A DAY WITHOUT RAIN!!!

Sunday we had a day without RAIN! Saturday, however, was a whole different story...it had been forecast to be nice with a "chance" of scattered showers! The wind blew HARD and the rain came shortly after lunch and continued off and on all afternoon. The wind blew so hard that it jammed the main dock up against the shore and buckled the connecting walkway. Dave came over and had to revamp the walkway and stairs...there was no real damage done! Today (Monday) I will work from 10 AM to 3 PM at the South Store and Denny will hold down the fort here! No new photos today...we got some on Friday of more Big Horn Sheep -- this time ewes and lambs -- will add later!

CURIOUS FAWN

Our cameras have to be ready at all times as we never know what we will see on our rides. We caught this curious little fawn while we were traveling back from town. We first caught site of the doe and fawn side by side, but the doe quickly disappeared into the bushes...the fawn was curious about us but he also soon jumped and ran to his mamma...we could see through the bushes where he was jumping and kicking in a playful manner.

MORE RAIN & HAIL!

Yesterday started out beautiful and the boaters and fishermen flocked to the lake! But by early afternoon the clouds had started building and shortly after that we heard rain on the roof again! The rain turned into HAIL about the size of marbles! No damage done except that it brought everyone off the lake in a hurry and it was pretty quiet after that! Phoebe tries to hide even with rain on the roof and she was really scared with the large hail pounding on the roof. There is no place she can crawl under (like the bed) so I covered her with her towel and that seemed to make her feel safe.

Here are a few more photos that Denny took recently. This Blue Heron seems to be a resident as he visits our docks frequently. The Blue Gill fish are abundant under the docks.


We came upon this YOUNG BUCK in the woods on one of our backroad rides:


This group of horseback riders visited our boat launch to water their horses and take a break a couple of days ago. They rode from Nemo, a small horse oriented community about 8 or 9 miles from here by road...but they were able to come across lots via old trails and it was a little over 5 miles for them! Coincidentally, we had just drove to Nemo that morning and had breakfast at the NEMO GUEST RANCH BRANDING IRON RESTAURANT. The guest ranch consists of a general store, restaurant and several cabins as well as accommodations for horses. There is also a trail ride business there, about a half dozen homes, a community church and a two story building that looks like it used to be a school house but now might be town offices. These particular horseback riders shared with us that they have been coming to NEMO, SD for several years now on family vacations...they trailer their horses with them and go on trail rides out of NEMO! These two or three families consisted of adults as well as children and had traveled here from Minnesota. We really enjoyed talking with them, especially since we had just been to NEMO that morning and could picture exactly where they rode from.

BIG HORN RAMS, TURKEY, DEER...WOW!

Just outside of Rapid City yesterday we hit the jackpot...a BIG HORN RAM! After a little searching we found a herd of 7 BIG HORN RAMS grazing on the hillside! We were in a deep canyon and they were on the far side!



The canyon road was a dead end road and as we turned around we spotted this group of WILD TURKEYS!



After coming out of that canyon we explored another and came across this DEER "FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS"! I love the next photo of a doe "ON ALERT" as we approached! The deer are still in the process of shedding their winter coats!





For a week now the temperatures have been cold and rainy! This morning was in the 30's again but forecast to be in the high 60's and warmer for the weekend...YIPPEE! We are looking forward to being busy!

TRIP TO CUSTER STATE PARK

Yesterday morning we took a trip to Mount Rushmore...which was shrouded in FOG, SO we then drove on to ride through CUSTER STATE PARK! We were welcomed at the entrance by these BUFFALO...they are awesome no matter how many times we see them! They walked right in front of us and ambled up the road...not even going thru the fee station!!!


This is one of my favorite photos...a BEGGING BURRO...they come right up to the vehicle and stick their nose to the window because they are used to being fed by the tourists! We had a bag of tortilla chips and this BEGGING BURRO "LOVED" them and wanted more! We had enjoyed this area last June also when Irma and Clarence were with us!

We enjoyed several PRONGHORN ANTELOPE during the drive and this guy had three girl friends nearby!


This young PRAIRIE DOG seemed rather confused and did not understand all the audience while he was out near the road munching on tender green grass!



It was a nice drive around the WILDLIFE LOOP but we did not see the large herds of buffalo that we had enjoyed last June when we visited the park. We bought an annual pass, so it will probably be a frequent drive for us on our mornings off. The park is about 30 miles from Lake Pactola.

WEBCAM OF INTERSECTION JUST DOWN THE ROAD!

COLD, COLD, COLD this morning...about 30 degrees with a heavy frost over the boats and docks as I peer out the window!!!

