Still in South Dekota

April 28, 2007

It is 39 degrees this AM!!! I have so many covers on they probably weigh about ten pounds. I told Doug again we just had to start using heat! His comment was “Well, you like a cold room!!” He also mentioned how much Barb Schafer would enjoy this. I think even you would say it was a bit cold Barb!!!!

The day looks like it is going to be another beautiful one. It is about 9:30 and already about 58 degrees. Looking forward to more beautiful scenery today.

We had another great day. We just drove around the different trails. The one we really enjoyed was the Wildlife Loop. We saw so many animal. Our favorite for today were the ‘begging burros’. They were originally brought in during the 1950’s to carry tourists to the top of Harney Peak They now roam freely and panhandle!!! These are the only animals in the park that visitors are permitted to feed. We had driven the road and were about to lose hope of seeing them when we came across a bunch of them. We had so much fun feeding them saltines. When we stopped feeding them they started running after the car! I posted a picture already but will post more as they were so cute.
The weather was absolutely gorgeous today. It got to the upper 70’s and we were even able to sit out for dinner. As we were riding around I was thinking just how beautiful and marvelous the scenery was. We were listening to one of Doug’s favorite CD’s and ‘How Great Thou Art’ came on. All I could think of was how appropriate - it said it all. I am sure we are in for some even more beautiful scenery, but we sure are enjoying this.

Tonight’s temp is supposed to be in the 50’s - guess I don’t have to beg Doug for heat!!!

April 29, 2007

What a beautiful day it was. The temp was about 78 degrees with no humidity - just gorgeous. We went to church at a cute little church in Hill City. Small with very nice people.

We then went to Deadwood Gulch - it was written up in one of the tour books we have been using and sounded so neat. What a big disappointment. It was loaded with gambling casinos in all the old restored buildings. They have spent huge amounts of money to restore the town, but they did not do it tastefully, it is garish and full of tourist traps. I understand that it was the gambling money that made it possible to restore the town. I understand their need to those funds, but they should have put them in one part of town and restored the old section to what it was. Even the old cemetery was ‘over’ restored. They did just open and very nice museum with great old items and wonderful history. At the moment it is in a neat old building that looks like it might have been a stable or blacksmith shop. However, they have blueprints there for their new building and it is going to be just like all the rest of the town with modern architecture, not at all what an old western town should have. I didn’t even take any pictures today!

Doug is not feeling too well today, I think he has gotten himself dehydrated. We are planning on going to the Badlands tomorrow. It is about 85 miles from here so need to get an early start.

This is the first time I have not been able to make a call out. I called Edie from Deadwood and wanted to call Chip tonight, but am getting an out of area message. I might try going down to the office and see if that will work. I really want to call Nicholas tomorrow for his birthday.

April 30, 2007

Got up real early so we could call Nicholas and wish him a Happy Birthday before he went to school. Could not get a connection down at the office, so we hiked up to the ‘look out rock’. I finally got out but he had already gone to school. Will call him tonight.

Spent the day on the Iron Mountain Rd. again. It is so beautiful and we enjoy the animals so much. We saw lots more of them and fed the burros again. They are so much fun.

It was bright and sunny when we left but became overcast and cool by the time we got home about 2:30. We have been very interested in what fire damage does in this area. Over ten years ago large areas were burned and they are just now showing signs of new growth. Things grow VERY slowly in this area.

Have spoken to a lot of seniors that do “work camp” and it is something we will seriously look into. Some of them are fulltime RV’s and they either volunteer at different parks around the country or get small paying jobs. We have thought that from now on we would like to do a state at a time.

We will leave this campground tomorrow after spending four nights. It has been very enjoyable and we would love to come back to this area.