Cheers!

One last post about South Dakota, and that's it. Promise.

We did splurge our last night and day there and we spent the night in a great bed and breakfast called Buffalo Rock Lodge. I wholeheartedly recommend this place if you ever visit. It's off the beaten path and up a long winding hill. (Be careful, though--if you hit a cow in the road in South Dakota, you are required to pay the owner the price of the animal. It's law.) We could see the lights of Mount Rushmore from the big front porch, and our host served up a special homemade pastry and coffee during the lighting. Our hosts entertained us with stories of growing up in the Black Hills and ranching there. We asked questions about mountain lion encounters and the local deli. It's definitely a different life out west.

One thing, though. After roughing it on an air mattress and campground showers, the suite with a jacuzzi, a clawfoot tub, and nice beds were just beyond words. The spread at breakfast was impressive--fresh SD apple pancakes, some type of hash w/potatoes, eggs w/dill, bacon with some cayenne & pecans--sounds strange, but good. We didn't have a light a fire to cook any of it. I like B & Bs. It's a different experience and a different set of people-- I don't feel like I have to pull back the sheets at places like that and double check for spots or bed bugs. People generally take better care of their homes anyway. When you add the food and the room up, it was a steal of a deal and we joked about driving all the way back just to spend the night there.

We also visited South Dakota's winery, the Prairie Berry Winery. It was cute and fun, but pricey. They had some nice white wines and sturdy red ones too, but their biggest seller is Red Ass Rhubarb which is a sweet wine. I started to buy it just for the name, but I don't like dessert wines. So, I came home with Phat Hogg Chardonnay, which was overpriced but had a nice finish. Cheers to a great vacation!