Lakes and fish

This morning we went out for breakfast and then into the Black Hills to Sheridan and Pactola Lakes..  We took the back roads where they was plenty of fall colors.  We got back by noon and did some things around the place.  Always something.  Went to Millstone for a good fish dinner.

It is a cool and cloudy day but nice to have the windows open and get some of the fresh pine scented Black Hills air!

Sheridan Lake

Pactola Lake

Stay at home (motorhome) day

A day to stay at home and get some things done.  Well not entirely at home.  We went to the Post Office and Walmart.  Needed just a few food items.

We went to Panchero's for dinner, a long time favorite place.

It is another beautiful day but allergies are really bugging me.

More of Custer State Park

Back to The Black Hills, Custer State Park.  This time to the west end and the Needles Highway and Sylvan Lake.  A beautiful trip.  The Burch trees have all turned yellow and with the evergreens it is a beautiful site.

We stopped in Hill City for a sandwich before taking the back road to Keystone and back to Rapid City.  Got a pizza for dinner.

"Needles"

Needles Eye

Fall colors

Sylvan Lake

Black Hills and a trifecta of great places to eat!

It was finally time to get into the Black Hills today.  How many hundreds of times have I seen the hills, I don't know.  They are always beautiful!  We went through Custer State Park, Wild Animal Loop, Iron Mountain, Pigtail Bridges, by Mt. Rushmore.  Beautiful drive on a beautiful day!

We didn't see and buffalo (bison).  The buffalo round-up is this weekend so we think the smart buffalo are hiding as far away as they can get.

Prior to leaving we had breakfast at Morning Side, a place we have often eaten at in the past.  It was good as always.  We stopped for lunch at Legion Lake, totally remolded and nice.

In the evening we went to Alpine Inn in Hill City for dinner.  They have two choices a 6 or 9 oz steak and a huge dessert menu.  There is always a line waiting for them to open at 5 PM.  Very Good!

Prairie Dogs

Wild (?) donkeys

Mt. Rushmore

Busy day!

A nice day in the Black Hills.  Humidity is not a problem here, but new allergens abound!  My eyes are stinging and giving me problems.

We cleaned a very dirty motorhome, looks so nice for about 10 seconds.  Washed three loads in the motorhome washer/dryer and took the sheets to the laundry.

Then we went to lunch with Lisa and Bill, following lunch the four of us went to have a 90th birthday party for brother Bud at his nursing home.  His wife Pat was also there.  They both look good, was good to see them.

Lisa loaded us up with fresh items from her garden, we had some for dinner.  In the evening we watched the Trump/Clinton debate.  I can no pick a clear "winner" but Clinton did keep her cool much better than Trump.  It bothered me that he was constantly sniffing his nose, I wished someone would give him a tissue.  Mark my words, Trump will have multiple excuses for not doing better, none of which are his fault.

Family Day

We went to the Noziska Ranch today for a great family gathering.  16 people in all.  Good visits and good food!


Bear Butte near the Noziska Ranch:

Jacks, Skyline and wind

It rained off and on all last night.  In the morning we had bright sun and some wind and cool.  Our friend Toby came over to check out the motorhome jacks as the control from time to time while going down the road wants us to think the jacks are down and beeps and flashes.  Turns out there is a leak in one jack which we will have to replace.  He filled the hydraulic fluid which will help for awhile at least.

On the way out to dinner we went to Skyline Drive.  Always a nice drive.

The wind is really starting to pick up as forecast.

View from Skyline Drive in Rapid City, SD:

Day trip to Spearfish Canyon and Deadwood

It rained a lot of the night and was damp and cloudy this morning, probably not a good day to take a trip to see fall colors.  BUT we did anyway.  Shortly the weather turned sunny and warm.

We went to Spearfish Canyon which is beautiful at any time but know for it's great fall colors and it didn't disappoint.  It was great!  Then we went to Deadwood, drove around and ate lunch at a place we have eaten many times in the past, Tin Lizzy Casino.  We had a good shrimp meal with baked potato, carrots and toast for $4.99.  Didn't gamble any so didn't loose any, which mean we must have won!

Spearfish Canyon:

Bridal Vale Falls

Odd pictures I took accidentally in Deadwood

Chamberlain to Rapid City via Wall

Pulled out of Oasis Campground by Chamberlain SD about 9 AM and made our way to Wall Drug in Wall SD.  We shopped and looked around for awhile and then ate lunch.  The food was once a decent price but now tourist prices.  Back on the road we made it to Happy Holiday Campground by Rapid City where we will stay for a week.

We have workamped here for 8 years and know the place well.  We saw the managers right away and had a long visit.  They were kind enough to give us our campsite.  

The weather has really cooled down, need sweaters, cloudy as well.  Hope we at least get some sun when we visit the Black Hills!  We went to one of our favorite restaurants Mongolian Grill and had a good dinner with leftovers to take home!


