On the Rez!

We have made it to Pine Ridge! Six of the kids got out of the van and walked hand in hand across the Cheyenne River, it was beautiful! It was what we have been working toward for so long! First views of the reservation where the badlands!

Here are Lauren and Hannah in front of the badlands!


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Tuesday Tales

Yesterday was a fun day filled with lots of fun things. We went on a hike to Little Devil's Tower and the view from the top was amazing! After that we went to Mount Rushmore. There we learned about the monument and got some good ice cream. Then we had dinner at Wrangler's where we filled up about half the restaurant. After dinner we went to Custer State Park and saw some pretty awesome bison. Finally we went to see Crazy Horse and the light show that is put on at night. The whole day was full of great experiences.

Today, I am spending the afternoon with Lee while everyone else is on their way to Porcupine. I wasn't feeling well this morning (but I'm better now) so Lee and I stayed behind at the Westminster Presbyterian Church so that I could rest. Now we are waiting for the rental car so we can meet up with the rest of the group that took off this morning.

Charissa Mikoski

Claire's Bloggggggg :)

Hey, it's Claire!!! Right now we are waiting to head off to Porcupine (I have absolutely no idea if I spelled that right) and we are uberly excited! First stop is the Badlands. At one point, we're apparently going to be in a really pretty spot with the Badands on one side of us and the Black Hills on the other. Can't wait for that!!!! We're gonna have so much fun today. Bob says Hi. :) He misses you all. He wishes you were here. Anyways, that's probably it for now since we're getting ready to leave. Enjoy yourselves in the nice air conditioning on Wednesday while it's 100 degrees here! Hahahahahaha :D Bye guys!
Claire

Crazy Horse Memorial

We ended our long day 2 with a visit to the memorial to Crazy Horse. It was amazing to see and it was really fun to see the light show.

Bison

After many of us had Buffalo burgers for dinner, we decided to go in search of what we just consumed... We found a few bull bison (not buffalo!) in Custer State Park. Their size is absolutely amazing!









Our guide Terry pretending to try and pet this big old bull!

Location:Ave of the Chiefs,Custer,United States

Dinner at Wrangler in Custer, SD

Mount Rushmore

On top of the World?

The team went for a hike up Little Devil's Tower in Custer State Peek! A great hike that ends at an elevation of about 6000 ft.

Night One

Traditional Lakota Dancers teaching us a little about their culture! A great way to kick off the week. Everyone is settling in nicely. A day of hiking and sightseeing tomorrow!

Statues in downtown Rapid City

We made it!

After 28.5 hours we are finally on the ground in Rapid City! Let the adventure begin! Thanks for all your prayers!

Good News - Bad News

GOOD NEWS: WE WERE ALL ON TIME AT THE CHURCH!
bad news: philly group stuck in traffic on 95S.
GOOD NEWS: UNITED HELD THE PLANE FOR US!
bad news: we couldn't land at rapid city (due to AMAZING thunderstorms) after circling overhead for an extra hour or so...
GOOD NEWS: THEY FLEW US TO DENVER TO REFUEL!
bad news: they decided to wait until morning to try again.
GN: THEY GAVE US VOUCHERS FOR HOLIDAY INN AND BREAKFAST!
bn: only 15 of us made it onto the HI shuttle; 7 were LEFT BEHIND.
more bn: denver airport closes at 1:00.
even more bn: HI shuttle driver went home at 1:00.
GN: THE UNFORTUNATE SEVEN FINALLY FLAG DOWN A SHUTTLE "TAXI" VAN.
bn: there is another little family waiting with us, including grandparents and sick young grandaughter
GN: THE SHUTTLE SEATS 10!
bn: four hours sleep
GN: GOT TO SLEEP ON A BED WITH A GREAT SHOWER AND BREAKFAST BEFORE CATCHING THE FREE SHUTTLE BACK TO DENVER INTERNATIONAL!
bn: plane to rapid city delayed two hours...natch.
GN: WE ARE ALL WELL AND RELATIVELY HAPPY! SOUTH DAKOTA...HERE WE COME!
- Lee

Breakfast

Ted has found a way to stay vegan in the airport... Guacamole, beans, and rice for breakfast!

Embrace Adventure

So you know those Road ID things? I got one a few months ago for Cross Country, and when I was typing in what to put on it, the website suggested that I put a quote at the bottom. I ended up putting "Embrace Adventure" as my quote. I think it applies here, and not just for running. This is certainly an adventure (at least by Dad's definition). I'm doing my best to enjoy the exciting unexpectedness (that's a word, right?) of it all. The whole bit about landing in Denver and sleeping in a Holiday Inn. (I could see the lightning from the plane, and I'm certainly grateful we weren't flying into it, as cool as it looked.) It's 7:20 (local time) and everyone else is having breakfast (I was up early this morning, so I've already eaten). Half the group wanted to eat at the airport, so they left on the first shuttle, and I'm just waiting for the second one. Just gotta embrace the adventure.

-Thomas

Wrong City

Well, we have landed... The only problem is we are in Denver. Ted says, "it is not an adventure until things go differently then planned." Well Ted, IT'S AN ADVENTURE!
We are staying in a hotel tonight and will board the same plane we were on tonight at 10 am. Hopefully this time it will land in Rapid City!

On our way

All 22 travelers are boarding the plane for Rapid City!

Group 2 in Chicago

They're here!!! Next stop Rapid City!

Dinner at Chili's in O'hare

Layover Fun!

Group 2

Group 2 is on the plane in Philly! Sounds like it was one of those runs through the airport that you see in movies, but they made it! Way to go team! See you in Chicago!

Group 1

Group one has made it to Chicago! 6 hours to get 3 gates away... I think we will make it!

Group 2

The second group of travelers is on their way to the airport! And to quote Colleen, "everything running smoothly"!

Group one boarding soon!

Through Security

Group one is through security and at the gate!

Location:Newark,United States

Here We Go!

The first group of travelers are on the way to the airport. Bob, Ellen, Tica, Claire, Lauren, Hannah, Derek, Tess, Jordan and I are in the van and very excited for our adventure! The second group, Colleen, Ted, Chris, Eric, Frankie, Charissa, Peter, Sarah, Lee, Rebecca, Thomas, and Emma leave later today. We will all meet up in Chicago and head to Rapid City! Pray for safe travels!

It's Here!!!

The day is finally here! It has seemed like this day would never come. The day when all the hard work, all the planning, all the fundraising, and all the praying will finally pay off! I can't wait to get to the Rapid City and finally be within reach of the people and place of which I have been so excited to see. I can't wait to finally put faces to the voices and emails that Colleen and I have spent so much time with. I can't wait to meet our hosts the Looking Elks! I can't wait to see what God has in store for the 22 adventurers from Pennington. Here we are Lord, send us!


Todd

Getting close

48 hours from now the group will be in a plane on the way from Chicago to Rapid City. The details have all fallen in place and the packing has begun. My prayers for this trip are that we will all safely make it to South Dakota, have a great time, meet some amazing people, help out where we can, grow closer to each other, and grow closer to God.
We are all so grateful for all who have supported us as we have prepared for this trip. Now we ask that you pray for us while we go on this amazing adventure!

Todd


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