All Aboard!!!!!!

Monday was supposed to be stormy, so we got a very early start.  We drove up to Keystone to catch the 1880 Train and do the round trip to Hill City.

The train depot in Keystone.

Samuel was very excited and very anxious for the train to arrive.  We heard the whistle and this is a picture of Sam trying to get a first glimpse!

 We had a diesel engine on the way to Hill City.  When we get there, they will switch it to steam.  It takes the steam engine 4 hours to fire up, and no one wants to get up that early in the morning!

 The inside of the railroad car.

 Some of the view was of rock......I was actually trying to snap a picture of some wild flowers! 

 I gave up on wild flowers, and as a consequence, you have a shot of my feet!

 Harney Peak

 After an hour of winding through the Black Hills, we arrived at Hill City.

 Samuel enjoying a cookie.

 Our engine.

 After our ride, we took a walk down the boulevard in Keystone.

Sam liked this horse.

 It was lunch time and we all decided on pizza.....

and chocolate milk for Sam!

 Very cheesy pizza!

 After a great pizza, we bought Divinity for Grandma at the fudge shop and then piled back in the car.  Sam wanted to do the Alpine Slide again, but the rest of us out voted him and we headed off to Hill City instead.

 

Cute stores for Jessica and I to peruse.

Jim and Sam walked.

We all enjoyed the Jon Crane Gallery.  Samuel loved all the paintings featuring farm houses and snow.  We had great conversations about them.

This is Sam's favorite.

He loves the snow, the house and all the buildings.

 Loved this train print, so, we bought it to put in the office.

We have trains going by there ALL the time.

Samuel has to run out at watch every single one......



I liked this one.

Love the seasons.

 

After digging in some sand at the rock shop, we headed off home to chill out.

Jessica has been asking to go to The Black Hills Maze.  So, even though dark clouds were looming, and there was a crash of thunder as we pulled into the parking lot, we ventured through the maze anyway!!  Well, when I say we, I mean Jim, Jessica and Samuel.  Jessica made it out in 28 minutes and the rest of the mob made it out in 38.  No "Wall of Shame" for the Purdys.

The Maze.

On the way back to Mom and Dad's we picked up Taco John's.  We haven't had Taco John's for a very long time....probably not since we left Rapid City 17 years ago!  We really liked it, but, times change things.

It wasn't very good.  The potato thingies were good, but that was about it.

The rain never did come.  Dad baked coconut cake and we had it with butter pecan ice-cream.

Sally-Ann