A Pilgrim in Pieces

I arrived a pilgrim in pieces

The desert greeted me with scented blooms; 

embraced me in warm red rock; 

and sand sweet bird songs in my ear.

Her hot breath became my hot breath.

Her fevered heat a healing balm 

mixed with pink sand poultice.

My caged heart slowed with space, 

set free by wildness. 

Black Hills 2018 : Day 1- Wind Cave & Custer State Park

Our first night we stayed at the State Game Lodge inside the Park. It was a really beautiful place to stay. We wandered around nearby to blow the car stink off us. The main visitor center was neat, loved the architecture. But the Peter Norbeck Education Center was amazing! The kids loved all the hands on displays. We stayed there for about over an hour. My favorite was watching the bird feeder and identifying the birds coming into to get a bite to eat; River and Skyler liked building a course for a rolling ball; And Robin happily played in the sandbox.

Image Via

The Next Day we got up and out the door and headed to Wind Cave National Park, a "hidden world beneath the prairie".  We did a walking tour where we entered through the natural entrance. It was really neat inside and the kids liked it, especially River. We learned about "box work" and "popcorn" formations. Robin liked saying "popcorn" and "echo". It was really kid friendly, but by the end, Robin was done. She just wanted to run around and touch everything. River earned his Junior Ranger badge and took the oath.  

After wards we drove the Wildlife loop in Custer State Park and visited the old death march- I mean hike, I took Skyler on the first time we visited 5 years ago. We didn't do the whole trail Just wandered in a little and stretched out legs.

Best part was venturing out on an unpaved road all by ourselves through fields of flowers and bison.  We unbuckled the kids and let them ride free with the window down. (Robin sat on sky's lap, remember riding around with no seatbelts as a little kid? those were the days". Sky and River explored the ponds and found all kids of stuff - turtles and Water snakes to name a few. At the top there was a Prairie Dog Village  with tons of the cute little critters. 

Santa Fe : Part 5 - Bandelier National Monument

River kinda likes his dad :)

Best View of the Hike, 

On our last day we visited Bandelier National Monument, just outside of Santa Fe. It was a fun place to explore. River and Skyler especially loved it because of the more difficult and adventurous pathes, where you inch between Rocks, navigate narrow paths with drop offs, and climb ladders into old Rock dwellings and caves. I was holding my breath at some points worried about River, but Skyler had so much confidence in his son and his abilities and was right there to back him up if he needed. The best was when he got into one of the caves, River took it as an opportunity fro his own personal rock concert and was singing the Geronimo song at the top of his lungs. I took the opportunity and climbed up there too with Robin strapped to my chest. It was very interesting to see how the Native People their constructed their home using the cliff walls. It was quite ingenious.

Don't you just love that last picture?? It's my favorite!! Of course it's of my favorite people too!!

Santa Fe : Part 4 - Downtown Santa Fe

River drove his car around the front of the San Miguel Mission, which was funny because he did the same thing when we visited the missions in San Antonio,TX last year.

Skyler has the magic touch that puts fussy babies to sleep.

We spent the day wondering Downtown Santa Fe. It was fun walking the narrow side walk around the town, especially as we ate our french pastries we grabbed from The French Pastry Shop.YUM!! I am just sad they were out of bagettes by the time we got there. We visited 3 churches: The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi; The Loretto Chapel with the miraculous staircase; and the San Miguel Mission, the oldest church in the US. We saw the oldest house in the US as well, which was next door to the mission. 

We stopped at the highly recommended restaurant The Shed for lunch. We must have wore out the kids because River slept through lunch in the stroller. Skyler, with his magic touch, got Robin to finally fall asleep. Major props to him for eating his Green chili one handed, while holding a sleeping baby. 

Ou last stop was my favorite. It was the one thing I wanted to do, experience drinking chocolate elixirs at Kakawa Chocolate House. I first read about them on this travel blog while I was researching for the trip. I was sold at "Drinking Chocolate". And it did not disappoint. When you sit down they have a artisan come and explain the different kinds of drinking chocolates they have and you get to try little shots of them before you order the one you like best. The recipes are based on and recreated from historical sources. The pre-Colombian America ones had chilis in them and packed some heat. The European based ones are more floral and sweet.  That's the kind I ordered, The Marie Anotionette. Sky ordered a spicy Chai chocolate. River ordered the salted carmel ice cream and it was a hit! Him and Skyler downed the whole thing. Overall it was a really fun experience and the Staff was so great!