Sister Trips

Nothing beats a sister trip. These excursions provide an opportunity for my sister and me to travel someplace different, visit the area for a few days, lounge in a motel room, eat a few meals in a restaurant, and to reconnect and share thoughts about anything and everything. These reflections can range from discussing our fears and worries to comparing reactions about the most recent books we have read. We do not schedule many activities in advance of our sister trip, and we keep the distance we travel to our destination within reasonable (for us) driving time. The whole point is to spend time together and to keep the pace leisurely and fun. We accomplish what we planned to see when we originally mapped out our trip, possibly we take in a few other events as well, and then we turn around and go home again. All the while we enjoy the other's company, even if we sometimes end up sitting in companionable silence for hours.

Our sister trips began when our parents still walked this earth. My sister and I would drive across the country together once a year to visit them, and while we both detested the long two and a half day trip, it did allow us time alone together. We found we could share our deepest fears, disappointments, and joys. Cooped up in a moving vehicle for ten plus hours at a time, then sharing a motel room at night, truly did test one's mettle and gave us a glimpse into what kind of relationship we really had, and we discovered it was a very strong bond indeed. The fact that we could make this trip year after year without any problems whatsoever marring our relationship made me realize just what a connection we share as sisters, and how much I appreciate the fact that she is an integral part of my life.

After we lost both parents within a five month span, we decided to continue our sister trips together, only this time we wouldn't turn it into a marathon drive. At our age, we prefer a drive of six hours or less, and even six hours can sometimes push the buttons on our limit of sitting and watching the countryside roll by. We get tired, stiff, and sore if we sit for long stretches. Besides, the object isn't to drive, but to relax and share time together. The destination sometimes really doesn't matter; it is getting there and home again together that renews us.

Keeping the driving distance in mind, we decided we could easily visit many interesting places in Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and South Dakota, so we did precisely that. We visited Medicine Rocks in Montana, we traveled to Malta and walked through a wildlife refuge, and one year we toured the Shell Canyon, Wyoming area. I remember portions of that trip vividly. I drove through the canyon, where the roads consisted of steep switchback up and down sharp curve driving. My sister kept exclaiming about the gorgeous scenery. I wouldn't know. Through clenched teeth I told her to take pictures, as I was too busy white-knuckling the steering wheel trying to negotiate the curves and turns in the road and wondering each time we headed downhill at a sharp incline just how good my brakes really were on my older truck.

We also went to South Dakota a few years ago with the sole intent of touring the Prairie Berry Winery located near Hill City. I had heard positive comments about this winery from locals who had visited it, and since my sister and I both enjoy a good glass of wine, I thought this might make an ideal excursion both of us would greatly enjoy. I researched the area, the winery itself, and had enormous pleasure just planning for this trip and reading about the winery. How can you not anticipate a visit when the winery offers a selection that includes wines with names like Lawrence Elk (a black current semi-sweet wine with an unusual history behind the name), Calamity Jane (a sweet red), Blue Suede Shoes (a blueberry zinfandel mix), Gold Digger (a delightful pear wine), and Pink Slip (a moscato type wine) and of course their signature Red Ass Rhubarb wine.

This sounded like a trip to end all trips, so we enthusiastically set a date, made reservations at a cabin which turned out to be a motel built in sections, not what I would call a cabin at all, we planned our picnic lunch that we would eat en route, and decided on the snacks each would bring for the trip. After all, no sister trip is complete without the trail mix, muffins, chocolate bars, and other assorted goodies necessary to get us from point A to ;point B without starving to death along the way. We two little older ladies really do appreciate our treats and will pack enormous bags of food to carry with us on our journey.

The big day arrived. We left in mid-morning, ate our snacks and enjoyed our little picnic lunch as we traveled to South Dakota. As we neared our destination we missed our turn and had to stop and ask directions (fortunately we were two older ladies wanting directions, not a little old lady with a little old man who would refuse to stop and inquire, otherwise we would still be driving...)

We eventually ended up at the lodging where I had previously made reservations. The cabin itself was somewhat of a disappointment if you really wanted a cabin atmosphere, but we didn't care. We had a fridge, a microwave, and a stove, more than enough to keep our perishables from spoiling and at the same time giving us a way to cook the bacon and eggs we had brought with us for morning breakfast. Note: our parents taught us well, and for us cheapskates, we usually take our own food and buy only one or two meals at a restaurant. The remainder of our meals we bring with us and heat up or cook in our motel room. This makes the trip affordable for us both.

The next morning we decided to drive through parts of Custer National Park. We spent an enjoyable morning and part of the afternoon touring the park, stopping to hike parts of the many trails, enjoying the points of interest, exchanging a few words with other tourists, and just relaxing and reveling in a leisurely day spent in the company of not only a sister but also a dear friend.

By midafternoon we finished up at the park and headed to the Prairie Berry Winery. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The winery gives guests five free samples of wine, with each guest selecting the five wines he or she would most like to taste. The winery also offers daily lunches and of course one can purchase a glass or two or three of wine to accompany that meal.

We perused the wine list and each of us made our individual selections as to the wine we wanted to sample. I liked several of my selections but was not overly impressed with a few of the others. To my surprise, not only did I especially like the buffalo berry wine, (it resembles a Chardonnay), but it also turned out to be a white wine. I figured it would be red.

We also decided to eat our evening meal there. What a treat! We both ordered the sweet potato sausage soup which I highly recommend. Of course I felt compelled to order a glass of buffalo berry wine to go with my supper.

What fun we had! After we left the winery, I confessed to my sister that I really wanted to stop at the photo shop I had seen in Hill City; you know the kind I am talking about, the type of shop where patrons can dress up as floozies or cow girls, or whatever, and have their pictures taken. I even offered to pay for the entire experience, which is saying a lot if you know what a skin flint I am when it comes to spending money.

We entered the photo shop; two slightly tipsy older ladies just out for a good time, and had no trouble deciding immediately we were tough cowbelles, not wimpy dance hall girls. We dressed the part, complete with six shooters in holsters at our waists and holding trusty rifles in our arthritic fingers, chuckling and smirking the entire time.

The lady who ran the business took a lot of photos. Once we selected the picture both of us felt did us the most justice, I decided to have one of those bathtub pictures taken as a gift for my husband. You know, one of those pictures where the lady in the tub looks like she wears nothing at all, and has one booted leg slung over the side of the tub, holding a six shooter ready for action.

What a hoot. I think the lady who took the pictures enjoyed herself as much as we did. With the Prairie Berry winery expedition under our belts, we did not feel any inhibitions whatsoever. Of course, even with no wine in our systems, my sister and I tend to speak our minds. In my opinion, we are old enough to have earned the right to say it as we see it.

After our photo shoot, we returned to our cabin, spent a peaceful night reading and working pencil puzzles, went to bed at a decent time for older folks, and returned home the following day.

When I presented my husband with the bathtub picture, he looked at it for a few seconds, stared at me and said "Were you wearing anything at all other than the boot when this picture was taken?"

I smiled smugly and replied, "Of course not." I then added, "Oh by the way, the photographer was a man."

I will cherish the look on his face for the rest of my life. And no, I did not provide the bathtub picture for this story. I am too old to go through a divorce.