Sylvan Lake and 1770km's

A lot has happened within the last few weeks and this post is probably as long as the kilometres we travelled....you've been warned!

• Dorian arrived (Ewan's mother) for a month long stay

• Kids had end-of-year excursions to zoo's,  Omaha Zoo for Ailish and Sioux Falls Zoo for the boys

• Mother's Day - Roast beef and yorkshire puddings

• Ailish finished grade 6 and the boys finished grade 2

• Relaxed days of summer holidays ahead and I put on my United Nations hat in readiness - I didn't have to wait too long because within the first hour Rowan declared that his brother and friend were "ruining his life!"

This past weekend we packed a few changes of clothes and a car load of snacks and headed to the Black Hills to show Dorian what an amazing place we're living in at the moment.

First stop, the mandatory Wall Drug Store.  It's just one of those places you have to stop by, not because of anything special but just to say you've been.

We decided to stay in Custer Park, so we headed onto our accommodation for the weekend.  Through amazing scenery and up one very winding road to Sylvan Lake Lodge.  We arrived at the lodge just as hail decided to fall from the sky and pelt out car.  Luckily Ewan had wrapped our luggage in a tarp, so it was kept dry.

I've made my fair share of good decisions and some, only some, bad one's, but booking this place was like winning the jackpot.  Nestled amongst the Ponderosa pine trees and birch trees this was a typical inviting lodge.  A huge "great" room off of the reception area was decorated with preserved wildlife, moose, deers, caribou, and had a huge fire which we sat by after our evening meal.

After settling in, I went on a little hike.  It was cold and it was still drizzling.  Through the pine trees I could see a lake, so in an effort to get a better view of the lake I climbed up some granite boulders, slippery and wet and buffeted by wind, my efforts were rewarded with a spectacular view of Sylvan Lake.  JACKPOT!

Now if this view doesn't make you want to get outside and climb a hill to get a better view......well nothing will.

Boy oh boy, precariously crouching on the boulder, did i feel in awe of this amazing view and eager to try and capture it, but photos just don't do it justice.

Saturday we headed for Wyoming, in particular Devil's Tower.

We walked around it, about a 1.3 mile walk.  During the morning the sun came out and it heated up a little so luckily the surrounding trees and the placed benches made it a comfortable walk.

Devil's Tower....check! Back to South Dakota, in particular Custer State Park.  

It's the Wildlife Loop drive that we enjoy.  We saw a lonely Bison early into our drive.  I got out the car to get a pic while the family where yelling at me to come back every step I took closer to this creature.

Of course the highlight is always the donkeys.  

Only 1 was at the roadside as the others were far off in the field.  Lucky for him, he just ate his way from car to car.  He gladly ate the vegemite sandwich we offered....officially the only American to love vegemite!

We'd seen so much by the time we'd finished here but the day wasn't over.  We refuelled at a Chinese restaurant in Rapid City and then onto Mt Rushmore for the evening light show.

To say we were all glad the day was finally over and we were heading back to the lodge to sleep would be an understatement.  We really did jam a lot into Saturday, but it was worth it.  

Sunday Morning, I woke up early and went for a walk around Sylvan Lake.  The morning was perfect, still and blue skies.

From the other side of the lake you can see the boulder I was standing on and how high it was.  Crazy ha!

So we packed up the car and drove down to the lake where the kids had a little play in the water.  This is as close to a "beach" setting as we've been in over 18 months.  The water was cold but that didn't stop them enjoying the sand and water.

In the car, and we're on our way home......but wait, one more stop, well more of a drive by......the Badlands.

At the entrance the attendant informed us there were some buffalo about 12 miles down a particular dirt track.  The kids hopped into the back of the car....the tray part, and we started down the dirt road.  After a few miles we wondered if this detour was going to be worth it.  We were all pretty tired by this stage and the thought of adding extra time to our already 5 hour drive home wasn't exciting Ewan or I.  But we continued down the road and man were we all glad we did.  

We came across buffalo alright, as far as the eye could see.  Big ones and babies.  They were just roaming the prairie land and all over the road.  What a treat to see so many and to get this close.  

Finally, we head home.  

No more stops, except a couple of bathroom breaks and one where we scored 3 Pepsi's from the machine for the price of one.  Perfect ending.

We had such a wonderful weekend with Dorian.  We loved showing her this amazing part of the world and we loved discovering and seeing new sights ourselves.  

There really are no shortages of great views in the Black Hills, most you don't have to risk your life climbing a boulder for!