After arriving in Hot Springs, SD we again decided to motel it and take a break from camping. With the threat of rain - and we received several light to heavy showers we are glad we did. Ann Remington, lives in Hot Springs and after she dealt with a home water challenge she and her two young ones stopped by for a visit. Ann graduated from SDSU majoring in Nursing, received her commission from SDSU Army ROTC and served at Walter Reed Hospital. She is now a nurse at the South Dakota Veterans Home, here in Hot Springs. On Saturday, about mid day, it cleared up nicely and we set out for Wind Cave National Park, only about 12 miles north.
 On our way, we saw several buffalo, briefly toured the camping area and stopped by the Wind Cave Visitor Center . While I had worked in the Black Hills several times, I had not visited this great natural attraction before.
 At the Visitor Center, we browsed through the gift shop, looked at numerous displays then took a short walk to the natural opening to the cave. The Wind Cave complex is huge, still not completely explored and extends for over a hundred miles beneath the ground here. One of the Rangers who works there, said the cave was formed from water both subterranean and from water above that collects acids and chemicals from beneath the surface of the soil that erodes the below ground rock resulting in the caverns. I thought the caverns were formed by millions of years of running water - not so. You learn something new every day!
 On our way back to Hot Springs, we were treated to many photo opportunities of prairie dogs, a coyote and several buffalo. For the most part, I stuck to driving and Dolly was the "Photographer in Charge" on this expedition. Upon our return to Hot Springs, Dolly stopped by a quilting shop for a gift idea for her sister Theresa, then we had a late afternoon lunch at Taco Johns (I love their Taco Burgers) then the rest of the day was spent relaxing, washing clothes and planning the next few days in the "Hills."
 Today, we will head north from Hot Springs and drive through Custer, Custer State Park, stop by one of my Black Hills favorite places...Sylvan Lake. Look for the next blog when (if) we get wifi access.
 Thanks for reading, be safe and enjoy your summer weekend. We are!

Love ya,

Cheers!

Jan, Dolly and Chi Chi