Friday, June 25, 2010

Box Elder Creek, Black Hills, SD

We survived the storm, no major damage, just a little spot from hail on the roof of the car. The next evening was so beautiful we thought it'd be a great night to head out to Box Elder Creek for more fly fishing. We're getting a little better at it. I had a couple of hits on my line, but Trevor actually caught one! I saw it on the end of his hook as he reeled it to shore, but then he lost it. Still, we had a great time out on the creek until a storm came out of nowhere like it always does around here.

As we drove back through high winds and rain, we realized we hadn't put the awning in on the RV before we left home. Not a pleasant sight when we returned! The awning was blown up over the top of our roof. The arms of the awning were broken, a mirror was knocked out, there was a small buckle at the edge of the roof, we got some dents in the top of the roof and a plastic vent cover was broken. In the end it'll cost several thousand dollars to fix. Praise the Lord for insurance! The more experienced campers were having a great time with the rookie Rvers. Everyone knows you put your awning in before you go anywhere or at least have it tied down! Kind of an expensive lesson to learn, but we won't be making that mistake again.

Last night was much more fun. Our neighbors took us 4-wheeling up the hill behind our camp. It's such a pretty ride up the hill. We passed an area of the Black Hills National Forest, and the evening sun coming through all those pine trees was so surreal. And the view from the top of the hill was great! Trev said we were looking out at about 40 miles of land.

It was great visiting with our neighbors afterward. They showed us pictures they had taken of the elk, deer and turkey that pass through this camp. They also told us about different adventures they'd gone on, and showed us a picture of the130 lb. Halibut that LaVee caught in Alaska. Sounds like lots of fun reeling that thing into the boat. I'd love to try it.

Later, we had dinner at the Steak Fry the camp puts on every Thursday. One of the work campers used to teach photography and showed us pictures of her work. I can only dream of taking pictures that good some day. She helped me out a bit with my camera today. I've been having trouble getting my lens to focus. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't and as you'll see by today's pics, the last time I used it, it was not cooperating. Mary assured me that it isn't me (that's a relief). I guess my camera needs to spend some time in the shop. They said it'd take a month for me to get it back and no, they don't give out loaners in the meantime. No matter, we won't be here in a month, so until we settle down somewhere for awhile, please be forgive the fuzziness of our pictures.

We hope all of you are well. We miss you lots!

Love, Trevor and Roni

Monday, June 21, 2010

Spearfish Canyon



Well, the rookies went fly fishing this weekend, and no we didn't catch anything. Even before we had a line in the water, our camp host, who had taken the day off to visit Spearfish Canyon, spotted us on Spearfish Creek, came down the hill like a whirlwind on us, and told us everything we were doing wrong (which was just about everything). We are so thankful for all his helpful advice, as we were then able to get one fly-rod up and running.

Our biggest problem after that, was not having the right kind of flies to tie on, something we have since corrected with a quick stop at Cabela's in Rapid City, where we received even more helpful instruction from a very patient man named Jason.

Fly-fishing, whether you're doing it right or not, does lend itself to some great pictures though, don't you think?
And the day was not a waste, because let me tell you, every moment in Spearfish Canyon takes your breath away. I wish so much that I was a “skilled” photographer who could really get the message across to you of just how beautiful this place is. I guess you're just going to have to come take a look for yourself!

We've enjoyed thunderstorms just about every day here I think, but they're scattered storms that happen in a way as to allow you to enjoy great portions of the day with perfect weather. As I'm writing this though, we seem to be experiencing a good deal of hail. It began as pea-sized hail, but quickly turned to much bigger chunks. It actually stopped for awhile, but now as I'm writing this, the hail has begun anew, and it sounds pretty scary! The chunks are much bigger now. As a side-note, the campground's located on “Brimstone Place” We don't like the idea of hail on Brimstone Place!!! Anyway, it's beginning to look like we may experience a tornado soon, but with the hills in the way, it's a little difficult to tell. I'll let you know what happens.

In the meantime, enjoy the pictures of Spearfish Canyon, Trevor fly-fishing, and of course the lovely hail!!!


