Good morning! Long drive yesterday, but we did revisit the Black Hills, which was nostalgic. After dinner at the Powder House in Keystone, we gave Deadwood another chance.

It’s still dead.

We didn’t go back to Mount Rushmore; the July 4th fireworks display was still on schedule, and we didn’t want to fight the crowds. Our very small room at the Big Sky Lodge was cozy, with a great view of Rapid City below.

I tried to get some photos of the several fireworks displays going on last night, but they didn’t come out. Too far away. But how impressive — we’d never seen anything like it. There must have been five different fireworks shows going on at once, down in Rapid City. Nice to be in a lodge on a hill.

Today is another grueling drive, all the way to Iowa. Hopefully we’ll be able to have some relaxation time. This is Day 25 of our Odyssey, and the travelers are starting to show juuuuust a bit of wear and tear, haha. Still, we’re delighted and blessed to have the chance to do this. Not complaining.

OK, 7 a.m. and time to get this carnival packed up and on the road. If nothing else, we’re getting really good at it, and by the time we get back home, we’ll have it totally down to a science.

FO