June 9, 2025 (Mon.) - A Low-Key Day & Catching Up on Tasks
With no major plans, the day was mostly spent tackling small tasks.
Lynn booked a dentist appointment to fix her lost filling from yesterday’s candy mishap. Most of the day was devoted to blogging, catching up on two days’ worth of activities. With a mountain of photos and videos, the process took all day. She also squeezed in three loads of laundry—the max before risking a black tank overflow situation, which is not something anyone wants to deal with. The back toilet shares water with the washer, though it’s rarely used since it’s ridiculously tiny.
Meanwhile, Kirk focused on vehicle registration paperwork, specifically a separate mileage form that wasn’t originally mentioned—just another hoop to jump through.
The weather was warm and windy, but a brief afternoon lull allowed for some patio time and a break from chores—always a nice reset. Rounded out the day with a beautiful sunset (pics below with the Canon EOS versus an iPhone).
Just another day on the road!
Weather – High 80*, Low 45*. Winds 15-30 mph.
Traffic – None.
Food – Nothing notable. Ate in RV. Picked up food from Sickies Garage for dinner (so-so).
Notable – Sunset.
Screen time – Red Dawn (the 1984 version). Perhaps the LA rioting caused us to rewatch this movie for some reason.
June 10, 2025 (Tue.) - grill guard, dentist, banking, hot day, strawberry moon
We were up semi-early (~8 AM) for once, with Kirk’s big day finally here—his grill guard installation! Since it would take a few hours and we didn’t want to be stranded, Lynn drove the truck to Street Image, while Kirk followed on the bike.
After dropping off the truck, we grabbed a late breakfast at Ron’s Cafe—still just as good as last time. Lynn stuck with the chicken fried steak and Kirk had his ham and pancakes. Since we rode the bike, parking was much easier in that tiny parking lot!
The forecast was hot (94°F), so we headed back to the RV until Lynn’s 1:30 PM dentist appointment, hoping to repair the broken filling from the candy mishap a few days ago. Unfortunately, the bad news hit—it wasn’t just a filling…it was a crown! Worse yet, it’s long gone, sitting in the trash at Rushmore Candy.
An X-ray revealed concerns, meaning Lynn now has to see an Endodontist to check for a possible root canal before the crown can be replaced. Ugh x2! The irony? She doesn’t even like hard candy—just coffee-flavored things. That free sample turned into a potentially very expensive mishap. Until the Endodontist appointment is scheduled, our stay in Rapid City might get extended a bit.
Meanwhile, Kirk shopped at Scheel’s and picked up the truck, proudly sporting its new grill guard. Now we’re somewhat protected from wildlife darting across the road, because apparently, it’s a safety must-have! At least, that’s what he told Lynn! 😂
After the rough dentist visit, we swung by the bank to grab three Cashier’s Checks for our vehicle registration fees to Pennington County Treasurer. Total cost for three vehicles = $336.50 (six-month registration)! Even if doubled for a full year ($673), it’s 79% less than what we paid in California where we paid over $3K for all three vehicles. That savings might just help cover Lynn’s dental work! However, the cost of the grill guard might’ve offset that!
Oh, and in all the running around, Kirk almost forgot to pick up his bike from Street Image. Thankfully, we made the extra stop, and Lynn got to drive the truck home—small win!
With temps still in the 90s, we holed up inside with all three A/C units blasting and watched TV.
With the heat too intense for BBQ or baking, we opted for a late dinner at Olive Garden (~8 PM) instead. As we left the restaurant, the sky put on a stunning sunset display—pinks, purples, and blue hues. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the best photos and went on a chase for a better viewpoint—only for the sunset to vanish quicker than expected.
Tonight was also a Strawberry Moon event, and according to news reports, the best viewing time was right after sunset—so naturally, we went searching. Heading west, still chasing the fading sunset, we couldn’t find the moon. Turns out, we were looking in the wrong direction—if we had just turned 180 degrees, we would’ve seen it sooner! When we finally spotted it—a massive, reddish-orange, golden moon hovering low on the horizon—it was nothing short of incredible. Snapped a few shots with the iPhone and the Canon EOS, but as always, nothing beats seeing it with the naked eye.
A day full of highs and lows, but at least progress was made!
Weather – HOT. High of 94*, Low 55*. Mild winds.
Traffic – None. But it seems bad when you’re on the bike, not moving and it’s hot out.
Food – Ron’s Cafe (excellent). Nothing notable for the rest of the day (Arby’s, Olive Garden).
Notable – New grill guard, sunset, Strawberry Moon
Screentime – The Survivors (Lynn just finished the book so we had to watch), LOOT
