Day 16-June 14

We decided that it was time to take a day off.  Well, sort of.  The camper battery needed charging and we needed a few things at the grocery store so we headed for Hot Springs.  After breakfast at a local restaurant we discovered that not everyone in town gets up quite as early as we do.  We dropped the battery off to be charged and then headed for the post office and a hardware store.  Neither was open yet, resulting in a decision to take a leisurely stroll around town.  That led to another cup of coffee at a little pastry shop.  Breakfast #2 so we will skip lunch.  Eventually the stores opened and we accomplished our tasks and headed back to camp.

By late afternoon we had relaxed enough and decided we would go for a little walk. The only trail we could find that makes a loop was 4.75 miles long. Remember we don’t like to retrace our steps so off we go.  It was a very nice hike. First through the meadows where the prairie dogs live, then along a meandering stream through a beautiful valley where we actually saw a large deer that was not used to people.  We also almost stepped on a poor little garter snake as we prepared to cross the stream on a downed log. Toward the end of the hike we actually got a little closer to a group of wandering buffalo than we would have liked.  They behaved well and so did we. 

Back at camp we prepared a great supper then topped it off with a few roasted marshmallows.  Another perfect day!

Our hike began in the grasslands...

Jess had to see what was there.

and ended in the forest.