I Like Thursday 50
I Like Thursday 50 is all about our recent road trip, so I thought would be fun to share a bit of it with you. This post is going to be photo heavy, so just giving you a heads up.
We decided to take a quick trip to the Black Hills area. We rented a cabin for a few days, brought all our own food, and spent most of our time on drives or reading at the cabin. My roots are in South Dakota, so long road views like the one above are a comforting thing for me. I like looking out over a wide open prairie.
Many of you saw this photo on my Tuesday post and wondered what it was. I liked finding unusual things to photograph as we traveled along. This is a rockbed walkway at a state park. The circles are PVC (maybe?) rounds that – I assume – give stability to the rock so that it’s easier to walk on. I see a quilt design, do you?
On one of our drives, we stopped at Deerfield Reservoir near Hill City, SD. While a bit chilly that morning, I liked this view of the lake.
That same day, we drove up Antelope Ridge in search of elk. While we didn’t see any elk, we did enjoy this view while snacking on our lunch.
I liked seeing all the aspen in their shimmering golden hues as we drove along. We pulled over for this one. The sky was so clear and blue, and the bright sun made the trees glow.
On our way home, one of our first stops was at Lake Sylvan. It was a pretty morning, perfect for a few quick photos. From there, we drove the Needles highway – BigJ had never driven it, so that made it fun. The rocks sparkled in the sun (thanks to mica) and the narrow tunnels brought back memories of childhood trips.
Of course we drove through the Badlands, too. It was a nice drive, except for a couple of stops for construction. Although we were able to see a herd of Bighorn Sheep close to the road, there were too many onlookers so I didn’t take a photo.
We saw this on our drive out. I tried to see if it was an actual quilt, or if it was just a blanket that looked like a quilt, but I couldn’t get close enough to tell. It sure looked like the real deal. At least it wasn’t raining!
I like reading a book to BigJ while we drive. We finished reading Marcel’s Letters: A Font and the Search for One Man’s Fate (by Carolyn Porter) while on the drive. We both enjoyed it.
The Weekly Wilbs
Just before we left on the trip, I got Wilbs a little self-heating cat cave for the quilt room. I put it up on my sewing table, so he’s checking it out to see if he likes it in that spot (he didn’t). It’s a bit flimsier than his other cat cave, so there is quite a bit of rootin’ around when he gets in it. That’s all well and good until it starts tipping and rolling. He’s finally getting the hang of it, and seems to enjoy it. Silly cat.
Well, if you’ve hung with my I Like Thursday 50 post this far – thanks so much! I sure miss everyone when I go on trips, but it’s delightful to come home, read your posts and catch up with everything you’ve been sewing and creating.
Thanks to LeeAnna of Not Afraid of Color for hosting the I Like Thursday group. You can see all of our links over at LeeAnna’s blog.
What are you liking this Thursday?
Wendy
To Do Tuesday 34
28 Comments
marissthequilter
Thanks for sharing the stunning photographs of your trip.
Cindy Pieters
Wonderful photos of your trip!
karenfae
I love the Black Hills area – the scenery is so unique and where you had your picnic site with the fall leaves reminds me of a place we did the same at once only it was in Montana – we keep fold up chairs and table in the back of the car just for this.
Nancy Bekedam
I enjoy the photos of SD, having been there a number of times, too. It brings back memories for me.
Sandi
It was nice to see your photos of SD as my husband and I went there around 10 years ago. We went to the Badlands, Sylvan Lake, Devil’s Tower, the Badlands, Mount Rushmore and Crazy horse. WE also had to go to Wall Drugs as we saw billboards for that a long ways away. It was a fun trip and we also did some other Native American sites.
Kathy Swallows
Beautiful scenery! That’s a part of the country we’ve not been to, it’s on our list for post Covid. Looks like a wonderful trip with lots of down time and relaxing.
Riceford Streams
Your trip photos are beautiful! Thanks so much for the tip about Marcel’s letters, too. My sister is also intrigued and might read it.
Helen
Sylvan Lake is just a little slice of perfection, isn’t it.
lapaylor
cat cave sounds like bat cave so I thought, here’s wilbur, same cat time, same cat channel. Your vacation looks perfect to me, empty of people and full of nature
catpatches
Looks like a nice getaway. I really want to get back to the Badlands. We visited once, but it’s been many years.
My Sewful Retirement
Your trip photos are beautiful!
