As we continue to document your adventures in our Travel Tales series, we’re beginning to realize that many Ibis residents are explorers and voyagers at heart. Whether you’re out there relaxing on foreign shores or trekking across this great nation, you all seem to understand the power and joy of travel. For this month’s edition of Travel Tales, we got to hear a wonderful vacation story from a longtime Ibis resident. Everyone, meet Richard Stoller!

 

As we’ve mentioned, Richard has been in Ibis for a good while, as he proudly recounts: “On September 1st, I will have lived in Ibis for 18 years.  This is the longest I have ever lived in the same house.” However, his established place in our neighborhood hasn’t made him a homebody, as his most recent adventure shows. Accompanied by his niece and nephew, Richard embarked on a journey across the American West: “We went to South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho,” he told us during our interview. “We traveled extensively in Yellowstone National Park as well iconic places like Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument, the Badlands, Old Faithful geyser, the Black Hills, The Grand Tetons, Deadwood and Sturgis, S Dakota, Bozeman and Billings, Montana, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Driggs, Idaho, where we stayed the last two nights.”

 

Departing on Richard’s birthday—May 19th—the merry band of travelers packed a great deal into their 10-day adventure: “Our main activity was sightseeing and getting to all the famous landmarks and national treasures.  We managed to put 2000 miles on the rental car from Rapid City, SD to Jackson Hole, WY enjoying the most incredible scenery in the world. From the Badlands stark landscape to the majestic mountains and rivers and forests it was a sightseeing extravaganza.” The natural beauty of the region quickly proved to be the high point of the experience for all involved, Richard says. “The favorite part of our trip was getting to see such incredible beauty and to visit some of the most famous, iconic places in our wonderful country.”

 

Richard’s previous travel experiences were a motivator for him on this particular outing—having visited 47 states during his time in the US Army and later in the corporate world, he wanted to “finish the job”. He did on this trip, visiting the Dakotas and Montana and completing all 50 states. However, there was another celebration at hand for some of his companions, rooted in their unique and wonderful family dynamic. We’ll let Richard explain in his own words: “I'm an identical twin.  My wife, Audrey, was an identical twin.  My twin brother's son, Drew Stoller, married Audrey's twin sister's daughter, Stacy (now) Stoller.  Stacy and Drew are more than a niece and a nephew to me.  They are like my own kids, and we get along very well.  They were great trip companions . . . and during our trip, Drew and Stacy celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary.” We’re told that Drew and Stacy celebrated their anniversary at Devil’s Tower National Park, in full view of its namesake mountain—a wonderful occasion, celebrated in a beautiful setting with loved ones!

 

So now that some time has passed and Richard and Company have processed the experience a bit, how do they feel about their Wild West vacation? Richard was enthusiastic in responding to this particular question. " I would do it again in a heartbeat.  There is so much to see, Incredible mountains, cascading waterfalls, wildlife, landmarks, and national treasures.  Truly some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. I highly recommend visiting this part of the country. It is truly awe-inspiring!”