Life with Riley!

Finally, some fish!


Panning for gold.


Climbing rocks in the Badlands.


Our first prairie dog sighting.


Fishing along the Missouri.

Life with Riley is quite a fish story. It started in the Ozarks. Grandpa Gene and his stepdad, David, both caught fish. Riley didn't. Since they lost the lucky lure, Grandpa and Riley went to Walmart in Norfolk, NE and bought another one, then up to Skyview Lake to try their luck. After two hours and many casts . . . still nothing.

Next try was along the Missour River at our camp site along Snake Creek. They had a kids' fishing pond that was sure to be loaded with fish. All Riley got were snags and clumps of seaweed. Not one fish.

Custer State Park was sure to bring some luck. They have lots of lakes and many steams stocked with trout. We bought a license and headed to Sylvan Lake, one of the prettiest lakes I've ever seen. Pretty to look at . . . but all fished out! Riley didn't get a bite.

We were camped near Blue Bell lodge, so I asked the front desk where in the heck you catch fish around here. The clerk said her boss pulled trout out of the creek right behind the lodge. I convinced Riley to try one more time . . . but didn't buy a fishing license. He reluctantly got his pole, put on his lucky fishing slippers and headed down to the creek. First cast . . . a bite! He started pulling them in left and right, keeping three and throwing the rest of them back. He caught 13 in all, and I headed back to the general store to get a license to make us legal!