New Year's Getaway to Rapid City, SD

We just returned from our long New Year’s vacation to Rapid City, SD where we spent 5 days in the frozen tundra visiting our great friends Mark, Robyn and their son Caleb. We had an adventure getting to Rapid since we were flying with Odin (our almost 3 yr. old Brittany) for the first time and had to make a connection in Salt Lake City. Our plane arrived late but we still had 30 minutes to make our connection though Delta had other plans as the airport had technically issues with their walkway and held us on the plane for 25 minutes. To make a long story short Odin made the connection to Rapid and we were stuck in the airport for 11 hours. Thankfully our friends were able to pick up Odin and take care of him while we were stuck. We finally arrived in Rapid at 11pm that evening and were greeted with a blizzard warning, temps in the negatives and 65 mph wind gusts that chilled you to the core.

Friday we were greeted to whiteout conditions and stayed bundled up inside playing with Caleb most of the day. Robyn and I were also able to work on getting some of the new baby gifts put away and the stuff that needed to be moved out of the nursery packed up. Caleb though Odin was the greatest thing ever and was instant on chasing him around the house. Not so sure he enjoyed it but he was great around the little guy and did his best to not jump, lick or knock him down. That evening some of Mark and Robyn’s friends came over for dinner and to ring in the new year. The boys ended up rather sloshed that evening and were almost put into “time-out” a couple of times.

Uncle Ben reading bedtime stories to Caleb

Saturday and Sunday the boys and Odin went bird and deer hunting. They saw a couple of coveys of 50 + Pheasants but most of them were hens. Seeing this many birds at once was thrill for Odin and Ben as we rarely find more than a couple in a covey here in Washington. The boys did have some excitement Sunday night on their way home when an Antelope ran across the highway. Mark wasn’t able to miss it and they hit is broadside. Good news is that everyone and the truck were ok. Monday they headed out with a friend of Mark’s and his son for a day of deer hunting so Odin stayed home with Robyn, Caleb and I. Caleb had fun chasing and playing with him and Odin seemed to be content to lay around on the bed and play in the snow when he went outside. Sadly they came up empty handed since the deer were crafty and seemed to always know just where to stand so that it wouldn’t be legal to shoot them.

Monday the boys decided that they needed to sight the rifle in before heading out for deer hunting and were determined that I needed to come with and learn to shoot. Grudgingly I put on all my layers and joined them since they were relentless. Not really sure it is my thing and if I want to learn but at least I gave it a try.



Shooting for the first time



Luckily the weather had warmed up by Tuesday and we were able to get Odin home with no issues on the flights or the connection through Salt Lake City. Not sure how soon we will fly with him again but I am sure that Ben will want to try his luck at hunting in So. Dakota again but in warmer weather. While we were sad to say goodbye to our friends we know that another visit is in store soon as we always seem to visit them wherever they are stationed and since they are moving to Alabama in July I sense another trip in the works.