September in South Dakota

The Sept. weather was perfect for touring in western South Dakota. Soon their winter temperatures will plummet to well below zero.  We enjoyed the 40 to 70 degree temperature range.  After flying to Rapid City, we began a steady pace of touring from the Badlands to Spearfish Canyon, Sturgis, Deadwood, Custer, Mt. Rushmore and Keystone to Crazy Horse.  The scenery was great and included mountain scenes, rock formations, wildlife and historic sites.  The sites were made more pleasant by the fact that the "Summer Crowds" had already headed home.

Badlands

Lots of wildlife to see in the Badlands Park

Prairie Dogs, everywhere

Buffalo in Custer State Park

 Lobby of the 1928 Alex Johnson Hotel

in Rapid City

Interesting alley in Downtown Rapid City

At the D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery

Mt. Rushmore was visible from many directions as we toured the area

Crazy Horse Memorial under construction since 1947

Along the Needles Highway

One of several tight tunnels

Here the Presidents are again from inside one tunnel

Hill City to Keystone Railroad

Falls in Spearfish Canyon

Scenic Mountain Lake near Deadwood

Spring and Summer 2017

Another busy season is in the books! Connor has his 5th birthday and Logan has had number 7. Besides birthdays, we have had all sorts of fun trips and activities.  There were trips to Disney, the Soapbox Derby, Mitchell Springfest, tubing in Helen and numerous trips to the beach including the week that all 10 of us were at HHI together.  Luke actually began swimming by himself this year. Now as the summer is ending everyone will be settling back into their school routines:  Luke@ Daycare, Connor-Kindergarten, Abi and Logan-2nd grade.

A Day at the Races

Waiting for the Mitchell Parade

Boys and Toys

Disney's Jungle Cruise

A Long Bearded Visitor

A Day at the Beach is a Good Day!

Snacks are better on the Beach

Splash Contest

Our Beach Beauty

It's Swim Time!

Swimming Lessons

Ready to Go, Tunes and All

A Splashing Good Time

Whose Driving??

Christmas and California

Grandmama Betty with 4 of her great grands

So proud of our grands and their musical talents!

Logan did a great job on his first solo, as he played Joseph in his church Christmas play

Abi's beautiful solo brought tears at the Christmas Eve Service

Our "future engineer", Connor, working with his crane

Luke had a great time on the zipline

 After many Christmas get togethers, celebrations and performances, we were off to the Pacific Coast Hwy. in Southern California for some scenic touring.

We flew from ATL to a smaller passenger friendly airport in Santa Anna, CA., just a 45 minute drive to our condo located in Del Mar.  We toured many of the coastal towns in a 50 mile radius of Del Mar including Torrey Pines, La Jolla, Solana Beach, Mission Bay, Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside.  We also made the 18 mile drive down "The I-5" as they call it, to San Diego.  We had some additional sightseeing to do there after only spending an afternoon in San Diego in 2015 on our way to Hawaii.  We did a Harbor Cruise, visited the waterfront area, toured Olde Towne and spent one day visiting 5 of the many museums in beautiful Balboa Park.  

While the northern part of the state was experiencing record rain and snow, the southern end's weather was good, only one and 1/2 days of light rain. 

Our last adventure was driving inland about 50 miles to Julian, CA.  A small mining town in the mountains, founded by people from Georgia.  We actually had a tiny bit of sleet while there.  The treat in Julian now is the Pie Factory.  Apple pies are made there, the ones not eaten by tourist are distributed through area stores and restaurants.  

 What's the name of the airport in Santa Anna, CA? 

John Wayne

 They grow really big pineapples. No, just a palm tree.

Steep beach cliffs eroding away 

 Not steep cliffs on every beach

  

 San Diego Bay tour on the "Hornblower"

Landings in San Diego are tricky!

In San Diego Bay, Sea Lions hang out on bait-fish cages

 Visiting Olde Towne San Diego

 A soggy Del Mar Horse track across from our condo

Old Mountain Mining Town-Julian, CA 

Fall 2016 Activities

After missing some 65 days of beach time (Aug.-Sept.), the condo is once again liveable.  The flood damage has been repaired including a new dining room ceiling, new carpet, baseboards replaced and refinished dining table and chairs.
We have celebrated Abi's 7th birthday and Luke's 2nd.  We went on an overnight trip to the Pisgah Inn on the Blueridge Parkway.  We've also enjoyed soccer and cross country runs.  The children had fun at several dove shoots.  Then there was the Airshow at Warner Robbins followed by Hurricane Matthew at Hilton Head Island @ 2:45a/m on Oct. 8th.  While some areas suffered extensive damage and the landscape of HHI will be changed forever, we escaped any damages.  We now know with confidence that our condo can withstand an almost direct hit of a Category 2 hurricane at High Tide with 6-9 ft. storm surge prediction and near 100 mph winds!

Leaking water pipe brought down our ceiling

Abi's Egyptian Party with pyramid cake and the Nile River

Luke blowing the candle on his Mickey cake

No party is complete without the water slide

Enjoying the view from the Pisgah Inn. High enough elevation, there is no air conditioning

Looking down on the mountaintops

Connor's first soccer season

Abi is an old pro now

Logan, quite the player

Abi pacing her run at Magnolia Springs, she won lots of ribbons this season!

Just before heading out to the dove shoot

Grits with Grandparents at EBA

Thunderbirds preparing for their show

Logan at the controls of a Blackhawk

This scene is repeated all over Hilton Head Island

This palm was our most significant hurricane loss

"Matthew the Mingo" evacuated to our house and decided to stay!