We made it back to Huron to get everything packed up and ready to head out to the Hills. For good. As I expected, it took a lot more time and was much more stressful than it really could have been. Mom really needed to look through every box before it was packed up to make sure that she wouldn't need anything in the next three months from it while it sat in storage. While I can kind of see her point, it sure was frustrating to have to just sit around and wait forever to get boxes loaded in the trailer. There was definitely yelling, crying, and slamming of doors going on
those nights. (never happens in your home, right?) Mom and dad were up until 2am packing before they realized they had to go rent a hotel in Huron because of "piss poor planning" as dad would say. To top it off, the humidity outside made it feel like soup every time you put your foot out the door. No kidding. I don't think I remember such a humid triple digit South Dakota day.
I guess if it taught me anything, I learned that I really REALLY don't want to accumulate a bunch of junk. You know, souveniers from here, trinkets from there, gifts that you'll never use but feel bad giving away, frozen beans from 2 years ago that were on sale for 33 cents each, 10,000 plastic grocery bags and yogurt cups, computers that no longer work but could at some point....the list goes on.
When we finally got everything packed up, I couldn't believe how ridiculous we looked with our three vehicle, two trailer caravan! Especially dad's flatbed trailer. I'll let you see for yourself:
It was still triple digits, and the guys didn't have a/c in the trucks the whole 6 hour ride out to Hot Springs. Sucks. We were about two hours from our destination when I saw what looked like a tire blowing up on the horse trailer that Steffen was pulling in front of me. (Well, I guess I've never seen one blow up, but maybe it was just some automatic-mother nature-instinct kind of a reaction). Steffen pulled over and sure enough. Blown to pieces. Smitherines as mom would say. Dad successfully changed the tire, but we had to leave it at a gas station in Wall, SD, because it was a Sunday and no tire stores were open. That was one of the first times in my life that I was afraid for dad's health. I mean, he's pretty healthy, but I guess I should say I was afraid for his age. He was drippin sweat like crazy on the side of the road while he was changing that tire in the severe heat. I'm sure dad still has a lot of life left, but I guess it's just hitting me that pa's prime years are behind him.
The heat in Western SD is just so much less humid than in Eastern, which is really nice, but let me tell you, a 85 degree day yesterday never felt so cool, coming off of the 113 hotness that we had over and over again. Because of this, the guys have been working split-shift days to try and beat the heat. I often worried about them while at the same time feeling guilty that I was sitting in an air conditioned RV with mom. Praise the Lord nothing serious happened!
On Monday Steffen and I got the day off and went to visit the cool town of Custer, SD. Steffen immediately found a gem in the first thrift store we went in. He found a four track recording tape machine and bargained the lady down to just 10 bucks! Of course, this is the thrift store find of the century for him, as he's always hoping for a toy like this to show up. We got home and he found out that it works and is selling on ebay for $200! What a steal!
If there's one thing that I'm not used to over at the land, it's looking for Rattlers. Ugh, they just give me the chills! And of course, the guys have spotted about 3 of them so far. Check it:
I guess I'll end with saying that I still am reminded every day how awesome of an opportunity this is for Steffen and I. I mean, living in a tent combined with living with family at a KOA seems like it would be stressful. And it is, but I'm trying my hardest to look past that. I want so badly to soak up this time I have with my fam (especially mom) and create some lasting memories. Despite how much Reed annoys me, how many times mom always asks me to do piddly stuff, or how much dad teases me, I still love them all so much with all of my heart, and consider myself blessed to call them my family.
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