Day 1 in Chicago

 Abram pinning down Randy.  Wrestling before bedtime is not advised . . .

Austin, MN to Chicago, IL

We spent a bit of time in Austin playing with the animals.

 Asher cooked us pancakes .

Then, it was a long drive in the car from Austin to Jenna's Peace Corps Co-Volunteer's penthouse apartment on Lake Michigan in Chicago.

On the way up . . .

Then for a walk in the Chicago rain -- it began with Salem pushing Asher into the fountain outside of Randy's apartment.

 On the balcony

The view for the next three nights

Scenic, SD to Austin, MN

Before leaving South Dakota, Jenna had the absolute worst cup of coffee, ever.  Head to Interior, South Dakota if you're looking for hot brown water with a hint of rancidness.  UHGGG!

The kids played in the Badlands for a while.

Then, it was a long drive to Austin, Minnesota, where we stayed with a family whom we met two years ago through Couchsurfing.  The children were happy to see their animals again.

Jenna and Rob were happy to see Dahn again. We were up until nearly 2:00 a.m. chatting.

Lusk, WY to Scenic, SD

This was the day of the trip that Jenna was most looking forward to.  Leaving Brooke's house early, we set out to find the bakery outside of Wind Cave Nat'l Park where the world's greatest longjohns were discovered two years ago.

Here's Jenna after the first of her five longjohns of the day.

Then, to Wind Cave with bison sightings along the way.

At Wind Cave on a tour.

Two tears ago, the way to Mount Rushmore, Jenna remembers a particularly interesting rock formation.  It was still there:

 As was Mount Rushmore.

 Hailstorm on the way to the Badlands, which we outran and arrived unscathed. 

 At the check-in for the 1880's homestead cabin -- located right outside the Badlands -- Abram was chased by chickens.

 Our cabin -- the outhouse is on the left

 The "kitchen"

 And beds

 And sun behind the clouds

 Old-fashioned pump

 The bison cloud

We headed into the National Park for sunset.  It was windy inside the van due to the coming of the storm we had outrun.

 Rob, happy in his most favorite place.

 Then, an electric storm moved into the in Badlands

 The children thought they'd be safer from the lightning if closer to the ground.

After the children fell asleep, the storm really moved in over our cabin.  Rob and Jenna spend the better part of the evening watching a huge storm.  In the middle of the open high prairie, Jenna had visions of Cape Fear and a potential psychotic visitor.  No one visited.  We awoke well rested the next morning.