DOUBLE CLICK ON THE TITLE OF TODAY'S POST for a WEBCAM showing a nearby Intersection of highways 385 and 44...it is only about 1 mile to the north of us. The camera takes a new photo about every 20 minutes.

It is going to be a cool week with a promise warming to 70's for next weekend...we will see!

NASTY WEATHER THIS WEEK!

Last weekend was beautiful and gave us a taste of what it would be like to have summer-like weather. Monday started out nice BUT quickly turned to wind and showers and Tuesday followed with similar. Wednesday was pleasant and we took advantage of one of our perks...having the use of a pontoon boat! We got instructions from owner Dave and away we went to explore the lake...it was fun and a beautiful morning! Denny did not catch any fish but we did enjoy the pontoon and the ability to see areas of the lake that can not be seen from land! We took turns at driving the pontoon and I attemped docking it but Denny had to take over...the wind was coming up again and it required giving it more gas than I was comfortable with doing while being so close to other boats and docks! Denny got us docked safely and we had a quick bite of lunch with owners Nancy & Dave and then back to the North Marina to open the store! The rest of the week the weather has been nasty...with our own taste of HAIL (not as big as we witnessed at Spearfish Canyon, but big enough!)...yesterday the ground was white with HAIL. We have had LOTS of rain and wind and there is more in the forecast for several more days! The temps are COLD...30/40's at night and 40/50's during the day. We are doing well and looking forward to SUMMER...everyone says "SUMMER will come"!

TURKEY at bird feeder

Below is our latest BIRD that frequents the bird feeders! Yesterday morning when I looked out the window as soon as I got up, I saw this hen turkey scratching and eating under the bird feeder. Since that siting, she has returned several times!

HAIL ON JUNE 1st!

Last weekend was beautiful and WARM so we had a busy weekend with HUNDREDS of boaters! Monday we treated ourselves and went out for breakfast and then drove north to Spearfish, SD (about 45 miles). We chose a country road that was VERY SCENIC, with our goal being Spearfish Canyon Scenic Drive. Just before entering the canyon we could see real black stormy clouds ahead. It started sprinkling and as we neared the halfway point at Spearfish Canyon Lodge (just a couple of miles from where Dances With Wolves was filmed) the sprinkles on our windshield became HAIL. By the time we reached the Lodge the hail storm had passed but the photo below depicts what we saw...piles of pea sized hail stones! It was also along the roadway and through the woods...it covered the ground about an inch thick! It only lasted for a couple of miles and then turned back to sprinkles. By the time we got to Spearfish it was sunny and warm again! We had lunch at SANFORDS, which was kind of like SANFORD & SONS place...lots of treasures and junk in an old building...good food tho!

VISIT TO BEAR COUNTRY

We are enjoying life here in South Dakota as the weather warms and promises to bring us a beautiful weekend. It is now 6 AM here this morning and I heard the first boaters arrive just before 5 AM! The lake is beautiful like a mirror this morning. We open the store early but we do not usually get much business until after lunch...more as folks are coming off the water! On the weekdays we usually do not open the store until mid afternoon. Last Wednesday Denny captured this WHITE BUFFALO on camera while we visited Bear Country! We have a couple of bird feeders up and filled with seeds and are enjoying all the birds EXCEPT the Cowbirds who try to hog it all! A wild turkey walked across our parking lot yesterday afternoon.

HAPPY MEMORIAL WEEKEND!

Good Morning -- This has been a technology challenging week, but I do believe we are back in working order now...a complete mystery, but working! First the printer went wild, turning itself off and on and that was solved in the fact that I had packed the wrong cord...similar but not the exact one that was required for this printer! Within the same hour the laptop froze up and would shut itself back off before booting up! It was a mystery to the repairman also and he told me it needed a new motherboard. We chose not to go that direction but purchased a used laptop that was in the repair shop. Got it home, loaded our programs and all was working great! Before packing the old laptop away I thought I would try it one more time and turned it on without the power cord and it powered right up and has been working great ever since! Enough of computers/printers!

It was an exciting start to the week with a record Lake Trout being caught on Sunday PLUS a 22 lb. Lake Trout being caught first thing Monday morning! After the news of those two catches got out everyone wanted to know about and see photos of the big fish! Of course the "FISH STORIES" abounded!

We are anticipating being really busy today and tomorrow even though thundershowers are forecast for the afternoon/evenings! Temps are in the 50's this morning and the highs are forecast for 60/70's. Yesterday was busy but not until afternoon/evening. It was cold and overcast. We spent the morning organizing and Denny took photos of sandwiches and ice cream treats and made posters.

WHOOPER RECORD BREAKER CAUGHT HERE!

Saturday and Sunday were a busy taste of what is to come as the weather warms. Our parking lot was nearly full and the lake was dotted with boats!

