Pioneers East

Do you know how to drive your husband crazy, first say to him the word “Pioneer” when he is an anti-mormon, second say to him that he is going to sit in a car non-stop for 8 days with two of your best girlfriends, third tell him he is going to spend 5 of those days with people he hasn’t met and the best way, is tell him you are going to drive part of the way. I think we accomplished the crazy part…

Off to South Dakota to see our friends from our China trip, Lee and Karen. They live in Sioux Falls which I have never been to other than once when I slept through it. Lee was gracious enough to set our itinerary for the entire trip (i.e. bathroom stops).

We left on a Friday for Steamboat Springs and arrived just in time for dinner. I love dinner‼‼

This trip was full of “not quites.” (Explanation later).
Then we headed for Estes Park, little did we know it was too early in the season and it was "not quite" open, so regroup and back on the road past Winter Park and through Denver.

We stayed the next night in Kearney Nebraska. I once slept through this town as well, but not this time. We stopped and had some delicious steaks, and some majorly good drinks.

Before heading out we stopped at the Kearney arch which told about the pioneers going across the plains (especially the Mormon pioneers), and settling in the west.

Then through Nebraska and up through South Dakota.

We had made arrangements to meet Lee at around 6:00, we got to Sioux Falls early and we decided not to impose on Lee and Karen for dinner and headed for the KFC where Opal made a friend. We stopped at local bar to watch the NBA playoffs and then called Lee. He was not happy, he said you could have come here to watch the game. So we headed over to the house where they showed us to our bedrooms to freshen up.

After meeting up with Lee and Karen at their lovely home we went downtown to see the outside art exhibit. It was really fun and the weather was perfect. I couldn't help loving this little kid trying to play marbles with this Kimono Dragon.

Then because we didn't explain to Lee that we already had dinner, off to dinner,
even though we weren't into the food too much, the company was great.

The touch of a butterfly

The next morning I happen to mention to Karen that the spare bedroom was absolutely beautiful, at which time I was told that Lee and Karen had given up their master bedroom for Gary and I. If that is mid-west hospitality, I might visit more, to Lee and Karen’s detriment.

Sioux Falls is a beautiful town along the Sioux Falls river, do you get it. I am so funny sometimes. They showed us around their beautiful town from the Butterfly Exhibit that Lee volunteers in (might I say absolutely gorgeous), to the art museum (another absolutely wonderful) to the Sioux Falls Park and the art gallery (absolutely fun) and so much more.

O.L. Rolvaag Home

I think Lee covered Sioux Falls pretty well.