A Happy Reunion with Mom & Pop's

Good morning to everyone. Gina and I are waking up this morning in Custer, South Dakota to a cool 50 degrees and rain. We left Mike & Janna’s house around eleven o’clock Tuesday. We were on the road driving toward Mom & Pop’s place in Custer. We needed to make a quick stop at Wal-mart in Billings. We were then back on the road. Today's drive was only 445 miles and we thought we could make it before dark. However, around eight o'clock we called Mom & Pop's to let them know that we would be stopping somewhere for the night. They recommended a roadside park just a few miles ahead of us to stop at. A few minutes later we found the park and stopped for the night. We called Mom & Pop’s to let them know we had found the park.

We were only about 30 miles from Custer. However, the deer were out and I had already dodged a few of them. Besides the deer, there was another reason we stopped. We still had the worse part of the drive to go. There is a ten mile stretch of very curvy road with no shoulders just east of Custer through the Jewel Cave National Monument. Gina and I just thought it was better to stop and rest and continue on in the day light when it was safer.

Neither one of us slept very well and by five o’clock we were both awake. We enjoyed a cup of coffee together while we were waiting for the sun to rise. We were back on the road at 6:30 and after a very short drive we pulled into Mom & Pop’s place at 7:10. Before I could even stop the truck we saw Mom and Pop running outside to greet us.

Mom & Pop's with special etched wine glasses by Gina

We enjoyed a happy reunion filled with hugs after which we followed them inside their new motorhome. We spent about two hours getting caught up with all of our stories for the last month. I finally decided to get our home parked since it was still sitting at the end of their driveway.

Our friends, Mark & Dale are here and before long they came outside to greet us too. They are off today with some other friends of ours, John & Michael, to ride the 1880 train through the Black Hills.

The weather was beautiful and we just spent the day relaxing and visiting with Mom & Pop’s. Around 3:30 Mark & Dale arrived back and we all decided to start our social hour a little early. Around five o’clock I grilled buffalo burgers and Louisiana pork sausage for dinner while Gina prepared some bake beans and Dale prepared the condiments for the burgers. It might have been a simple meal but it sure tasted great. After dinner we said goodnight and went home. We enjoyed a very relaxing and wonderful day with Mom & Pop’s. I’m not sure what today will bring because the weather looks quite nasty outside. Stay tuned as I’m sure there will be an adventure just ahead.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.