The Binker Files: South Dakota

Photo Albums

Quotes

Actual happiness looks pretty squalid in comparison with the overcompensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn’t nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand. - Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
Education
"Must we always teach our children with books? Let them look at the stars and the mountains above. Let them look at the waters and the trees and flowers on Earth. Then they will begin to think, and to think is the beginning of a real education." -David Polis
"Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness; I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it... but by sitting still, and the more one sits still, the closer one becomes to feeling ill... Thus if one just keeps walking, everything will be all right." -Soren Kierckgaard
Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. - Albert Camus
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. Annie Dillard

October 14, 2014

South Dakota

South Dakota is a beautiful place, it was difficult to capture the prairie in photos, but it is pretty spectacular. As we drove west, the grass lands and farm lands gave way to badlands, then the Black Hills. Our next destination was Spearfish, on the northern edge of the Black Hills, a stone's throw from the geographic center of the US.

The billboards for Wall Drug were compelling, but the store was lame.

We had a such sweet spot at the Spearfish Campground that we decided to stay for a week. The campground is park-like, with Spearfish Creek and the bike trail along the river, just a few blocks to town, right outside our door.

Silas and Levi spent a lot of time fishing in the creek, Silas caught two fish and Levi almost caught two more.

The Black Hills are amazing and we hope to return someday and spend a month or so exploring. But, for this trip, we were limited to a drive through the mountains with a stop at Mt. Rushmore.