The Black Hills
We got to our “base camp” in the Black Hills today, where we’ll stay for the next week. Or campground is above Mt. Rushmore, and we always get the exact, same site so that Lucas feels a sense of sameness and comfort there. (It’s important when traveling with autism to have some routines that offer that sense of sameness, and this is one of ours.)
Our campsite is on the edge of a very large campground. This place is incredible! It has a heated pool and hot tub, a water park and water slide, mini golf, horseback riding, and you can rent recumbent bicycles.
There’s live entertainment nightly at the outdoor stage (a cowboy band, native american dancers, or a family friendly comedy act), and a movie in the rec hall each night, too. They even offer an “all you cna eat” pancake breakfast every morning, which Lucas loves.
We’re surrounded by the pursest mountain air you’ve ever breathed, and thanks to the lack of city lights, on cloudless nights you can actually SEE the Milky Way. I love getting up around 2 a..m. and just walking. All is quiet; I can see the stars and smell the pines. I feel truly alone except for God, and my soul is at peace.
As I said, our campsite is off to the side in this campground. There are six that are separated from the rest of the campground by a babbling brook, and on the other side of us is the Black Hills National Forest. We’re somewhat segregated from the hoards of vacationers, but still close enough to enjoy everything.
Lucas helped to set up camp, turning the crank to raise the camper and helping open the windows on it. He likes the lack of bugs here (I think we’re too high up at 5,000+ ft. above sea level.)
We spent the afternoon visiting Rattlesnake Jakes, a little store that’s Lucas’ favorite place in the Black Hills. We’ve become friends with the owners, Dallas and Mary Dietrich, and Lucas loves the lifesized figure of Rattlesnake Jake, who “talks” to him, thanks to a microphone manned by Dallas. Jake has called Lucas by name since the first time he enterd the store, and Lucas gets such a kick out of him!
The Dietrichs introduced us to some shop owners who hadn’t been there last time we visited, and I sold 3 of our LucasWorks Autism Awareness Bracelets to 2 of them, both of whom had a connection autitsm (yes, it’s everwhere these days!)
Evening brought Dad Burgers back at the camp site, and then ghost stories around the campfire, with Lucas telling his version of “the Hook”:
He got the version from that Ernest Goes to Camp movie we saw the other night, and did his best to do it justice. Of course, we acted terrified! Again, I can’t help but remember that this is the child who “professionals’ said would never talk…
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