Saturday, June 23, 2012

JUNE TRIP TO RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA

MY JOURNAL OF OUR TRIP
JOE NOW AT SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES AS HEAD SOCCER COACH
DIANE AND TIM CAME TO RAPID CITY TO VISIT US

 SOUTH DAKOTA JUNE 2012 5/31/12

Thursday 11:00a Left after Ralph came home from work. It was cloudy and 59*. Stopped at Culver’s for lunch then on the road to Council Bluffs IA. Saw some damage from the floods last year but not too bad. 2:45p We got into Council Bluffs and played at Harrah’s where we were staying and won right away so had money to play with. Met Susan and Bill and played for a while. 6:30p Had dinner with Ralph, Bill and Susan at the restaurant at the top of the casino which was very good. 8p Susan, Bill and I went to the Horseshoe. Got back to the hotel about 10:30p.

6/1/12 Friday (211 miles) 7:45 We left for Rapid City SD. Stopped at Sioux Falls SD for gas (398 miles). 12:00p Stopped in Mitchell SD for lunch at Arby’s. Cloudy 63*. 2:15p We stopped at Vivian SD for gas (579 miles). After leaving there was a hard rain and the temp went from 74* to 60* then sunny again and in the 77*. 3:30p (Mountain Time) Arrived at the Days Inn in Rapid City on Jackson which is the same street that Joe lives on.75*. 6p Cleaned up and met Joe and Luke, his new assistant coach at Joe’s apartment. 7:30p We all met Diane and Tim at the Alex Johnson Hotel downtown after visiting in the bar of the hotel with some of Joe’s new friends. Then went to the Firehouse for dinner with everyone.

6/2/12 Saturday 10:00a We left with Joe, Diane and Tim to tour Custer State Park and area. We had a lunch at the State Game Lodge that I remembered from years before but they had “modernize” and it was different than I remembered but nice. We walked around Sylvan Lake which was beautiful and Joe bought a buffalo hat! We went to Mt. Rushmore and then to the Needles formations, Pigtail Bridges and the Zippers (Joe’s word for a divide two lane road) which were all beautiful. 6:00p We ate dinner with Diane and Tim at the Ale House and they showed us their room in the Alex Johnson. After we left them we went back to our motel which had a lounge and casino and I played a bit of video poker.

6/3/12 Sunday 10:30 We met Joe, Tim and Diane at Talley’s Silver Spoon in downtown Rapid City and across the street from the Alex Johnson. Great mom and pop place that was delicious. Joe had to go watch some soccer games and Diane and Tim left. Ralph had had a very red eye that was not clearing up so we went looking for an urgent care facility. Finally located one close to the Medical Center on the west side of RC. He was examined and treated for an eye infection and given a prescription. A Safeway was behind our motel so we went to get the prescription but it could not be filled until tomorrow. 2p sunny and warm 75-80* (747 miles) We got gas and decided to go to Deadwood. We went to the Lodge and both won! Always a good thing. 6:00p Got back to Rapid City and met Joe for dinner. We went to Longhorn and took a fast trip by car around SDSM campus.

6/4/12 Monday Sunny and warm, we have had great weather 10a Ralph and I went to the SDSM campus to see Joe in his office. Met some of the people around the gymnasium where his office is located. Joe took us to the Bookstore and we bought some things for ourselves and for Jules. We then went to the SDSM Geology and Paleontology Museum which was pretty impressive. 11:30a Ralph and I went to Talley’s for a great lunch (love that place). We also had eaten there years ago.  Joe had to worked so we decided to go to Hot Springs SD about an hour away to see the Mammoth dig. We had seen it years ago and enjoyed it again. It had lots more to see with labs and a small museum as well as the very large dig. 4p Got back to the motel so I went to the lounge and casino for a while. Ralph got his prescription. 6:30p Joe picked us up at the motel and we went to Botellini’s Italian restaurant in downtown RC. It was really good. Then we went to the shopping center to Target and Bed Bath and Beyond to pick up some things. Then back to the motel.

6/5/12 Tuesday 9:30a warm 80* (959 miles) Left for Hill City about 30 mins. south of RC. It had lots of nice shops and I had money from our wins so I bought a purse and some earrings. 11:30a Ralph and I ate at the Alpine Inn there which had been recommended. It had German and American food. Very nice old hotel. 1:00 p Joe met us to go on the 1880 train from Hill City to Keystone and back. It was interesting and fun and I think Joe enjoyed it too. 4p Ralph and I left for Deadwood SD and Cadillac Jacks. We had dinner at Cadillac Jacks then played the slots. Ralph won $600 and I won $300 at CJ’s. Wow! On a winning streak.

6/6/12 Wednesday warm and windy 9:30a had breakfast at Cadillac Jacks buffet and it was not very good. We had a two-for-one and still was $14 and not worth it. We played a little at CJs then Ralph took me to the Lodge while he went to TaTanka Exhibit about the Bison and Native Americans sponsored by Kevin Cosner. He enjoyed it. We went to Tin Lizzies for lunch and slots. Then we went to the Grand at the other end of Main St. We were not impressed with it. We went back to Cadillac Jacks and I won $640!! 6:30p went to the Gem restaurant at the Mineral Casino and had a great dinner and celebrated our 45th anniversary.

6/7/12 Thursday 69* partly cloudy (1050 miles) 9:00a We ate breakfast at the Lodge and had a great meal. 12:30p Stopped at Wall Drug and looked around.81* cloudy. 4:00p Stopped at Chamberlin SD and got gas. 88* cloudy. 6:30p Got to Sioux Falls Holiday Inn Express, ate at Red Lobster and went to motel and bed.

6/8/12 Friday Windy cloudy 68* 8:30a Central time, left Sioux Falls 11:30a 78* sunny Stopped at the Horseshoe Casino at Council Bluffs and didn’t have much luck. 12:30p At lunch at Wendy’s in Council Bluffs, sunny 87* 5:00 Home 1823 miles traveled.

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