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Travels of the Rennhack family

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🚗 Domestic 4/11/2026 – 4/13/2026

Black Hills weekend — Rapid City, Spearfish, Devils Tower

Mother-daughter trip to visit Kathy's sister Kerri and her husband. Flew into Rapid City, SD; visited Spearfish, SD and Devils Tower in Wyoming.

▶ Play this trip
On the highway into Rapid City
On the highway into Rapid City
2nights
3places
Kathy, Lisa, Kerriwho went

Day by day

Day 1Saturday, April 11, 2026

Rapid City · Spearfish

On the highway into Rapid City
On the highway into Rapid City

Early morning bus ride from South Bend to O'Hare and then a flight to Rapid City, South Dakota. Looking forward to reviewing the American Airlines Landline Service. There were 0 people in line for TSA Pre-Check in South Bend. The bus drops us inside the secure zone at O'Hare, so we are done with TSA for today.

Lisa with Kerri's cat
Lisa with Kerri's cat
Storm clouds moving over the hills
Storm clouds moving over the hills
Lisa and the cat settling in for the drive
Lisa and the cat settling in for the drive
Big sky and open road on the drive out
Big sky and open road on the drive out
The hills finally showing up ahead on the highway
The hills finally showing up ahead on the highway
Lisa smiling in a selfie with a gray cat on her lap
Lisa smiling in a selfie with a gray cat on her lap
A storm cloud dropping rain over the hills in the distance
A storm cloud dropping rain over the hills in the distance
Lisa in the South Bend postcard at the airport
Lisa in the South Bend postcard at the airport

Day 2Sunday, April 12, 2026

Spearfish · Devils Tower

Spearfish, SD

A great lodging establishment. Extra points for having real scrambled eggs and lemons in the water. Extra extra points for aggressive shower pressure. Next stop, Devil's Tower in Wyoming.

Red rock cliffs along Spearfish Canyon
Red rock cliffs along Spearfish Canyon
Storm light over the hills in Spearfish
Storm light over the hills in Spearfish

Devils Tower, WY

A gorgeous day for a hike.

Devils Tower from the meadow
Devils Tower from the meadow
Prayer cloths tied along the trail
Prayer cloths tied along the trail
Walking the Tower Trail
Walking the Tower Trail
A wildflower along the trail
A wildflower along the trail
Kathy and Lisa at the base of the tower
Kathy and Lisa at the base of the tower
Devils Tower through the pines
Devils Tower through the pines
Lisa on the boulders at Devils Tower
Lisa on the boulders at Devils Tower
Prayer cloths tied in the trees at Devils Tower
Prayer cloths tied in the trees at Devils Tower
Looking up at Devils Tower from the trail
Looking up at Devils Tower from the trail
Devils Tower rising above the pines
Devils Tower rising above the pines
Holding up Devils Tower
Holding up Devils Tower
The valley from the Tower Trail
The valley from the Tower Trail
Devils Tower rising above the pines
Devils Tower rising above the pines
The columns of Devils Tower up close
The columns of Devils Tower up close
The tower's columns seen up close
The tower's columns seen up close
Lisa holding up a fallen tree
Lisa holding up a fallen tree
Devils Tower framed by the trees
Devils Tower framed by the trees
Devils Tower
Devils Tower
Lisa striking a pose at the Devils Tower Trading Post
Lisa striking a pose at the Devils Tower Trading Post
Devils Tower from the trail below
Devils Tower from the trail below
Lisa on the trail at Devils Tower
Lisa on the trail at Devils Tower
The columns of Devils Tower through the pines
The columns of Devils Tower through the pines

Home againDay 3Monday, April 13, 2026

RAP

  • Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) · United States
Rapid City airport sign
Rapid City airport sign

Good morning from Spearfish, SD. Time to pack up and head to the airport. It was a short, but awesome weekend.

Wrapping up this fabulous weekend. Heading home with full hearts. Until next time, South Dakota.

Chicago weather is weathering. We will miss our connection at O'Hare. A quick call to American while the rest of the plane is still standing in line waiting to be serviced at the gate. We are now on the later bus to South Bend.

Enough time to grab a very quick bite to eat, get to the gate and board the bus to South Bend. Hoping to see my bed before midnight.

The eagle sculpture in the terminal
The eagle sculpture in the terminal
A South Dakota souvenir shirt
A South Dakota souvenir shirt
Chicago under the wing on our way home
Chicago under the wing on our way home
Lisa at the Rapid City mural before our flight home
Lisa at the Rapid City mural before our flight home
Dinosaur fossils at the Hell Creek Museum
Dinosaur fossils at the Hell Creek Museum
The Black Hills mural at the Rapid City airport
The Black Hills mural at the Rapid City airport
Chicago's lakefront under the wing on the way home
Chicago's lakefront under the wing on the way home