Our New Trailer

Posted on February 2, 2021 by R & L

Our Present to Tigger.


As you have seen in our photos of TIGGER, we put SNWFLKE on a flat bed trailer, which we call The SLED, to limit the wear and tear on our Land Rover. After 7 years of pulling The SLED (both Merlin and Tigger) with some 87,000 miles, we decided to make life a little easier for Tigger (and definitely us!) and bought an aluminium trailer by ALUMA which is much lighter (some 1,500 lbs).

Of course the change had nothing to do with the fact that the two ramps that SNWFLKE used to get up on the trailer weighed about 40 pounds each. Funny how 40 pounds seems much heavier now than it used to. The new trailer tips at the back so that SNWFLKE can drive right on and then settles back to level. We know TIGGER will appreciate this when we are next climbing mountains. And for us no more Heavy Lifting!

Ready
Louise makes it tilt
Louise drives on
Release the lock, ready for straps!

And that is all there is to it! Going to need a new picture for the Header now!

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Our Plan until the end of 2020

Posted on September 12, 2020 by R & L

We have now a good understanding of what is achievable for the rest of this disrupted year.

We believe this will keep us safe and well, but we can only hope.

We trust you are all keeping safe and healthy as COVID-19 appears to be rearing it’s ugly head again across the World.

We also still have Alaska in our sights for 2021 – keeping our fingers crossed.

Here is a link to our plan https://fulltimervingwiththekings.com/2020-destinations/

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Dignity of Earth and Sky

Posted on September 6, 2020 by R & L

Dignity of Earth and Sky is a soaring and breathtaking sculpture created by South Dakota artist Dale Claude Lamphere. It is situated on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River at the Visitor Center near Chamberlain, South Dakota.

With his innovative use of materials and technologies combined with his interdisciplinary approach, the artist has used hundreds of pieces of stainless steel to create synergy of art, engineering and sense of place.

This statue of a Native American woman stands 50 feet high and is 32 feet wide and 16 feet deep.

She is holding a Star Quilt, by David Claymore, of 128 diamond shapes in the colors of the water and the sky that surround her. The diamonds move in the winds like an Aspen leaf.

Dignity honors the Native Nations of the Great plains – the Lakota and Dakota people.

“My intent is for the sculpture to stand as an enduring symbol of our sacred belief that all here are sacred and in a sacred place.” – D C Lamphere

Dignity was gifted to the State of South Dakota in 2014 in honor of South Dakota’s 125th state anniversary and erected September 2016.

South Dakota’s native cultures are alive, standing with dignity.

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Celebrating 6 Wonderful Years of Fulltiming

Posted on July 9, 2020 by R & L
Our wonderful home Tigger

It is so hard to believe that we have been living this dream for 6 years now. And what adventures we have had.

Just for fun, we have tallied up what we have been doing:

  • 81,016 miles in the RVs and the Sled (our flat bed trailer) has followed behind
  • 12,823 Gallons of Diesel
  • 71,909 miles in our Land Rover Snowflake
  • 3,478 Gallons of Petrol

Places visited only count if we have stayed overnight in the motorhome:

  • 11 Provinces/Territories
  • 45 States out of the lower 48 and Alaska
  • 274 Campground stays (including multiple separate stays at some; does not include stays at RV Service shops, or with friends and family)
  • 38 Walmart stays (great and safe way to break up a long drive)
  • 67 National Parks (NPS)
  • 10 Parks Canada Parks
  • about 30 State Parks as well as county parks.

Places we love and have/will return to:

CANADA:
Banff NP (Lake Louise); Jasper NP; Churchill, Manitoba; Gaspé Peninsula, QC; Cape Breton, Kouchibouguac NP, NB; Newfoundland; Osoyoos and the Okanagan, BC.

  • Greenland Icebergs, Elliston NL Canada
  • Cape Breton Island Shore
  • Kouchibouguac Storm

USA:
Alaska; Oregon Coast; Washington Coast, The Palouse, WA; Death Valley NP, Yosemite NP, CA; Yellowstone NP, Grand Teton NP, WY; Bozeman, MT; Southwest Idaho; Custer City and Park, SD; The Great Salt Lake, UT; The Grand Canyon NP (north & south rim), Monument Valley, Patagonia Lake State Park, Tucson, Whitewater Draw, Benson Area, AZ; Fort De Soto County Park, Everglades NP, the Florida Keys, FL; Great Smoky Mountains NP, TN and NC.

  • Grand Canyon God Beams
  • Lone Star Geyser Errupting
  • Reflecting on Alaska
  • The Palouse
  • Storm, Cape Kiwanda
  • Denali National Park
Sunrise Panorama at Zabriskie Point, Death Valley National Park

A few places we didn’t stay or will not return to:

Canada Glacier Park, BC; Northwest Territories; Vancouver Island, BC; New Orleans, LA; South Padre Island, TX.

We love finding “new-to-us” bird species – like the Elegant Trogan or finding adult wildlife with their young (they’re all cute!) – like Bison red dogs. Mother Nature continually astounds us with birds in their breeding plumage or the protective behaviors of wildlife.

  • Elegant Trogan
  • Bison and her “Red Dog”

Of course we love taking Tigger to see family and friends in Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, Florida and New Jersey. And we have had many wonderful trips to see family and friends in the UK. We even squeezed in a visit to Italy.

When we began this we talked about being nomads for 10 years and then reassessing – and we are still saying that – another 10 years and then we will reassess.

Our traveling companions:

  • Tigger
  • Cali
Beginnings

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Camping in Custer, South Dakota

Posted on June 28, 2020 by R & L

It is wonderful to be back near Custer State Park. Our last visit was 5 years ago. About 2 years ago, new owners purchased the Flintstone Theme Park Campground in Custer City. They are carrying out a total make-over to change it into the Buffalo Ridge Camp Resort – and what changes they are making, taking full advantage of their views of the Black Hills.

Black Hills

They have added many more new RV campsites that are well spaced out with level parking spots, large concrete patios with large picnic tables and fire pits. There are a variety of sites for those with tents.

Site 103

There are beautiful furnished teepees with picnic tables and fire pits.

And for those wishing luxury camping you can choose between Glamping Tents

Or Premium Cabins.

Two new swimming pools and a hot tub are tucked in behind the kids playground and the Office and General Store.

Next year they are promising to have some Tree Houses available in the shelter of the trees. And they might even get the small train working again.

Tree House under Construction

This is a wonderful campground for a quiet retreat or to arrange a group/family get away. The staff are very helpful and courteous. Be sure to add it to your list when visiting Custer State Park, the Black Hills, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument, Rapid City and so much more in South Dakota.

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