Wall Drug:

Apple Valley to Chamberlain SD

Got up early today to get going but because we haven't done the procedure for awhile it took extra time.  Finally we got going but not for long as we had to stop and put air in the tires and then we were on the road.  We got to Chamberlain about 4 PM.  We had rain on and off for awhile this morning turning to heat and humidity in the afternoon.  Was about 85 degrees.

We went to the Chamberlain rest area to seen the new statue "Dignity" of an Indian Woman.  And ate at Al's Oasis.  I had a great Indian Taco on Indian Fry Bread.

We parked at Oasis campground, a nice pull thru spot so we can get on the road right away - I hope.

Day before we take off in the motorhome

We spent the night in the motorhome as a trail run to see if we forgot anything critical.  There were a couple things.  Hard to deal with just one bathroom.

Then it was back to the house to do a load of things.  Don needs all his denim shorts so had to was the last pair.  Ran the dishwasher with odds and ends.  Then we cleaned the house.

Sheila and Ken invited us to dinner, was a good chance to visit before we go on the road.  Poor Bri is not feeling well at all.

Tired

I am tired.  It took us two trips to the motorhome today.  Last minute stuff and refrigerator stuff, more in the fridge than I thought!

It was rainy this morning, not forecast.  Then it turned nice in the afternoon.  Cleaned the motorhome in the late afternoon and made the bed.  Then to the house to make the bed.  We got sandwiches from Arby's and brought them to the house.  I cleaned the kitchen and bathrooms and started a load of towels in the evening.  Tired I am..

More stuff to the motorhome

We went out for breakfast then right home to pack more stuff for the motorhome.  Except for our last minute things and refrigerator items we are about done.  Sheila, Ken and Brenda came to the motorhome for awhile for a visit.  Granddaughter Bri is sick with pink eye, ear infection, bronchitis, etc. etc.  Poor thing!

Then made another trip in the late afternoon with shoes and wraps.

We grilled some ham in the evening and had the twice backed potatoes we purchased at HyVee.

More packing and more homecoming

We are continuing to get the motorhome packed  We made three trips today and still have more to go.  It is a big job but can't leave stuff in there as it sits in the hot sun over the summer.  Will be glad to get it done, but have a couple more days.

Thought it was going to rain all morning and then this afternoon the sun came out making it hot and humid.

Zach's football team won 45 - 0 last night.  Tonight was the homecoming dance and party afterwards at our daughter's house.

My kind of hamburger:

Motorhome and homecoming

Today we took our motorhome out of storage and moved it to a near-by park.  Then we went to work, I brought all the dishes home to be dishwasher washed.  We took a couple car fulls of stuff and put it away.  We have just begun and are already so tired!

It is homecoming at my grandson's high school, he is a homecoming king candidate but didn't get the crown.  But it was an honor.  Tonight he is playing football.

Grandson Zach is on the right.

Shopping, washing and rain

Shopping again today, went to CVS Pharmacy for some shampoo, etc. and vitamins.  Then to HyVee for a few groceries.  Before we went I cleaned out our shower using the mega scrubbing bubbles product.  It is a lot of work but leaves a nice shine.  Washed the bathroom rugs, been intending to do so for awhile.

It started raining in the afternoon so we decided to stay home and eat leftovers for dinner.


OH NO----

Shopping and new purse

We went to Panera  for breakfast, probably the last time until we come back in November.  Then to Walmart for odds and ends.  Finally to a couple more stores just to pick up a couple things.

Yesterday I got the small purse I ordered from Amazon.  It was suppose to be large enough to hold my smart phone but no way would it fit and the zipper was so rough it would have been a pain.  So I ordered another one and returned the first.  I got the second purse today and it works fine, even better than the description.

I worked on getting office stuff ready for the motorhome.  Have a big box full - hope it all fits!  Also setting aside stuff that needs to be in the MH.  Charged my Jet Pack (mobile WiFi) and left it on awhile to update.

We went to Culvers for dinner, I had shrimp and Don had a patty melt.


New purse:

• 

Doctor, hair, files ----

Don went off to see his doctor bright and early today just for a check up before we head out.  When he came back we went to get hair cuts.  While he was gone I finished my cleaning files project.  I had stuff all over the office floor but that is now all taken care of - either filed in the proper place or shredded.  Good to get stuff done.

I fixed spaghetti for dinner, had some meat balls I wanted to use that had been in the freezer for awhile.

Clean house, insurance and KFC

Clean the house day, what a good time - not.  This week will be all about getting stuff ready for the big move this coming weekend.

It "appears" we have gotten our car and motorhome insurance all straightened out.  I will check once again in a few days.  Last week we got 2 letters telling us we still owed money, which we did not.  Before that they canceled us because we owed money rather than billing us.  We need a new company, will not go through this again next year.

We brought home KFC for dinner.

