Cement Ridge Fire Lookout

Had a GREAT day a couple weeks ago with my friends Bob & Alice who were in town.  I kidnapped them and drove them around the Black Hills of South Dakota showing them some of my favorite places to go.  We started with a drive up Spearfish Canyon with stops at Bridal Veil Falls and Roughlock Falls before heading out to Cement Ridge--which is kinda off the beaten path.  Enough off the beaten path that Alice was getting the heebie jeebies and saying every few minutes that she felt like we were being watched by human eyes   Heck, maybe we were because Bob said at one point he was hearing banjo music

On the way out to the Fire Lookout--which is actually in Wyoming--we made a little four-wheeling side trip up a steep hill for a fantastic view of a passing rain shower and subsequent rainbow.  The rainbow was weak and I don't think any of us got any good shots of it but I may be wrong about that as I haven't seen all of Bob & Alice's shots yet.  Alice was fairly relieved to make the trip back down to the main road as the  rocky, steep hill we climbed in my wife's mini-van (shhh! Audra doesn't know I went off road with her van!) had gotten a little slippery after the rain shower.  I think Alice thinks I'm a little crazy after that side trip

Which brings us to the Cement Ridge Fire Lookout seen here.  I've been up here many times in the past and never really gotten a decent shot even though there is this stunning 360 degree view and you can see three states on a clear day.  Today was different though.  I think it was the great company I was with because Mom Nature sure put on a show up there!   Got some great shots for all of us!   The sunset started out looking like it was going to be one for the ages but clouds moved in across the western horizon and choked it off but it was still pretty cool for a while.

Anyway, even if I hadn't gotten a shot all day I would treasure this day forever because I got to spend it with my two best friends!