Judy Blauer
So fun to see your photos. Deerfield lake was my Dad’s favorite place to fish. Mr Busy and I visited Sylvan Lake and the Needles Highway on our wedding trip. Not exactly a honeymoon, we were young and broke so a day trip through the Black Hills it was. When you grow up in that area, sometimes you take it for granted. We have moved away, but a brother and a sister still live in Rapid City!
rl2b2017
Hi Wendy! All of your photos are fab but I especially love the Badlands shot where it seems like the road just disappears. I can just close my eyes and relive our trip out there. Could the sky get any bluer or more clear?! Just perfect to enhance the photos. And Wilbs!! He is a hoot and so glad he is getting used to and enjoying his new cat cave. ~smile~ Roseanne
Louise Hornor
A heated cave sounds so cozy right now! I’m a bit envious of Wilbs and his warm lair. Love these photos of the wide open spaces. I miss the prairie 🙂
Diann@LittlePenguinQuilts
I love the Black Hills area, and haven’t been there since a family reunion in 2001. Loved seeing your photos and being reminded of it. Aren’t the Badlands fascinating? We did a really cool nighttime hike there way back in 1980! So glad you enjoyed your getaway!
Rochelle Summers
Looks hike a lovely trip. Getting away to different scenery is always great especially in these times. I love all the rock formations, the changing trees, the blue blue skies and the lakes. That quilt! I suppose better than using for rags. And Wilbur and his warm house. My sister has several for her cat. Especially popular in the winter. You were missed.
quiltinggail
Thanks for sharing the lovely pictures of your drive! Beautiful!
Sally
Wilbur! The pebble photo is interesting. You’re right – I see a quilt in there. 🙂 The badlands photo is wild. Good stuff.
Vicki in MN
I’ve been to the badlands a couple times, wouldn’t mind going back someday. But I haven’t been to the other places you mentioned. Glad you had a nice time:)
Colette
Thank you so much for the awesome photos. I have been missing my autumn travels. Great photos. LOL your comment about Wilbur rolling around, When Bobbin was little I had purchased a cat cave for Lucy the great aunt and uncle’s ancient cat. Bobbin would get in it and start running, you would just see it rolling around the house. I think Lucy and Bobbin had a passive aggressive love/hate relationship. I do know that Bobbin misses her companionship.
Sandra Walker
Looks like a great little break (and safely done too). Gosh I can’t get over how much it looks like southern Alberta, but then it’s not that far away I guess. There are trembling aspens all over Alberta and wide open roads on the prairie like that and Badlands (Drumheller area lots of fossils have been found there), and even a Sylvan Lake! (opposite order but still) Too interesting. Love that green (your colour!) quilt!
Quilting is in my Blood
I think my previous comment disappeared in cyber space. I loved seeing the pics of your trip especially the one of Lake Sylvan. I’ve been thinking about getting one of those cat caves. Seems like Wilbur gives his a paws-up.
quiltedblooms
Certainly enjoyed the trip photos! The cat cave looks cozy!
thedarlingdogwood
Sounds, and looks, like a lovely trip! One of my life goals is to go to all 50 states and I still need to visit both Dakotas–funny since I lived next door in Minnesota for 11 years!
txquiltgal
Love these photos, everything is so beautiful and scenic. I’d love to explore those hills. South Dakota is a place that is still on our bucket list. I love wide open spaces too. Even though we had plentiful trees and gentle rolling hills in NE Oklahoma, on the farm where I was raised I could see the horizon every day, and now we are in a place where we can see it again – yay!
Cheree Hull
A little jealous of the trip and oh my gosh do I love aspens! Has been too long since we’ve travelled over to Colorado to see them! I’ve thought about making a cat cave for one or both of ours but I could just totally see me going to all that work and neither would even like it. BUT, maybe some day. For now, I like to put boxes around the house when we leave because I know they both love them and it’s funny to come home to see where they’ve been moved to and how scratched up they’ve gotten.
Carol Andrews
Interesting walkways, Sylvan Lake, the Badlands (my heart is swelling and my eyes welling with so many memories of my childhood) and Wills new cat cave…….can life be any more precious! 😉
Kathleen McCormick
Very interesting use of pvc & stone. We are about to pave a driveway (royal we) and I love the more pourous options but pretty darn nasty to shovel. The sights are gorgeous…I especially like some of them on Lake Sylvan!