Our BIG excitement of yesterday was a fisherman sharing his catch with us...his scales could not record the accurate weight, but he said a fellow fisherman weighed his catch at about 30 lbs (I believe the record is 28 lbs.). We have still not received word of the official weight but here is the photo that Denny took of the HAPPY and Proud fisherman and his record breaking LAKE TROUT! It was exciting for us to share this event!

PLAYING BALL

One of Phoebe's favorite places in the camper is the sofa and because of the closeness she is only a few feet from the dinette where we sit to eat, watch TV and play games. She has her own little ways of getting our attention such as dropping her ball or some of her toys on the floor so that we can reach down and pick them up to throw back on the sofa to her! She often plays ball by hereself by holding it in her mouth, throwing it...rolling on it and then plunk...it drops on the floor and she looks to us to pick it up! In this photo she is telling us... OK I am ready to play ball!

Yesterday (May 16, 2009, Saturday) was a beautiful day...the overnight temps had been in the 20's but Saturday daytime temps warmed to in the 60's! There were many boaters and several more new boat slip owners checked in to claim the parking spot for their boat as well as receive their annual pass to use the facility. It was about 9 pm before the last boat came off the lake at our location. It was just a taste of summer activity...we will be happy when we get the store completely stocked as there were hungry folks and we do not yet have the sandwiches or food that we will have on a regular basis. We hope to finish getting completely stocked this coming week. The next few days promise to be the warmest yet!

MORE WILDLIFE!

As I was at the sink gazing out the kitchen window I could see a ripple in the lake coming toward the shore...I first thought it was a small duck, then as it came a little closer I realized it was a beaver! He swam toward the shore below me and the water was so clear with the sun shining on him that from my vantage point I could see his tail moving back and forth moving him through the water. Dennis went out to capture the moment and got a shot of him just before he dove under the dock area and continued to swim underwater toward the cove shore. This was a special treat!

ENJOYING THE WILDLIFE IN SD

A couple of days ago we rode to Deadwood, SD and this group of whitetail deer crossed the road right in front of us and scrambled up a VERY steep hillside along the road.

One of our greatest joys each day is having a pair of Mountain Bluebirds right outside our camper window! They are exploring this little birdhouse and we are not sure if they are really building a nest or just "thinking about it!!! We just enjoy their beauty and cheerful sounds.

YES...that is Denny making friends with a GOOSE!

Yesterday was COLD with wind gusts 30-40 mph and MANY SNOW SHOWERS! We are still having fun with the wildlife! Everyone knows how much Denny loves Canadian Geese after his 2005 summer at Crystal Lake Vermont picking up pails and pails of GOOSE POOP! Now he cleans off the boat docks!!!

VIEW OF OUR CAMPER AND COVE

A close-up view of our little store (the brown building) and our camper sits just outside the store. From our camper windows we look directly out onto the lake -- the boat launch area as well as the boat slips.

A view of our little cove -- you can see our white camper and the boat slips/docks -- this photo was taken from the top of the dam which is across the lake from us!

LIFE AT LAKE PACTOLA

REAL COOL at Lake Pactola this morning...we think in the 20's as TV reported Rapid City as 33 degrees and we at a much higher altitude. The sun is shining brightly and will soon warm everything up nicely -- probably only in the 50's today! The first boaters went out on the lake a little after 6 AM this morning! All is going well and the moon was beautiful over the lake last night! We have sold our first fishing licenses and continue to add stock to the little store every day! Folks are stopping by each day and introducing themselves as boat slip holders and everyone has been super friendly and welcoming! Looks like a beautiful weekend ahead!

Day 5 of the trip

Lovely day in the mid 70's -- we camped last night a little south of Sioux City, IA at Lewis & Clark State Park. Stopped early today at Mitchell, SD to explore and restock some of our supplies. Visited the CORN PALACE here at Mitchell...quite an amazing structure with artist work all done in corn,,,the scenes are changed every year! We still have about 300 miles to travel before reaching Lake Pactola and should arrive early tomorrow afternoon. Pictures and more after we get settled in at the lake.

Day 3 on the road

Good Morning, We had a nice visit with Dad and Kathy & family on Friday afternoon and evening. Took off from Jenkinsburg, GA yesterday morning with intentions of stopping near Nashville but it was just after lunch when we arrived there...so we drove on. We are now about 35 miles east of Paducah, KY. Yesterday was an overcast rainy day, but luckily there was only one area where the rain was heavy in North Georgia! Temperatures are now MUCH cooler than Florida and we have each dug out our jackets!!!! This Internet connection is awful so I will not attempt photos -- just an update! We will probably arrive in SD earlier than we anticipated unless we come across something that we just have to check out! More later!!!!