Sylvan Lake in the Black Hills of SD: June 2016

Spent 5 days camping at Sylvan Lake in the Black Hills of South Dakota.  Enjoyed the gorgeous scenery on the Needles Highway and at Sylvan Lake.  It's like living in the Flintstone ages in the town of Bedrock.  Pretty scary the first time we took the RV through one of the tunnels; wasn't sure it was going to fit!!  The tunnels are so narrow that only one car can go through at a time.  It was nice and cool in the mornings, HOT in the afternoon so didn't do much hiking this time.  We had been here in 2009 when we did a 7 mile hike to Harney Peak where there was a stone structure that the Conservation Core had built years ago.  You could see the back side of the faces of Mt. Rushmore from Harney Peak; really cool!

Sylvan Lake

Hiking trail around the lake

Interesting bedrock

Trail

  Bubs was recuperating from ACL surgery, so he and I did a slow morning stroll each day from the campground over to Sylvan Lake and back before it got too hot.  Great therapy for him, and me!

Cool rocks  

    

 

Stairway to heaven?? 

Stuck!

 Daryl was teaching an online class one morning from inside "The Ritz" when the park crew decided it was time to mow the lawn in the campground.  Yikes!!  THAT was interesting.....

Contemplating the world.....

Trail from the other side of the lake

   

Pee Wee Falls/Boundary Dam, WA Kayak/camp trip 6/20/16

Had a BLAST with good friends Mike and Suzie Jewell!  Trekked 2.5 miles down a 4-wheel drive road to a gorgeous primitive campsite on the banks of the Pend O'Reille River just north of Metalline Falls, WA.  Unloaded kayaks and hit the water for an afternoon of exploring; numerous water caves, gorgeous rock outcroppings, numerous water falls, and the 200' Pee Wee Falls, only accessible by boat.   So many interesting things to explore, it's impossible to share it all!  Truly a paddler's paradise! Saw a herd of elk cross the river while we were setting up tents back at camp that night.  Great evening around the campfire, followed by another interesting paddle the next morning to Z Canyon, the opposite direction.  A little bit of yodeling anyone?  Thanks for an awesome trip Mike and Suzie!!

Suzie in forefront, Josie and Mike in background

It's a maze of water and rocks

Fun navigating the maze

Here comes Mike

Inside a cave

Here comes Suzie

Here come Josie & Bubbles

Cool photo! There are 4 kayaks in the cave now!

Outside view of the cave

Spray at base of Pee Wee Falls!

Mike checking out Pee Wee Falls

4 kayaks below our campsite

Trying to hide from us!

3 abreast - river like glass

 

Rare shot of all 4 kayaks together

   

Another cool cave       

Coffee's on!!

Morning paddle - like glass

What a fabulous 24 hours!!  Thanks Mike & Suzie!!!