Picture This

In a departure from my usual wall of words, this post will be snapshots from a recent trip to our Beloved Black Hills. Unlike the flash and dash of many social media postings, my amateur photos will include the mundane as well as the marvelous. I suspect most trips are stitched together in such a manner.

Our trip was along the back roads of southern South Dakota which are sometimes a little short on bathroom stops. The Gus Stops had a not-so-sketchy vibe with acceptable facilities. And the name always made me smile.

A view of the parking lot of a hotel we stayed at on our way to the Hills. I gave this parking lot an "A" for the perfect amount of pavement around the hotel for my early morning walk. Bonus points for the killdeer singing to me, the feral cats rustling around in the bushes and the rooster letting me know the day was ready to begin.

Torrential rains slowed our progress as we waited out a storm in a C-store parking lot. Drifts of hail lined the side of the road farther down the road so we were glad we didn't keep on driving. Correction: I was glad we did not proceed during the storm. My husband thought everything was fine.

We have seen many sights in the Hills over the years but this attraction was new to us. The Bison Center is filled with educational information about the majestic beasts of the prairie. I especially enjoyed the realistic feeling bison "pies" which could be manipulated to teach the importance of pies in the prairie ecosystem.

This picture does no favors for a breathtaking part of the southern Hills. In reality, the exposed soil is a strikingly beautiful brick red. It is aptly named the Red Canyon and covers many miles of geological wonders.

Where's Bambi? The buff colored deer who greeted me on one of my walks is almost impossible to see in the trees. Camouflage. It's a good thing.

Our home away from home. The sun's rays, filtered by the tall conifers, worked hard to warm our veranda each morning. Jackets were a must on our trip. I am not complaining.

An around-the-lake hike gave us plenty of eye candy. The chickadees and chipmunks also kept us entertained.

My morning walk always involved a few stops along the way. One was an overlook of a cold, clear creek. The red sumac added a fringe of color. If I had an ounce of artistic talent, I would have set up an easel and let the creativity flow. Grandma Moses, I am not.

There are many reasons not to travel. Gas is too high. Accommodations are too expensive. Work is too demanding. Plagues are too haunting. All valid reasons. But, the value of hitting the refresh button for a few days is incalculable. I highly recommend it.