9/11

Went to Denny's for breakfast.  We came home and read the Sunday papers and did some work around the house.  I baked a pumpkin pie which had been in the freezer for awhile,  sure smelled good.  We had the windows open so I'm sure our neighbors enjoyed the smell as well!

Sheila and Brenda came over for awhile in the afternoon, always a good visit.

We grilled stake for dinner along with the pie.

15 years now:

Live long and prosper

Cool, but nice day.  Good to have the windows open to air out the place.  Getting our plans ready for the week as Friday we take the motorhome out of storage to get ready to travel the next week.

We did stuff around the house and went to Hong Wong's, favorite Chinese place, for dinner.

Slow, rainy Friday

Went to HyVee today.  Picked up some specials and a big bag of Honey Crisp Apples.  Was raining when we left the store.  It also rained during the night along with some thunder.

Mostly did stuff around the house.  Got 5 Guys hamburgers for dinner,

On this day in 1956:

Slow but nice day

We're still tired from the long trip yesterday.  We went to Target to get some Coke on sale and walk around the store.  Of course we got a few other things, almost mandatory at Target.

We got sandwiched from Arby's for dinner.  It's been a nice day, a dry day between rainy days.

Long, hard day

A very long and hard day today.  We left before 8 AM for Cedar Rapids Iowa to attend the funeral of our long time friend's daughter.  She was 44 years and for the last 20 years has had increasing health problems to where she was in a wheel chair.  She had some surgery and went into a coma from which she never awoke.  Even though my friend had dedicated the last few years to taking care of her daughter full time, still she was very saddened.

It was a four plus hour drive for us each way, most of it in rain.  Thankfully it stopped raining as we approached Minnesota so we didn't have rain in the dark.  Got home about 9 PM.  It was a long drive and a hard day but glad we went.

To my friend:

Rainy Day

For once we did a good job of planning!  It was raining when we left for breakfast at Panera but by the time we got there it had stopped raining.  Once we got our food we noticed it raining again but when we were ready to leave it had stopped.  Went to Walmart and just when we got back in the car it started raining heavily.  Pulled into our garage - made the whole trip on a very rainy day and didn't get wet.

There was a loud crash of thunder about 4 AM this morning that woke us both up.  Then more thunder later.  We mush have gotten some wind as one plant was on it's side.

Stayed home for fish for dinner.

Bear Butte in South Dakota imposed on a Buffalo

Labor Day

Got up a bit late today, that's OK, it's Labor Day!  We still cleaned the house and I did some laundry - just want to get it done for the week as we have other things to do.  Like getting stuff ready so we can leave for a couple months!

In the evening we ate at Fudruckers, famous for their hamburgers and also visited Harbor Freight in that ares.

Food and upset stomach

This morning we went to Bakers Square for breakfast.  Our order was goofed up and we overheard a couple other orders were also not correct.  Not the servers fault but the kitchen's.  Not awake I guess.

We went to Menards AGAIN as they have a new ad out.  Don't know what Don will do when we are away in places with no Menards!

After lunch my stomach was major upset, took Tums and a nap and felt a little better.  We fixed pork chops and corn-on-the-cob for dinner.

I stand behind not allowing the Belkin pipeline to cross South Dakota.  Thanks to the  Native Americans who are doing the battle.
 

Slow Saturday

Lazy Saturday, nothing much we need to get done today but as always a lot I should do.  I will try to whittle a few chores down.

I got an email this morning that the daughter of a friend of mine died.  She had surgery and went into a coma just a few days ago.  Very sad, I know her family will miss her.

Brenda came over in the afternoon for a visit, always great to see her.  We went to Chili's for dinner and then a little ride around.


I miss going to the State Fair.

Mirror and eating

We went to Menards ---- again.  They had a big sale today, we got a few things.  Then to HyVee for some groceries.  Took the groceries home as HyVee is close by and we went to Culver's for lunch.  We had $1 off coupons so got Rubin Sandwiches, they were very filling but if that was not enough we got the ice cream  they promised us because of an earlier complaint.  We got Turtle sundaes and they were double the size we usually get so we were FULL.

I felt a nap coming on, I had not slept well last night and ate too much for lunch.  My nap was longer than I had wished.  Took awhile for my brain to reactivate!

Still not hungry at dinner time but Don was hungry.  We got sandwiches from Jimmy John's.

September 1

Hard to believe it is September already and our days in our townhouse are numbered before we move back into our motorhome.  We will take it out of storage on the 16th.  That will be a few days of hard work - cleaning the motorhome, moving, shopping for stuff we need, cleaning the house, etc.

We went to Menards to look for a door mirror but only had one we didn't want so went across the street to Home Depot and got the one we saw yesterday.  In the afternoon Don replaced the old door mirror with the new one, looks nice.

Our insurance sent us an email saying we are insured and letting us know how much more we owe.  Would have thought that would have been something they would have done in the first place rather than canceling us without billing us for the extra.  Think we need a new company.

I can post this because I'm from South Dakota, the land of clean water, fresh air, open spaces and good people.