Trains!
Many people in the world of autism LOVE trains. Personally, I think it has something to do with them knowing exactly where the train will go, since it can only travel on the track. That has to be reassuring to an autistic person, with their need for samenesss.
We spent the morning riding an 1880’s steam train through the Black hills. This isn’t the first time we’ve taken this trip, and from start to finish, Lucas loves it.
We get to hang out in the train yard before we depart, looking at the various engines and cars. Our train this morning was pulled out of the shed by a diesel engine, and then hooked up to the steam engine that would pull it on our jouney.
We traveled from Hill City to Keystone and back, winding our way through narrow granite passes, past abandoned tin and gold mines. Along the way, the conductor told us stories about the country we rode through, from the boom towns during gold rushes to the ranches that currenlty border the tracks.
Lucas was in heaven, and the morning passed quickly!
After lunch, it was time to visit another amazing place. The toured Meeting The Need, an old tin mine that our friends Dallas and Mary Deitrich have converted into a vacation place for people with disabilities. They’ve done a tremendous job, and we’re so glad we got to see it!