Southern Hospitality in South Dakota

July 29, 2012

Yesterday was a lazy day at the Arnold house.  When we got up, we decided to go for a walk across the road from the RV park, into the National Forest.  The property across the street has a beautiful creek, French Creek, running through it, probably what brings the deer out of the forest.  (The past few evenings, sitting in the yard, we've been watching the deer in the fields nearby.)  We walked up a hill into the trees and eventually we found a two track, rutted road, which we followed all the way back to the main road, America Center Rd.  Walked home along the road.

Custer camped here.

Across the street there is a property for sale.

Pvt. Pommer's grave

In the front, there is a grave with a headstone for John Pommer, a Private in the 5th US Cavalry.  He died October 3, 1876.  There is also a bronze plaque stating that Custer camped there in July 1874.  Apparently, this little section we're in was where he camped during the Civil War.  Kinda cool.

When we got back from our walk, we spent some time cooling down, then I fixed us some lunch.  Back to the recliners for a nap, which was interrupted by a knock on the door....our neighbor, Ken, inviting us for dinner Saturday night.  How cool!  They were fixing a southern dinner for some friends and invited us to join them.  Of course we said yes!

Ken

After a quick trip to town for some groceries, we came back to the rig and waited for dinnertime.  The food was great! Our neighbors, Ken and Barbie, fixed up a truly southern meal.

Barbie and Ken - really!

We had meatloaf, with a sweet BBQ sauce, turnip greens, black eyed peas (home grown and cooked by their friends, also present, Ralph and Sidney), small potatoes, corn on the cob and sliced tomatoes from the local Farmer's Market, 2 kinds of cornbread and for dessert, banana pudding.  Wow....the food, plus the fantastic hospitality of these people, made our evening special.  One other couple was there, Merle and Linda, who are actually work camping here, at the Lodge in Custer State Park.  They will be staying here until October.  Merle and Linda have been full-time RV'ing for 4-1/2 years.  They sold everything and hit the road and have no regrets so far.  Sounds promising for our future outlook!  The 2 other couples are friends with each other and live in Houston, TX.  They just like to take long RV trips, for months at at time

Sidney, Barbie and Cubby, the Pomeranian

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Ken and Barbie left this morning. We were sad to see them go, as we seemed to have so much in common and the few evenings we spent chatting went by way too fast.  We haven't laughed that much in a long time.  Jim was at his best, one-line zingers going a mile a minute.  I'm sure we'll stay in touch.
 
Another low key day today.  Jim is working a little and I am doing housework....damn it......

 

Our Wheels West RV Park campsite