Thursday, September 14, 2017

Our First South Dakota Visitors!


All work and no fun makes for a grumpy couple. Luckily we averted GCS (Grumpy Couple Syndrome) by infusing some fun into our week.
After working all day, we started taking drives at night right at sunset to see if we could run across some of the area wildlife and boy, did we ever!



Our most exciting events of the week was the fact that we had lots of visitors! Our first visitors were a local group of turkey’s who discovered that we put up bird feeders. Now they visit 3-4 times a day and have become so accustom to us and the dogs that they walk within 10 feet of us when we are outside sitting in front of the rig.
Our daily visitors

Our first human encounter this week was dinner with friends Phil and Rudee, on Phil’s birthday no less! Phil and Rudee are originally from Indiana and were fulltiming RV’ers for over 5 years until they started their “summer” job at Crazy Horse Memorial just outside of Custer. They liked the job and area so much they decided to buy a house in Custer and have taken a temporary hiatus from life on the road and enjoy life in Custer for a few years. For dinner, we met them at Lintz’s Pizza in Hermosa. We are slowly but surely learning the places to go for good food in the area.
Rudee and the birthday boy in front of their bike
Next up was a 3 day visit from virtual friends, bloggers and fellow fulltimers Jim and Diana Belisle. Although we had not personally met until this week, we have been virtual friends for several years following each other’s blogs and travel adventures. They have been on the road for about 3 ½ years and are passing through the area on their way back to their home state of Michigan after spending the summer in Oregon.
They are a great couple, we spent one day visiting the Prairie Berry Winery for a wine tasting and the Alpine Inn for a great lunch. Then it was off to Crazy Horse Memorial. Having never been here before we were amazed at the size of this complex and the number of displays there were to see. And bonus, if you are from Custer County, you get in for free! They just ask that you bring a few items for the local food self.
Diana and Jim at Prairie Berry

One of the many displays at Crazy Horse


With the temps up into the 80’s most of the week it was hard to work past noon so we tried to get as much done early in the day and spend the afternoons running errands or doing other nonphysical activities. One afternoon this included a tour of the local 4 wheeler trails by the owner of Country Charm Cabins. Owen and his wife Lois have owned their campground/cabins and horse camp for over 15 years and know the local trails like their back of their hands so when Owen volunteered to take us on a ride, we could not say yes quick enough!

He showed us a section line road where we could access the National Forest within a mile of our property. From there you can access literally hundreds of miles of trails. We saw some really cool country including an old homestead, an elk carcass and some beautiful scenery. Thanks Owen!

Ruins of an old cabin

This tree was growing right out of a rock!
But wait there’s more, we our second visitors arriving today! Jim and Brenda were too on their east after spending the summer in Alaska and are stopping by for a few days on their way through! Stay tuned for more Black Hills adventures..... 

24 comments:

  1. Looks like you are becoming locals. You need to name your camp.

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  2. Thank you so much, Jim and Barb! Your offer to let us stay on your property was very generous and kind. We truly had an amazing time with you two! 😊😊

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    1. Great to FINALLY meet the two of you! Safe, travels stop by any time you are in the area.

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  3. Glad you are open to visitors �� Seriously it's great Jim and Diana got to step by and you got to meet !

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    1. It has been over 3 years since we started communicating on line, it was great to finally meet them!

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  4. All that wildlife and ATVing from and near your little piece of paradise...SWEET!

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    1. We are going to hit the trails again this week, once we get to know them a little better we will be ready for your visit!

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  5. We can't wait to see the place some day. Sounds wonderful! Visitors already, nice. Looks like hunting season this year will be fruitful!

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  6. What a terrific wildlife zoo you have there!! You have a group of very happy turkeys there. Sounds like you will have lots to keep you busy with so many trails near by. Nice that Jim and Diana got to be guests for their first meeting. Guess we need to take another tour through that area on our way east!

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    1. Let us know when you are in the area, just remember each visitor gets to go home with a couple of prairie dogs..... I wonder if Jim and Diana found the two we stashed in their rig yet!

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    2. Wondered what that squeak was! Guess I can put my grease gun away now. :)

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  7. Your property is beautiful--Mom loves all the wildlife! Fun reading about your get togethers with folks, too, all of whom we have met! Great people. Best wishes to you as you become local South Dakotans!

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    1. Come on out, you can play with the prairie dogs and explore their homes!

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  8. Sounds like you've found a little piece of paradise! Hope we get to spend some time there someday! How awesome to finally meet Jim & Diana! They are a great couple!

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  9. Sounds like you're enjoying that 'home base' and you're settling in nicely. Always fun connecting with fellow bloggers.

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    1. I have a feeling that when you get a home base yours will be a lot further south than ours!

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  10. So awesome that you've been able to connect with so many people so quickly. Who knew SD was such a popular place..... maybe has something to do with you guys buying some land there!! :-)

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    1. I hear a certain 10 acres in Texas is going to become popular this winter!

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  11. Sounds like you've found your slice of heaven. Hope to get to SD one day soon and meet the two of you in person. I LOVED watching the prairie dogs, but can only imagine the havoc they'd cause in your landscaping!

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    1. Let us know if you ever make it up this way, it would be great to meet you guys!

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