Sunday May 17 was an awesome day ! Up early for a tee time at Highland Oaks GC inPonca, NB with staff from the hatchery. Drove there in a light rain, first few holes we got a bit wet, but then it stopped. Had a blast ! See the coats & sweat pants ?? Still in the 50s and we're loving it !

Afterwards, drove to a smaller town to eat at Bob's Bar & BBQ, we wouldn't have known it was open let alone a great place to eat. Hamburgs were $3 and huge..... but it was the sides of cheese balls, onion rings and mushrooms that did us all in. Oh yeah, and the 2 pitchers of beer ! Don't worry - we planned ahead, I had tea and was the DD !! Jeff in blue, is the head biologist, Acting Chief and the one who "hired" us for the summer. Jason in white, is a seasonal finishing his Masters for Fish & Wildlife Mgmt.

After we got back, we went over to the indoor tanks to get some pictures of the "paddlefish". Now these are awesome fish !! They caught several males & females in the river and will be spawning them next week, then releasing them back into the river. The females are running between 70-90 pounds !!! And strong..... BV was able to pull a few out just enough to catch a brief photo. Then they got wild & frisky in the tank !

We're leaving out early Monday morning for western South Dakota.... driving to Deadwood (near Sturgis) which we'll use as our home base for several days to sightsee.... DC Booth Fish Hatchery, Museums, Mt. Rushmore... then drive thru the Badlands on the way back. Not sure if we'll have computer access.... but I'll catch up with ya'll later !!!