We left Rapid City and headed to our favorite camping spot, Keyhole State Park. There we hoped to find a spot big enough for us as our usual camp ground, Tananka is closed for improvements,(The State is installing electricity and water!) Our plans were to do some doctoring, canoe a bit, and basically just relax.
Pulling into Arch Campground we were lucky to find a beautiful spot, site Ar3, with a huge backyard and right on the water. Ponderosa Pines sheltered the site and mountain bluebirds were all around us. Soon after we parked and set up, a pair of mountain bluebirds found that w had a missing vent flap on the stove outlet and they tried to build a nest! A quick trip to town and some screen blocked their efforts,(Although mountain bluebirds are one of our favorites.
Resting, I threw out a couple of poles for northern but my frozen mullet stayed untouched. A severe storm rolled in and the lightening chased us into our house, for the rest of the day. The afternoon storms turned into every afternoon storms and we even had tornado warnings but the dark clouds moved north and south of us.
Reports of golf ball sized hail at Devils Tower reminded me of the time I climbed a new route with my friends Frank and Steve. That day we were caught high up on a small ledge and just hunkered down as a lightning storm crashed around us and sparks arched from our rack of pitons. Pelted with large drops of rain I for one had wished I was wearing my Sunday best and sitting in church, but now that I look back at it I realize that time on the ledge was priceless! The storm finally cleared and we finished the last pitch to the top along a route that had already been climbed.
We have spent the time reading on our Kindles and taking walks. Its nice to just plain sit for a spell as we have just finished a tour of over five thousand miles. We plan on being here till the day after Fathers and then off to Boysen State Park, more free dry camping! Clear skies
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