easy to see that there is SO much money invested in this. 

     

Photography lighting was poor in this indoor arena, but it was much cooler,
so we spent most of our time in here!

On our way back from watching the show, some of the girls happened to see part of this...

...and had to make a very immediate detour!!! Coming inside the stadium, we saw this...

...and we just about flipped. 

If you zoom in on this picture, you will see that this sign advertises
the $60,000 Grand Prix the coming Sunday. Winner takes home 60 grand.
And that is not by any stretch the priciest show that's been here!

We can't believe we're here!!!

As we came back from the Rolex Stadium, we passed by the steeplechase course (the one equine sport we're probably not willing to risk) and part of the cross-country course. Victoria was drooling.

Yes, that's a cross-country jump way out there. Those people are seriously brave. 

Which is why they have to have this on site.
There's someone in the driver's seat waiting, which is just slightly unnerving if you're an equestrian. 

Still a crazy awesome sport, though. 

To wrap everything up, we went through the horse museum on site. This is one racehorse's trophy room. Do you think he was an overachiever?

Thank you, Aunt Stephanie!!! This was amazing!!!

Rabbit Hash

During our first full day in Kentucky, we had a marvelous time just chilling with our cousins and getting some energy back after being kind of tuckered out. The younger kids swam, the older ones talked, and we all had a jolly good time. And to wrap up the evening, we went to Rabbit Hash.

No, seriously, we did.

And it was crazy fun. Mostly because it was such a delightful reminder of rural America!

Yes, there really is a little tiny town in northern Kentucky called “Rabbit Hash”. The mayor is literally a stray dog (a cute little red border collie) that lives in the area (don’t ask us to try to explain it…we really don’t know). And if you’ve got anything named Rabbit Hash, it probably deserves a viewing. Thus the elder Grants and Britains set off one fine KY evening to spend an hour out in Rabbit Hash!

Rabbit Hash’s only attraction is a quaint, very old little country store that’s been around for just shy of forever, and which serves as the local hangout for bikers, jamming musicians, and residents in the evenings and on the weekends. There is an incredibly diverse and very fun assortment of totally random items for sale, from country soaps and caramels to swing dancing skirts to corn-cob pipes and pretty much everything in between. And lo and behold, to the Grant girls’ delight, there was an old piano in the corner with a sign inviting people to play if they knew how. Fortunately for us, we knew how, so of course we had to give it a go! We decided it felt very appropriate to pull out some old hymns (and after a quick historical deliberation regarding whether KY was a Union or Confederate state, chose to go with “Dixie” rather than “The Battle Cry of Freedom”). It was SO neat to hear Amazing Grace and Come Thou Fount fill the little crowded room...it felt just like stepping back in time! Some of the folks in the store even stopped to listen. That little store was well worth the excursion!

The store is filled with random articles like this old typewriter.  

And this very fat and very contented kitty.

And these knives. 

This picture's a bit fuzzy, but you get the jist!

And then there's this cute old piano!!!

Looking over into Ohio across the Ohio River. 

And...a somewhat creative way to differentiate between the gents and the gals. Yes, the other side's for does. 

Kentucky

After leaving Pennsylvania, we headed southwest—Kentucky bound!!! We have made the loop and are working our way westward once more. So long, east coast! 

We were so blessed to visit cousins in northern Kentucky whom we haven’t seen in a very long time, and we packed in a lot of good memories, fellowship, and laughter during the days we spent there. Additionally, some of our extended family so graciously offered to let us stay in their home a few minutes from our cousins’ house…it was a delightful (and rather welcome) break from the trailer. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Swimming with cousins...for hours and hours!

And where else, other than an hour outside Lexington, KY,
can you find a racetrack right next to Target? How cool is that?!?

                During the time we spent in Kentucky, we gallivanted all over creation visiting museums, horses, and very old towns—all of which will be discussed in due measure in their own respective posts—and participated in a very American activity.

                To preface, we must explain that firecrackers are pretty much prohibited in northern CA. The 7-year-made-national-news drought really hasn’t helped with fire prevention, so it’s pretty much always too dry for us to celebrate with fireworks—even in winter.

                Also to preface, we must explain that Dad really likes fireworks.   

                So it only makes sense that, in a region where you can buy fireworks from Walmart to firework superstores to the little shop on the corner, he would stock up a bit. *side note...one of the firework stores we visited sold a whopping set called "Grounds for Divorce,"on sale for $750 (usually $1499). Who has that kind of money for fireworks?!? Mom warned Dad against purchasing that particular set. 

Yep, this is America. 

                Thusly equipped, the guys set up an impromptu “early 4^th-of-July” celebration for our final night in Kentucky. The girls, on the other hand, stayed inside out of the “Burn Zone” (with excursions outside as courage prevailed) and treated the little guys’ various degrees of injury as they came in. Even so, the night ended with the conclusion that the fireworks were indeed worth a little pain and had been a spectacularly fun way to end our KY adventure!

 

The guys (and gals) all liked this firework that propelled itself forward, fired from the turrets,
and ultimately was supposed to blow up. 

Stepping Back in Time...Williamsburg, Part II

And now we get to one of our favorite Williamsburg memories. During our second afternoon, we watched the reenactments of a woman spy situation, a militia gathering, and a slave wedding. And when they asked for audience participation during the “broom wedding”, guess who the lovely gal picked? Yep…Ethan! He did a great job decorating the broom for the ceremony and stood next to the groom and preacher for the duration of the wedding. He was thrilled to participate and to be the center of attention! 

     Since they weren’t able to have a legally recognized wedding ceremony, slaves would “jump the broom” in accordance with old west African tribal customs (they also did this in Scotland and Ireland) in a ceremony that was recognized by family, friends, and usually owners as well.

In addition to watching the reenactments, we enjoyed touring some of the historic buildings in Williamsburg; one such restored structure was the town "gaol", or jail.

Ye fair readers be deservin’ of a bit of explanation here. These be the self-same cells which held the crew of the infamous Blackbeard, notorious pirate of the seven seas (or at least the Atlantic) whilst they waited for their trial and hanging. Being the egregious persons we are, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to poke a bit of fun.

No, there were no mermaids.

Double iron bars...

...and a bed that looks like a coffin. That's downright macabre. 

And here's us partway through the first (very sticky) afternoon, taking a moment to pant in the shade...

It was so fun to see people dressed in period clothing, working at their various tasks around Williamsburg! This lady was shoveling and moving coal. The girls felt so bad for her...we very nearly went over and asked if we could help, but she finished before we could do so. We also felt bad for them in the heat, with layers of petticoats, dresses, and long-sleeved frock coats. We can't even imagine what they do mid-summer. Although the Governor's maid chided the ladies of our tour group for showing so much leg, we decided we were willing to put up with a bit of period "indecency" for the relative coolness. Good gracious!!!

To wrap it all up, we watched the militia gather on the village green every afternoon. Here is Washington inspecting his troops...

The militia would then demonstrate a firing exercise with their guns and then with the cannon. The sulfur smell and noise of just a few weapons was impressive; we couldn't imagine what it would have been like on a battlefield with thousands of soldiers, combined with the horrors of warfare. Our brave Revolutionary War soldiers went through so much for our country. 

 

All in all, Williamsburg was such a fun adventure, and we hope to return someday! Fare thee well, Virginia...we're off to Pennsylvania!