Gearing Up For The Sturgis Bike Rally

Well, bike week is only one week away and we are seeing alot of people coming in to the park. The boss told the guy that mows that he will only mow a day or two next week and only if it rains some. After that with all the tenting spots that are reserved, there will not be much space to mow and also a full RV, cabins and motel. Also, during bike week, we have steak and burgers and brats on the grill in the evenings, so he will be helping grill.
We worked yesterday and today to get Sunday and Monday off as April's brother will be here Saturday, so we can spend some time with him. The boss wants me to open and close the pool on those days, but that is no problem. All but one of our weekly water samples from the pool was good, and he wants me to keep up the pool. Last year he didn't have any come back good, so when the first one that I did came back ok, he was almost in dis-belief, but very happy.
We went to Keystone last night with two other workamper couples and was going to ride the chairlift and then slide down the mountain, but due to storms in the area, they were closed. So, we just walked around downtown and stopped for dinner. We may try it again tonight, since I only have to work a half a day (8-4). Back to regular schedule Saturday, then off 2 days, work 2 days and off our regular days. So we should have some good pictures next posting.

The Big Bobber

Well, we have seen all kinds of rigs here in these hills. But I just had to take a picture of this one. The Big Bobber-you can see why it is called that. So cute, just a heartbreaker. Never know what it could have been if it was allowed to grow-up.

We have 2 baby tomatoes so far and alot of flowers too. The peppers are a little behind-maybe overwatered. April made banana bread today and gave one loaf to one of the other couples we work with. I also took a picture of a couple of the pine cones along side of a Coke Zero can. Enjoy!

Quiet Week For The Most Part

Well, it was a quiet week at least until Wednesday when we had several encounters with campers. But we survived all the commotion. Hot weather is here. 95 today in Rapid City. Supposed to be in the 90's at least through the weekend with thunderstorms forcast for Sunday. We didn't tour anywhere on our days off this week, so no new photos. However, one day I did take a picture of some kids and their pine cone stand. At the time of the picture they said they have had 2 customers and made 2 nickles! So cute. Our tomato plants have some nice flowers on them and the peppers have small ones starting to appear on them. I will get a picture next week and maybe there will be baby tomatoes on by then. April is working on keeping her insulin in check, but other than that all is going good. Summer is about half over and we will be back in Michigan in a couple of months! We miss everyone.

July 9, 2010 Southwestern Badlands

We headed for the badlands on Friday. We approached from the southwest and here are some of what we saw. I believe most people come from the Interstate 90 on the northeast and there probably is more to see up there. We ended up on a gravel road 20 miles from a visitor center where we found 3 employees and an Indian woman selling crafts-April donated to her cause- and no visitors besides us. Oh well, if we go again, we will be true tourists and come down from the interstate. But it is interesting landscape anyway and spent half of a very nice day driving around. It is not very nice working in cold, rainy weather, but it sure is nice to have good days when we are off. Maybe we can leave the furnace off for a few nights now. Enjoy.

What a Difference a Day or Two Makes

What a different week from last one. Yesterday, the high in Rapid City was 65. That broke a record--the lowest high temp since they have kept records on that date! And we woke up to 45 degrees today. And it was 19 degrees below the normal high of 84. We have had a couple of days like that, but supposed to get back to the mid 80's by the weekend, but with thunderstorms. We have had tenters come to the office and ask if we have space heaters for rent or sale. We have come to our days off again, and not sure what we will do, except get to Rapid City for mail and Walmart. I got a phone call this week wondering if I had made a purchase on my card in France-the country of France! So, now my card is blocked and canceled. I have to wait 2 weeks to order a new card too. They have to clear the charge and whatever first and I have to file a fraud claim. Good thing I have the protection to alert me of suspicious activity. If I could have stopped into a branch office, it would not take so long, but since there is not one in this state and I would not be back to Michigan until September I have to do it by mail and phone. Hopefully I can have a fire tomorrow night, because I need to burn some of the wood piling up in my yard. Soon, campers will be stopping at my place asking how much is firewood, instead of getting it at the office. I may have to give some away if it rains or I don't have a fire. Or I will have to find another place to park the car-well maybe not quite that much yet, but getting there. I just need to keep April up because it is not much fun having a fire by myself. Well that is all for now. We have not taken any more pictures yet, so will post more later. Choose to have a good day.

They are rolling in for the big weekend

Well they have started rolling in for the 4th. I was off both yesterday and today, so my Monday is another big check-in day. We went to Custer for lunch and wandered around at some old time bazaar that was set up on a couple of blocks and also checked out some of the shops in those blocks. Over 90 again today. Supposed to only hit 80 tomorrow. Here is a couple of pictures from the trip through Spearfish Canyon, those things on the pine trees are baby pine cones and they are growing up, and our garden is coming along. Just getting ready for flowers on 2 of 4 tomato's and have baby flowers on the pepper plants, especially the one in the middle-a different kind that supposed to get 10 inch peppers. The entire plant is only about 6 inches high now. April's Brother will be here at the end of the month. It is good to see people we know. I had to replace the top flush valve on my black water tank as it was leaking. I put a plug in it for now-hopefully it doesn't drip anymore. I ordered a heavy duty pair of tow dolly tire straps. They should be in Rapid City today or tomorrow. I will get them next trip to the big city. Happy 4th everyone. Take care.

Hot and Dry

Wow! 65 degrees at 6am this morning-partly cloudy. Going to be another 90 degree day, 3rd one in a row. Supposed to have one more, but chance of rain tomorrow before getting back to comfortable temps. Off today and Friday-this will be 2 weeks in a row, so maybe this will be our schedule for the rest of the summer. We will go to Rapid City today for mail and Walmart. We may do some close to home touring these two days off, but not very far. Just take it easy and clean house. I have accumulated quite a bit of firewood, so a fire will burn tonight, unless it is windy. We have not had rain for 8 days now, so it is dusty here and they sprayed for dust control yesterday. We are packed for this weekend at the park. Not one spot available until Monday. So we will be busy when we go back to work on Saturday. We are doing good and miss everyone. We have just over 2 months before we leave here. Well we are off to breakfast and then down the hill to Rapid City. Take care!