Prairie visits and back to the wild west

Joyce's cousin Judy, her husband Rod and their daughter Carissa

Quick stop at Wall Drug, South Dakota

We've had two great evenings, the first with Joyce's cousin Judy and her family in Mobridge, South Dakota (in the middle of nowhere!). We talked non-stop until late in the night, and Judy's daughters Carissa and Heidi and Carissa's husband Justin also stopped by for a visit. So good to re-connect with them after 45 years! Carissa and her mom work as professional photographers, so Carissa set up all her equipment to do a quick photo shoot with us. Loved being with all of them, and it felt so easy and relaxed!

Black Hills, South Dakota

 Yesterday we drove the rest of the way across South Dakota, making the requisite stop at Wall Drug to mail some postcards, then on to the Black Hills. It was incredibly windy which slowed us down a bit, so we decided to forgo a visit to Mt Rushmore in favor of getting to Gillette,, Wyoming at a decent hour.
It was another really late evening last night, chatting with Joyce's niece Kris and her family, who we haven't been with for a couple of years. SO great to catch up on family affairs! Bill went on a ride-along with Tracy, who is a Gillette police officer. Very interesting to sit in a patrol car and see how that work gets done.
We're enjoying being back in the west again - feels like home, even though we're still 2,000 miles from getting home. Today, we'll drive thru Wyoming, stop at Yellowstone and visit Old Faithful and the bison etc there. We're very lucky to book-end our trip with mountain splendor! God's majesty is on full display!

Back in the wild west!

Red rocks - good to be back in the hills!

Joyce's niece Kris and her daughter Michelle