Road Trip 2010: South Dakota, Part 1

South Dakota is just like you would think it is. Open meadows, empty roads, and fireflies to light the night sky. It’s coming back to a time stood still. A time where there is no traffic and there’s nothing better to do than play a game of Pitch at night and watch the stars light up the sky.

Andy’s grandparents own 1,120 acres of this land. A land populated by a couple hundred cows, a flock of wild turkeys, two horses and then two little grandparents who open their home up to anyone passing by. We were able to stay with them for just three days but in those three days we managed to ride horses in the fields, go fishing, float down the Niobrara River, stand at the base of Smith Falls, play card games, get eaten by Mosquitos, catch fireflies, and eat tons of food! Grandma’s home cooking is the best especially her pot roast, gravy, and chocolate chip cookies! And you get three full meals: breakfast, dinner, and supper. Dinner is the best. It’s the biggest meal of the day. It’s what you Californians call lunch but bigger and better.

I spend more time connected to my phone than most but it is a relief to set it aside for a couple days. No service insures it stays put away. Books cone out, walks are enjoyed, and God’s country is seen. I love it here and who knows, maybe if BJ and Andy’s pact comes true, I’ll be back to stay for good in ten years. But for now visiting is just fine with me.