We’re headed back home. Today’s drive has been a very pleasant one - little traffic and hundreds of miles of beautiful farmland. Tonight we are in Fairmont, Minnesota.

 We’ve been working hard at Camp Bob Marshall in the  Black Hills National Forest.

Today we got a day off. We took a tour of Jewel Cave. It is one of the longest caves in the world. Our tour wasn’t long but included over 700 steps up and down. The cave is still being actively explored with mapped miles being added each year.

After our cave tour, we hiked the Canyons Trail. 

The Black Hills area is lovely, lots of towering pines, rolling hills, and stone outcrops. We’ve seen wild turkey most mornings and whitetail and mule deer every morning and evening.

Here’s a lovely sunset.

Happy Birthday, Norman

To Norman for his birthday

The morning has dawned cool;

And the Nebraska sky is blue.

I am feeling grateful for another day with you.

The clouds on the horizon

Look like mountains way far off.

I don’t mention that to you for fear that you might scoff.

I know the snow-capped Rockies

Are still quite far away.

We have to keep on driving until the end of day.

We’re not getting any younger;

Your birthday comes so soon.

But when you take me in your arms I still can feel a swoon.

If I could paint the future

Like an artist paints the shore

I’d picture us together for years and years and more.

Let’s walk together, hand in hand,

Giving thanks to God above

For all the years that we have shared this perfect gift of love.

 After leaving the Colorado traffic behind, we had a quiet drive across Wyoming. On to South Dakota tomorrow.

 After a rainy day of walking around town yesterday, we got back to hiking. We hiked the Upper Flume Loop on the east side of Colorado Highway 9. We found an interesting bench, the remains of a log cabin, and some ruins of a mining operation. 

In my spare time, I’ve allowed myself to work a few jigsaw puzzles.

Tomorrow, we head to South Dakota. We’ve had a wonderful time in Breckenridge!

 Tuesday was another hiking day. We hiked the Barton Creek Loop above Breckenridge. The distance was shorter, but we started several thousand feet higher.

This morning we rode the Gondola Lift up to Peak 8 fun park to check out activities for a possible family visit next year.

This afternoon, we drove to Leadville to play golf at the Mount Massive Golf Course, the highest in the US.

We managed to finish our round just before the afternoon rain.

 Today we hiked about 5 miles through beautiful scenery. The weather was perfect and the mountain and meadow views spectacular.

 Today was our first full day in Breckenridge. We started with a breakfast of waffles. You can see from the picture that I forgot to adjust for high altitude conditions!

After breakfast and cleaning up, we took the short hike to Sawmill Reservoir.  

The Columbine is in full bloom.

It was a lovely morning.

 We’ve arrived in Breckenridge, Colorado.  The first view of the mountains is always welcome and beautiful.

 Tonight we are in Kearney, Nebraska. We stopped at Lied Lodge in Nebraska City to eat lunch with our friends Carla and Mark Patterson. Carla and I Zoom regularly, but it’s fantastic to visit in person.

We’ll visit Sue Engelstad tomorrow and head to Breckenridge on Saturday. I’ll try to take some beautiful mountain pictures!