FRIENDS and TRIPS TO WIND CAVES & HILL CITY & MITCHELL, SD

Thursday, May 10, we began the day with a trip to Wind Caves.  It was quite a drive down there.

Original entrance, that they now only use
to show the wind coming from the caves.

But when we started going down the steps into the caves, I decided that it was going to be more than my arthritis in my joints and my imbalance would let me do. So I returned topside and planned to wait for Gary to finish the tour. But he became concerned for me and returned topside also. I hated that he did not go through with the cave tour and told him so!! But what could I do??
So our enjoyment of the drive and the wildlife had to be our day's highlight.

Deer 

Antelope

Yes, we see you!!

Bison. Seems the birds found it a comfortable place to perch.

Think of the hump on this guy's back
and imagine it skinned, dried and shaped
with the highest round area being the
bottom of a bull boat as we saw it in our next outing
in Mitchell, SD

We also saw a field of smaller prairie dogs!

We didn't realize that we would see Crazy Horse from
another direction. The air must have been clearer as
this picture was by far clearer than the ones that we
took the day before.

It must have been Model A day again!!

After returning to the motorhome for a rest and to kill time, we again went out in the fog to go to Hill City to meet up with our friends Dave and Laura again. We love to eat and visit!!  We met them at Alpine Inn Restaurant, a beautiful building. I think that it would be very nice to stay there in the B&B rooms upstairs.

This was the entire menu except for deserts.
Very good Fillet Mignon!!
And awesome desserts which Gary and I
shared. Definitely too much for one!

Victor, we thought of your liking for the
tin ceiling.

Gary, Audrey, Laura and Dave.

The waitress took our picture before we got too full, and before she got busy. We had a good night there as Laura said that usually they are so full when they first open the door at 5 pm.  It must have been the fog.
Dave and Laura, we look forward to looking you up the next time we come through your area!!
On Saturday, May 13th, we moved on to Mitchell, S. Dakota and did some driving about the town on Sunday after church. We took pictures of the Corn Palace, but did not realize that the corn pictures were different than the ones that we saw in July 2017. We did not know that they change the display themes each year.  In 2017 it was the Rock Music Industry (actually Country). In 2018 the theme is weather.

SOUTH DAKOTA WEATHER 2018

We'll have to remember to check it out each time we travel through here.
We were also intrigued with the way they ran the electric and transfers down the alley rather than around the buildings and on the streets.

The trees and lilacs are all out in full bloom now.  We heard from a tour guide how the weather is so wild here, so cold in winter and so hot in the summer!! Nothing comfortable about it.
Moving on Wednesday, May 16th to Redwing MN for a month, hoping to spend some time with Ben. He probably will be working during the week and staying in motels beginning this week and who knows for how long. So we might only be able to spend time with him on the weekends. Next week it will be North Dakota for him.