Is that a custom paint job?

When we were camping in Grand Teton NP there was this Chevy Avalanche with a real distinctive paint job.  I went over to the man & woman and asked "is that a custom paint job?"

They answered yes, but then also mentioned "until the we hit the deer"  (there was a dent in the front from a tangle with a deer)

A couple of days later in Yellowstone what passes by....?   but that truck again!

Then a couple of days later we were sitting in our campground at Devils Tower talking with our new friends Marcel and Michaela and what drives by but that darn pickup again....

So I run over and ask him again (as a joke) "is that a custom paint job?" and when he says "yes" I then interrupted and said "I bet before you hit the deer"  

So he recognizes me from Grand Teton - we have a laugh - chat for a while and then off he goes.

Finally - we are walking back to our campsite the other afternoon in Custer State Park and we see that pickup parked by some horse stables.  It's backup lights are lit so we realize he is getting ready to leave.

Kate runs over and asks him - "is that a custom paint job?" and as he says yes.    I then yell from across the street:  "yes - before he hit the deer"

We've now bumped into each other at least 4 times over almost 500 miles so that must mean something.

They decided to spend the night in the campsite next to us.  We had a wonderful dinner at the local campground restaurant (yes Custer state park even has restaurants at the campground).

I had a great Bison Meatloaf made from Custer State Park Tatanka.

Just like that we make new friends Bob & Cathy from Cooperstown NY.

Rush Hour in Bisonville

In Custer State Park there is a road called the Wildlife Loop.

Here are some of the beasts that we encountered today during our trip around the loop.

A Bison Traffic Jam

Marcel & Michaela - How did you miss them???

So we turned our RV into a herding machine and moved them off the road

No sooner than done - we run into these two Jokers

  (there where a whole bunch more on the side of the road)

Lastly a herd of Pronghorn (or Antelope)

Here is a great shot of one

Notice again how their coat blends into the background.

Well tomorrow - Sadly - we turn our backs on the Mountains for the rest of this trip and head east into the Great Plains once again.

Our remaining schedule is this:

Thursday - Laura Wilder Homestead (Little House on the Prairie)  we might camp there on the open plains as well.  I think time will dictate that we eliminate our stop in the Badlands, but Kate is a real Little House fanatic so it's a small price to pay.

Friday - Drive 8 hrs to Palisades-Kepler State Park in Iowa to spend the night.

Sat - Drive 8 hrs to Lake Barkely State Resort Park in the Land Between the Lakes Area in Kentucky  On the way - maybe we can squeeze in a trip to visit with Lucys Breeder.  I have to email her and see what's up.

Sunday - Chill at Lake Barkley & get our gear organized for transfer to our Honda Van.

Monday - Drive 6 hrs to Oxford Alabama, get the Van, Transfer our Gear and spend the night at the same hotel that we stayed at the night before we picked up the RV.   (Do I smell Barbeque in my future?)

Tuesday - Turn in the RV and drive 10 hrs back to the Beauzone.  (Beaufort)

We are definitely sad for the trip to be ending...  Still some adventure ahead but things are winding down.  Thank God we live in such a great place, and have such good friends there.  It makes coming home so soon a lot easier

Next I have to get some more sailboat time before it gets cool.

Next post - from somewhere on the Prairie.