badlands, eclipse and the black hills

Bison in camp!

Fossils in the creek bed

Bison bones!

Camping with friends in sage brush country

Arms full of sage

Devils Tower

Spearfish Canyon

Crazy Horse Monument

Crazy Horse museum

Iris trying her arms and legs at hoop dancing

Beautiful way to see the hills

Jewel Cave

Last night buffalo viewing

What an amazing trip!  After Andy got the green light to wait another couple months to scan again (i.e. No Treatment!), we made quick plans to see the eclipse in its totality.  This brought us to southwestern SD, and eastern WY to meet friends for a couple of days.  The eclipse was spectacular, and my few photos (I was determined not to stay behind my camera for long) don't even begin to do it justice, so I won't post them here.  I was mesmerized by the shadows and light, the dusk falling in every corner, the way my body felt in two+ minutes of sun shadow.  Andy couldn't take his eyes off the corona and was able to see Bailey's beads (whatever they are) and stars and planets and all matter of mysterious things.  The kids were just giddy and not as aware as we were about this being a BIG deal.  It was so worth the drive!

Then we parted ways with our friends and spent the rest of the week exploring the Black Hills and Bad Lands.  Several hikes, great campfire food, dry warm breezes through the tent and freezing cold mornings.  No showers for 8 days, meeting interesting people, spending 2 hours in the belly of the earth, watching the wrangler girls run the show at Rockin R ranch and knowing our girls were inspired.  Skipping the crowds at Mt. Rushmore and spending an afternoon instead at the Crazy Horse Monument, watching native dancers and artists, and understanding, a little, the story of what happened out there.  Diving into the 50 degree cold of a mountain stream at 9am, eating ice cream more than you should, watching falcons, golden eagles, and coyotes up close.  Finding fossils and beautiful stones and letting mama hunt for just one more golden agate. Filling the car with armloads of sage, skinning knees on many boulder climbs, reading by headlamp light, listening to the story of Sitting Bull and (unrelated to the Black Hills) Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry as the miles sped by. 

So sweet to find the beauty in these moments together.