Meet us in the Black Hills – part 1

In late June we left Moscow for the Black Hills of South Dakota, USA, and the wedding of our second daughter Rebecca to the lovely Matthew Burns. Leaving early in the morning, we had the longest, but probably the most trouble free flight, to the wedding, as many others had long delays. We left Moscow and landed in Paris, walked to our next flight, got on, landed in Minneapolis, walked to our next flight and arrived in Rapid City, SD at 3 in the afternoon, the equivalent of our midnight, after 19 hours of traveling. We rented a car and set off for Hot Springs, the closest town to our destination.  On the open road, driving through the grasslands, and seeing the Black Hills in the distance I felt so happy to be back in the States and to reconnect to the land.  The house we had rented months before was sold two weeks before the wedding, which induced momentary panic in our bride, as she knew the scarcity of any other possibilities in the area.  However, we were blessed by the Forest Service, who had just purchased a farm house, done it up and only that week released it for rent, so we were the first people to have the pleasure of staying there!  It was all on its own, on top of a hill with views out across wild meadows to a lake, heaven to us!  Large wraparound porch and plenty of room for my brother-in-law and his partner, my sister-in-law and niece, my eldest daughter’s mother-in-law and us, plus son and girlfriend, and eldest daughter and husband camping in the garden, and various friends spending a couple of nights in the log bunkhouse.

We woke at sunrise the first morning and went outside to take pictures, then Solihin suggested going for a hike up the mountain.  I was astounded.  This was the first time in our almost 40 years together that he was the one to initiate a hike!  So despite my thoughts of our warm bed and a little more sleep, we set off.  We followed an old track up the hill behind the house, and it was beautiful.  Wild flowers everywhere, views down in the next valley with buffalo grazing.  We saw a baby rattlesnake, and walking back we heard a snort in the trees by the path and saw a baby deer drop to the ground like a stone in response to its mother’s warning.  We were very close, but it lay flat and motionless and we walked on, leaving them in peace.  Each morning I would wake at sunrise, and then feel the pull to go outside, and either work on my writing for the ceremony, or go for a hike, always wearing boots in case of snakes!

Sunrise

Wild echinacea – it was everywhere

the next valley over

Wild yucca and sunflowers

beautiful rock

Baby rattlesnake

Baby deer hiding in the grass

We spent the first days visiting Custer State Park, and Wind Caves National Park and seeing the herds of buffalo, or bison (its official name), deer, antelope and prairie dogs.  Each day different people arrived, to our house, or one of the others rented in the vicinity.  We had glorious hot afternoons spent swimming in Cascade Falls, a river nearby and impromptu bouts of enthusiastic singing, barbecues, and planning sessions for the wedding.  Speaking of barbecues, Matt and Rebecca had decided that they wanted to feed the wedding party with a local bison, so in February Rebecca went out to hunt the bison for their wedding with a local hunter.  Matt and Rebecca named him Freedom, and were married on his hide, with the skull, and we all ate the meat every night, and for the wedding there was delicious bison tagine.  Freedom was gratefully celebrated throughout the week, and I think Rebecca must be one of the first brides to go buffalo hunting for her wedding!

View from the house

Native grasslands of Wind Caves National Park

Antelope

the road less traveled

Buffalo – a wondrous sight to behold

One of the activities during that week was the search for vintage cowboy boots and hats, with everyone taking a trek out to Buffalo Gap and the Trading Post, or to Wanda’s Finds in Hot Springs! Solihin managed to find a pair of beautiful boots for only $20, which he wore for the wedding and has since even worn in Moscow! Two days before the wedding there was a horse-riding trip planned.  Unfortunately, although it was one of my dreams to do a ride like that, I could not go, but Solihin and about 20 others went and had an amazing time, starting off at the Pine Ridge reservation and visiting Wounded Knee.

The Trading Post in Buffalo Gap

City Hall, Buffalo Gap

Main Street, Buffalo Gap

The church in Buffalo Gap

I have often wondered about the idea of “destination weddings,” but having the opportunity to experience this beautiful area that Matt and Rebecca have such a deep connection to and wanted to share with all of us, and having the time to be with all these lovely people, made me realize what a gift it was.  Many people said this was not somewhere they would ever have come, but they were so glad they had. We had actually  visited before, in 1991, our first summer living in the States, when we had workshops in Colorado and North Carolina, and so decided to drive from Oregon and get to know the country we had just moved to months before.  We drove back through South Dakota, visited Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse (which by the way has not progressed in 22 years, we hear) and I realized that when we did that amazing trip, with four children and camping all the way, I was the same age as Sofiah, our eldest daughter!

Mount Rushmore 1991 – Me with Miriam, who was just two years old!

Same trip – Solihin with kids in Blue Ridge Mountains

 

Midweek we had a women’s circle for Rebecca at a lovely log house, sitting round a fire outside, after getting a preview of her gorgeous 1930’s vintage lace wedding dress.  As we went around the circle, with each woman speaking so movingly and personally to Rebecca, someone noticed what looked like a comet in the star-studded sky, and we all turned to look and saw it seemingly hanging in the sky for several seconds. We heard later, that the men, who were having a men’s circle up at the horse sanctuary, also all saw it!

Rebecca – beautiful bride to be – at her women’s circle

Susan Burns – mother of the groom

Fiona, Mabel and Xavier, nephew and nieces of Matt and Rebecca

My three gorgeous girls – Rebecca, Miriam and Sofiah

Precious sister moment

Revealing the wedding dress, slip and veil

lovely ladies round the campfire

Part 2 will follow soon……..