Playing Tourist...

Growing up in the Black Hills I have a real aversion to tourist destinations as I had to deal with out-of-towners and it can be a big pain in the rear. My idea of a vacation spot typically includes some sort of seclusion, which I believe is a result of growing up here. However, it provided me with a job every summer since I was 15 and is the main source of revenue for this area. 

Yesterday the boys, along with my Mom, and I headed out for some tourist/site-seeing fun. We first went to the Cosmos which is supposed to be some magical gravity hot spot in the hills. I'm pretty sure the house that was built at an angle along side a steep hill has nothing to do with it...wink wink. None the less, the awkwardness caused me to have vertigo which then triggered my motion sickness. I kept my cookies down, but I didn't feel well afterwards. 

We then headed into the hills for a scenic drive and a little rock climbing. We went on a wilderness loop and managed not to see ANY wilderness. Must have been too hot. 

This is Cam standing up straight beside the cabin

The Cosmos transformed Cam into Superman

Since we drove right by Mt. Rushmore, I thought I would snap a picture to add to the hundreds of other pictures in my collection. 

See the tourists!

My boys

This was the best part of their day. Climbing and scrapping knees!

This is the Needles Hwy. 

The Black Hills, sadly all the brown patches are dead trees from the infestation of the pine beetle. 

Nature Walk and Paraphernalia...

Yesterday I went with my Mom, brother, and nieces to a new attraction in Rapid City. I love coming back home and visiting new places as you can only visit Mt. Rushmore so many times in one person's lifetime. Although, I have to say the evening lighting ceremony never gets old. Anyway, we went to The Outdoor Campus which is sponsored by the South Dakota Game, Fish, & Parks. Good times were had by all. Especially when Cam decided to scour the bottom of a pond with a stick. I promised my brother if I posted the picture I HAD to tell the story that goes along with it. 

There was a nature walk trail and along this trail is a little pond. Kids being kids wanted to go explore this nasty pond and we let them. There was a dead tree laying out in the pond which Cam walked out onto with a big stick. He proceeded to dredge the bottom of the pond with this stick. Well, he picked up on something. We could see what looked like a plastic tube coming up on his stick and then it would fall off and go back under. Cam was determined to get this thing to shore as he thought it was a rod holder and he could give it to his Papa. It took him nearly 15 minutes but he finally got the thing to shore. He picked it up and showed it to me and it clearly wasn't a rod holder. It was a bong! My brother and I were laughing so hard. I made my brother hold it while I took a picture. I'm sure there are some pissed off teenagers somewhere in Rapid City that are missing their bong. 

Little Miss Lilly and a bunny rabbit puppet

Ella Bella had a blast in this tent

Cam and Ella fishing

King of the Mountain Cam

Cam climbing

Ella can climb just like Cam

My baby boy, Cameron

Little Miss Lilly

Ella Bella

Cam playing with a stick and Ella watching

The Cousin's

Sister's

The infamous scum pond

My brother and the Paraphernalia Cam found at the bottom of the pond

Cam atop a tower

Ella got tired so she had to hitch a ride with Dad. Dad said, "Ella, don't pee!!"

End of the trail at a cold water spring