Kayaking Anyone?

 Hello and good morning to all of you on this beautiful Saturday morning from beautiful Custer, South Dakota. On Thursday we drove from Chamberlain, SD to our camping spot here at Ft. Welikit, just outside of Custer. This is our second stay here this summer and the place we come back to over and over. 

First of all the results from the biopsy came back benign. Hallelujah! They have already scheduled ANOTHER colonoscopy for next August for a follow-up. So that's over with for another year and I'm so very thankful for that. I'm also VERY thankful for your wonderful thoughts and prayers during the past few months of dealing with this.

I'll show you a few sights from our drive on Thursday along I-90 across S.D. We passed several of these stunning sunflower fields. They stretched on for miles each time and sure made both of us smile at the happy flowers turning their faces toward the sun. The blue, blue, blue skies stretched for miles and was a perfect travel day.

Then, we passed "Fire Henge"! I thought Dee might enjoy these next few photos. We were going 65 MPH so I had to take two shots to get the entire thing in as we drove past. How did they get these trucks to stand up like that and withstand the prairie winds?

Here are my toes enjoying the beautiful weather and peace at our campsite on Friday. We really love this place. Dennis has traveled the world and I've been a few places myself, but our favorite spot in the world are the Black Hills of South Dakota. It's so peaceful here.

Yesterday Dennis, Curt and Barb went Kayaking on Sylvan Lake. Curt & Barb brought their kayaks from home while Dennis rented one at the lake. It was only $20.00 and easier than taking his on our six week journey for this one paddle. Once we get into Idaho and Washington it would mean stopping for every boat inspection point to check for invasive species and it just wasn't worth it to him. He did say that he missed his own kayak. The rental didn't paddle as well, but they still had a lot of fun exploring the lake. Zoey and I sat in the truck and read a book and people watched. My back just won't let me sit in a kayak and although I would have loved to go with them, I'm glad that they enjoyed themselves on the lake.

Afterwards we drove the Needles Highway and saw the gorgeous views and tunnels. Just before we reached Bluebell campground where we had all camped together with our kids in 1988, we saw "George" the buffalo taking a nap along the rode. This is the actual distance he was from our truck where we stayed safely inside. I would estimate he was about 10 feet from us! He didn't seem bothered that we were there at all and never even opened his eyes.

The view as we drove back toward Custer. I never get tired of seeing these vistas and imagine being in a covered wagon heading west back in the 1800's. I can imagine that although they found it beautiful, they probably weren't as comfortable as we were in our air conditioned truck.

Here we were last night, sitting outside our camper. Barb checking the weather forecast for today. That huge motorhome parked just as we were eating the fajitas that Dennis made for dinner last night. They are very quiet people and we never saw them outside. They hooked up their satellite TV dish and disappeared inside for the night! Most people will probably leave tomorrow after the weekend. Curt and Barb will leave Monday morning to stay at Ft. Robinson St. Park in Nebraska for a few days before heading back home. We'll be here until next Friday when we will drive to Buffalo, WY for one night. Then we go to Helena, MT to see our son and his family for the weekend. It's a great life and we're very grateful to the Lord for allowing us to do this.

I've been SLOWLY crocheting another Virus baby blanket. I admit that I've done more talking and reading than crafting so far on this trip. :-)

My three companions left about an hour ago to hike to the top of Black Elk Mountain, which used to be known as Harney Peak. It's been 35 years since they last hiked this mountain together! It's the highest point east of the rockies until the Swiss Alps!!!! Crazy! Not bad for a bunch of 70+ "kids". Again, my back hasn't cooperated for such a strenuous hike, so I'm at the camper with Zoey and catching up on laundry. I don't mind. I don't want to slow them down or make them stop hiking because of me, so I am happily staying behind for the day. Tonight we're planning to drive the Wildlife Loop and see what we can see. Curt is making meatloaf in the crockpot for our dinner with baked potatoes and corn too. Sounds delicious and we love to share our meals when together. 

Take care my friends and I'll check in again sometime soon. May God bless each and everyone of you during these unusual times that we're living in.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

Being in this greatness of the outdoors and seeing the beauty all around me, I find myself singing this great hymn often.

How Great Thou Art

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.


Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!


When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.


Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!


And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.


Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!


When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"


Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!