Day 31 - Western South Dakota

---

Geo: 43.715, -102.571

It was like déjà vu all over again. 45 years ago, my family did an amazing trip across country from Maryland to Wyoming. On the way, we stopped in South Dakota at Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, and the Badlands National Park. Sheila and I hit those places again today.

We saw bison and antelope at Custer State Park; George, Thomas, Teddy and Abe at Mount Rushmore; and some crazy moonscapes at the Badlands. We also went by the Crazy Horse Mountain where the Native Americans are competing with Mt. Rushmore with a mountain sculpture of Crazy Horse. Apparently they have been working on it for about 30 years and all they have is the face.....step it up.

Heading east, we went to the Badlands National Park. I remembered the Badlands so vividly from 45 years ago. What an awesome place.....it doesn't look real.

As we were visiting the park, the winds started to pick up and dark clouds moved in. So, we decided to stay at a hotel just outside of the park entrance, as opposed to staying in the RV. I think this hotel must have been here when we visited 45 years ago. And, I am pretty sure they have not made any improvements since then....ha ha. We walked to the local bar/restaurant about 1/2 mile from the hotel when it looked like the storm might pass. Of course, when we were half way there, it started to rain. We hustled to the bar and then it really started to pour. It rained for about an hour, the electricity went out in the bar briefly, but we were at least able to watch the College World Series (unfortunately UVA did not bring home the trophy for the ACC). We walked back to the hotel after the game. At least it had stopped raining but the sky was lighting up all around us.....pretty awesome/unnerving

We are planning to make another run through the Badlands in the morning, and then head east again.

---

Comments

[Matt A]

Nice Ass