South Dakota

Last weekend we took off for South Dakota - a quick trip of 2 days driving to get there and 2 days driving to get home with just 2 days there to visit with family. Do you think we are taking our aversion to flying too far?

(I don't. There is no easy way to get to South Dakota from anywhere and Seattle is no exception. It is, however, a straight shot east on I-90 through some incredibly beautiful country - so that's what we do.)

We were going to South Dakota in order to celebrate the 80th birthdays this year of Mark's "ancient ones" - so dubbed when he realized a few years ago that WE are now the "old ones" so his parents must be the "ancient ones." (Sorry Jack and Lil!)

And in spite of the short trip, we had a very full and wonderful time visiting with the rest of Mark's family, playing cards, taking pictures and even doing some sightseeing. It was a wonderful trip.

We don't often get a chance to do the sightseeing so this was a real treat for me. We drove through the Black Hills on the Needles Highway through some beautiful rock formations. Literally through the rocks in some cases... On the other side we even caught sight of the Crazy Horse monument, under construction since the late 40s and now with a finished (and amazing) face. Some pictures - of course: