I Prefer Aluminum

The rest of our South Dakota highlights included a beautiful hike in Custer State Park (by way of Needles Highway) and Dinosaur Park in Rapid City. Fireworks shows were cancelled due to a crazy thunderstorm!  The next day we relaxed at the campground.  The kids loved the spring fed water slide. Jude rented a bike and did the climbing wall. Lucy and Pradit went gem mining and made mini marshmallow guns and went on a wagon ride to pelt the staff. It was pretty cute. What a trip!  

This morning we headed out of Billings and headed to South Dakota — our drive was about 5.5 hrs. We’re staying at the Mt Rushmore Palmer Gulch KOA. The drive through Montana and Wyoming was beautiful!

Loading up in the pouring rain was a chilly job!  We ventured to Billings - about 4.5 hrs. When we registered at the KOA, I asked to be situated next to an Airstream if possible.  Not only did they Grand our request - but we also followed one into the campground!  Double whammy!  The KOA was great - a playground right next to our site, a pool, and a mini golf course. We met our Airstream. neighbors and they recommended Pictograph Cave State Park. A short loop trail brought us to ancient cave drawings. It was fascinating!   We drove into Billings for dinner at Last Chance Cider Mill - a kid friendly brewery in town  and called it a night - we leave early in the morning for the Black Hills!

Our hearts are sad today. We heard from our cat sitter that Reverb, our two year old male cat, died suddenly.  He showed no symptoms - she just found him peacefully laying on the rug in the living room. Our only guess is that he had some sort of undiagnosed heart condition.  He was such a sweet kitty!  You will be missed, Verbie Boo!

Today we covered the rest of Yellowstone’s highlights - Old Faithful and the Grand Prismatic Spring!  It was nice to slow down a little - we let the kids sleep in and certainly saw larger crowds, but we were able to see everything with the help of our bikes when the parking lots were too crammed!  We came back to the campsite and relaxed and caught up on some laundry.