The Black Hills of South Dakota

The first week of June found Judy and I in Keystone, South Dakota. It just so happened that the Ogdens and Harpers were there also with the cutest kids in all of the Black Hills.Our trip was timed perfectly with the weather. It had rained everyday before we got there. We landed and the rains stopped. We left, and the rains started the same day. It was very cool, in the 60's every day.

This is a place for kids of all ages. Mt. Rushmore is incredible. The walking tour gave the story of our nation through the lives of the presidents, whose faces are carved into the mountain. Very moving and patriotic. One fact that I learned and found very intersting. The artist who designed the monument, Borglund, was born in Bear Lake, Utah. The son of a polygamist Mormon who migrated from Sweden to Salt Lake. I never found out if he remained an active member of the church. His family moved to the mid west when he was young and his mother left the family once they were out of Utah.

We drove the wildlife loup in Custer State Park and found ourselves in the middle of buf

falo herds. We also saw, deer, turkeys and antlope up close. Up close. Did I say up close, then try wild donkeys sticking their heads right inside the car window. It was thrilling for kids and adults. 

From Custer Park we went to the Crazy Horse mountain carving. A mountain 5 times as big as Rushmore being carved into the Indian Chief made famous at the battle of the Little Big Horn. 

Then it was off to the Reptile Farm, Bear Country (free roving bears and other animals in a drive thru park) and a dig site for prehistoric mammoths. With all these man made and natural wonders it had to end with a theme park atmosphere. We spent the last day in a covered water park. What little energy we had left, we spent it in the water.Needless to say, the kids slept well at night. By days end, everyone was bone tired. It was truly a family event to remember for a long time to come.
Next weekend we are off the the happiest place on earth, Disneyland. Why? you might ask would two 60 something adults go to Disneyland. It is the Western Podiatry Congress meeting. It is a really good annual meeting that gives me the chance to reconnect with all the people that I used to associate with on a daily basis when we lived in California. It is also the same weekend of the marriage of Patrick O'Brien, a good friend of Brad when he grew up in Lake Forest. We are looking forward to our visit and a chance to spend some time with Brad and Amber too.