GREAT FUN IN THE BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA
An 1800 Vintage Steam Train Ride makes for a great day anytime. In windy, chilly weather with round trip tickets we boarded an enclosed car on the 11:15a.m. train at the Keystone Depot bound for Hill City through the Black Hills. The ride takes about an hour each direction through granite rock forests as the Number 110 engine pulls passengers in seven cars along the railroad tracks. The conductor blows the train’s steam whistle twice at each of 14 road crossings. Hill City in 1887 had gold miners flocking into town. Today the quaint small town is a traveler’s popular destination.
the Black Hills and many are seen in their black leather digs most everywhere.
With a growing reputation for its vibrant art scene and
award winning wineries and micro-breweries, the town for the weekend was
holding the annual Wine, Brew & BBQ event for a coveted spot in the Jack
Daniels World BBQ Championship. A grand cooking competition of BBQ smoked meat
filled the bitter cold, chilly air along with blue grass music. 
The best spot in Hill City though we thought was actually the tiny building called Teddy Bear Town, a repository museum of sorts filled with 9,000 donated stuffed old teddy bears from around the country and world. The owner gave us a free personal tour and explained little building. holds the Guiness World Record for the Largest Teddy Bear Collection. It was amazing and impressive because everyone young and old loves a teddy bear and the stories behind them.
In order to shoot photos of the steam train rounding along the tracks on the return trip back to Keystone JR and I opted for an open air-seating car as one of the braver passengers. Along the rails our bones and bodies didn’t freeze in the chilly air and the two of us survived. At night we retire to the comforts of the motor home all warm and toasty.
A day of adventure was shared with Tom and Ginger out boating.
If one is looking for a perfect lake in the area we found it. A day boating at Stockade Lake gave JR another chance to get his dory in the water. I got in a good row on the lake with him. There were ospreys and a bald eagle soaring above the lake. The light air breeze made for a good sail afterwards out on his own. Tom and Ginger, whose property we’ve been staying on, brought along their pontoon boat and joined us for an afternoon on this serene beautiful lake. The four of us drifted together on their pontoon in the late afternoon.
JR sat on the stern seat for the first time and got a row with Tom at the oars