Love you all,
Roni


That's us right at the bottom of what looks like a flaming comet on the radar.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Sturgis, South Dakota



As I was thanking the Lord this morning for His many blessings and great goodness to us, I caught the sweet scent of the pine trees that surround our new landing place. The hills here, are so beautiful, it makes it difficult to remember there's a whole country with sights much more breathtaking than this to be explored.



We're currently in a very secluded part of a campground in Sturgis, South Dakota. There's only one other human couple here, but we share the space with a herd of deer, a flock of turkeys and a mountain lion who occasionally makes his way through here. So far we've only seen the turkeys and Trev saw some deer this morning, but I'm not so sure I want to see the mountain lion. Although I think it'd be a cool sight, I think it might make me a little nervous about sitting outside after dark. For now I choose to follow Trevor's motto: “If I don't see it, it doesn't exist”. I choose to use that motto for the rattlesnakes as well.





We visited the usual spots on the way out here, a car museum, the Badlands, and Wall Drug. It rained the whole time, occasionally stopping just long enough so I could snap some photos, but then the downpours would begin again. Yesterday is what I call “My so excellent day!” The sun was shining, but the high only reached about 71. And no humidity! Yes!!!









We plan to try our hand at fly fishing on Spearfish Creek this weekend. The guides say the creek holds brown, rainbow, and brook trout....mmmm. You know I'm not a fan of fish, but there's just something about trout. I'll let you know if we catch anything. In the meantime, I hope these pictures of the new place can speak for themselves.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Little People




Little People

Because of our love for them, we decided to hang around Minnesota a couple more weeks so we could spend their first week out of school with them.

The girls and I are having a great time! Swimming, killing bad guys at the arcade, playing on the teeter-totter and riding interesting bicycles, (or tricycles)? And sometimes Grandpa even gets to join us when he's done with work.



I love technology! I don't know how to use it, but for now, it only matters that Trevor and his buds at JH do. It's so awesome! The girls went home for the evening and Trev and I are sitting here outside the RV, “kind of in the woods”, Trevor working on work stuff, me writing, and enjoying the setting sun and the smell of campfires around us. I could do this full-time!

We've been having a wonderful time visiting and catching up with friends and family since we arrived here on May 2nd. We're both so grateful that we were able to spend time with our parents. With each of our parents being such active people, you're never quite sure if you'll get to see them or not.

As I (Roni) wrote the above, I realized the same is true of all our children and their families too. Between work and school and everything else they have going on, although the time we spent with them could never be enough, we're so grateful for the time we did have with them here.

We are sorry we weren't able to meet with some of our family and friends and hope we'll be able to see you when we make a swing back around this way again. In the meantime, we will keep in touch. But Mary, you really need to get a computer!!!! Lisa, tell your mom and dad to get a computer!!!!

But now at last when Friday evening comes and Trevor shuts down his computer for the day, we'll begin the real adventure. One that many of us have always dreamed of, God in His great love and mercy has allowed us to do! As we travel around the country in our 36' Diesel Pusher, we'll keep you updated with each of our adventures, let you know where we are, and if any of you happen to be traveling in the same area at any given time, maybe we could hook up along the way. First stop will be Sturgis, SD (well, maybe a Walmart parking lot along the way). As we keep you updated as to where we go next, please feel free to tell us about good places to visit.

We've already met some very interesting people. In our first campground, we met a retired BCA agent. When I began my little stint toward Law Enforcement, my secret dream was to become a BCA agent. I could have listened to the man all night. There was also Sue and her husband who had their own trucking business before the economy took a dive. We learned a lot of interesting things about the road from them.

A couple of days ago we met a woman in the new campground who's been traveling alone in an RV since her husband passed away about 32 years ago. She hopes to continue until her 90th birthday which is only 2 years away. She's done and seen a lot of interesting things and gave us many suggestions of things we can see and do out there. I pray this woman will make it to her 90th birthday and that we'll meet up with her again out there.

I can't wait to develop skills as a writer, I can see that I'm going to have inspiration I couldn't get anywhere else.

We miss all of you in GA so much. You'll be in our hearts and minds and prayers all along the way. The same will be true of our families and friends as we leave MN. We love you guys!

Love, Trevor and Roni