Staying Busy

As you can tell by the number of posts we have put up since moving to SD, we have stayed pretty busy. Chrysa and I worked hard during the week and played hard on the weekend. Just about every weekend this summer we either hiked or ran or explored some wonder of western South Dakota.

My mom planned to visit us in SD almost as soon as we announced we were moving here. Mom was very clear that she wanted us to show her everything we could in her short visit. She also worked hard to be fit for the visit. South Dakota is a rugged placed and Chrysa and I like to do outdoorsy things. Mom was ready for everything we threw at her.

It all started on Thursday. Mom landed and literally hit the ground running. As soon as she got to the house Chrysa and I took her out to Summer Nights in downtown Rapid City. We listened to the cover band, while drinking some beer, and taking in the crowd. We also took a walk down art alley. Mom seemed really taken with the local artists and musicians. She lingered a long time listening to the hip hop DJ’s. I had no idea that this was her sort of scene. I guess you learn something new on every visit.

We ended the evening at Murphy’s. We sat outside and had great food and drink while people watching. It was a great night but we did have to get home. Day one was go go go and Chrysa and I had to work in the morning. I’m  sure mom was tired too. She was dealing with the time change in addition to a long travel day.

We took things a little easier on Friday. Mom did downtown shopping and exploring while Chrysa and I were at work. When we all got home we did the obligatory “sit and visit” and had a nice dinner of homemade shrimp tacos. We had to fuel up for a busy Saturday.

We got an early start on Saturday morning. We climbed into the rental car and drove through Custer State Park and Into Wind Cave Park. We took a nice hike up a ridge to give mom a sweeping view of the Black Hills.

After our hike we drove to Mount Rushmore. Rushmore is something you have to see if you are in the Black Hills and it doesn’t disappoint. I was thrilled to share it with my mom. I think she really enjoyed the experience. She took a bunch of pictures and took her time soaking it all in.

We wrapped up the day at Kol. Kol is a trendy restaurant in Rapid City. Mom treated us to a really nice meal of funky appetizers and fancy pizza. It was great to dress up, sit down with a nice glass of wine, and unwind after a vigorous day.

Sunday was that last day of the visit and we wanted to make sure it was a good one. We started by taking the short drive to Rushmore Cave. It was a blazing hot day, perfect for a trip underground. We spent most of the afternoon exploring the cave and keeping out of the sun.

We finished the afternoon off at Prairie Berry for a relaxing glass of wine. Mom seemed a little apprehensive about South Dakota wine but she warmed up to it during the tasting. She even purchased a full glass of Chardonnay. I didn’t even know she liked Chardonnay.

We purchased a couple bottles and finished the day/visit with a light dinner at home. It was a full and active visit. I promise you mom, we will take it easy on you in California!

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