Blogs from Badlands, South Dakota, United States, North America
October 22nd 2010
Well it's been over a year since I traveled but I managed to break away for a week to the Badlands, Deadwood and Custer State Park all in western South Dakota. Got to see the local wildlife while remembering what it's like to wake up to 30 degrees... Couldn't let Echo run free for just about every edge was a straight shot down...way down. The buffalo don't care much for dogs either so not to many Echo pic's this trip. Next time.... read more
Day 5: Sioux Falls to Gillette
Published: August 18th 2010North America » United States » South Dakota » Badlands
August 17th 2010
Miles traveled today: 523 We rushed out of the hotel as fast as we could because of the big day we had ahead of us- Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore. We arrived at the park a little before noon and I bought an eighty dollar annual pass to the National Parks while my mom, the lucky duck, bought a senior lifetime pass for ten dollars! We pulled off at the first parking area where there were several walking trails. I walked out in my flip-flops and quickly ran back to the car to put on hiking shoes to explore. There are no words that can give justice the beauty and grandeur of the place. We took hundreds (literally) of photos because as my mom said, “it’s hard not to when the place is so photogenic.” ... read more
Mt. Rushmore - Day 8
Published: June 29th 2010North America » United States » South Dakota » Badlands
June 29th 2010
Yesterday we began the day with a 5 mile walk on the Mickleson trail before breakfast. This trail is on an old abandoned railway (minus the rails & ties). Again, beautiful scenery & designed with a gentle slop for the old iron horse which works out well for today’s old horse! We then headed out for the Wall Drug Store established in the 1930’s by the Hustead family. In the beginning, times were slow & cars were zooming past headed for Rapid City. The family came up with the idea of giving away free ice water & advertised same on roadside signs (the signs today are literally all over the world. It was a huge success & the store now covers an entire city block in Wall, SD. You have to see it to believe it! ... read more
May 28th 2010
Good Morning! So last night in our adventures we named the car Black Betty while listening to the song. We went to the Wagon Wheel last night a local Interior bar. There we met Cliff, Deb, Lee, Radar, Shannon, his wife, his 17 year old daughter (buffest chick ever), and the whole gang. There we learned that in Interior you can get as drunk as you want and the cops don't do shit. Needless to say we made some great new friends. Today we are traveling through the Badlands and down to Jewel Cave (2nd largest cave in the world). We will be in Rapid City for lunch and then off to Custer National Forest where we are going to set up camp. The end of the night will be spent at Mount Rushmore where we ... read more
Welcome to the Badlands!!!!
Published: May 28th 2010North America » United States » South Dakota » Badlands
May 27th 2010
Well it is reaching the end of day three of our adventure after leaving Villanova on Monday. Will, Will and I made it to my lake house in Michigan that night where we had a contest out on the boat, a bonfire and called it a night. Birney took a quick trip to Fort Wayne, IN to see some of his family and met up with us early afternoon on Tuesday. Early Tuesday morning we did some skiing and then after Branden showed up we hit up the tubes before heading to Downers Grove. Wednesday we spent the day downtown Chicago seeing some of the sites before packing up the car for the drive the next day. This morning we hit the road at 6:30am and made the drive through Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and South Dakota. ... read more
December 31st 2009
July 31, 2009 We left Estes Park this morniing at about 10:00 mt. time. I am always sad at leaving the mountains behind. The worst part is, driving through Eastern Wyoming. I have to say, the Black Hills are a nice antidote to Eastern Wyoming. What do the residents of flat, dry, treeless, desolate places like about them? Someone please tell me. We are spending the last night of the trip in Kadoka, South Dakota. Our bathroom is fabulously large. Unfortunately, the neighbors, who happen to be bikers on their way to Sturgis, are drunk and we can hear them through the wall About a 10 hour drive for Lobelia, 7 1/2 for Podo. Lobelia can't wait to see Milo and the dogs, horses and even the chickens. ... read more
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: 2009 GREAT WESTERN ADVENTURE WEEK SEVEN: CUSTER, SD TO BARABOO, WI
Published: September 20th 2009North America » United States » South Dakota » Badlands
September 20th 2009
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: 2009 GREAT WESTERN ADVENTURE WEEK SEVEN: CUSTER , SD TO BARABOO , WI Tuesday, July 07 Custer is a cute Western town on the edge of Custer State Park. After checking out of President Harrison’s Cabin we drove into Custer to a little bistro for an egg burrito (I also had a great chai) before heading out to the park. We then drove along the edge of the park for some time before seeing anything. Suddenly as we rounded a bend a herd of buffalo were on the crest of a hill munching on yellow sweet clover. It was a beautiful site! The smell of the buffalo announces their presence long before you see them and if you are lucky to get close enough you can hear them snorting and chewing the ... read more
Badlands; South Dakota
Published: December 19th 2009North America » United States » South Dakota » Badlands
September 13th 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009 It rained through the night last night, right after I finished grilling some chicken thighs on the portable Weber propane grill. Timing is everything, or at least close to it. This morning, it was cool enough to warrant a touch of heat in Uncle Joe. Since we are plugged into a 50 amp pedestal, the electric area heater received the nod over propane heat. “What’s is that burning smell” some one inquired from the dark bedroom up front? “Why, its just me sweetie; I’m trying out our new area heater.” “I’m up,” came the reply. So there was the start of the day, on a noisome note. An area heater is different from a space heater, in that it is designed to slowly heat a large area, where a space heater ... read more
Badlands; South Dakota
Published: September 13th 2009North America » United States » South Dakota » Badlands
September 13th 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009 It rained through the night last night, right after I finished grilling some chicken thighs on the portable Weber propane grill. Timing is everything, or at least close to it. This morning, it was cool enough to warrant a touch of heat in Uncle Joe. Since we are plugged into a 50 amp pedestal, the electric area heater received the nod over propane heat. “What’s is that burning smell” some one inquired from the dark bedroom up front? “Why, its just me sweetie; I’m trying out our new area heater.” “I’m up,” came the reply. So there was the start of the day, on a noisome note. An area heater is different from a space heater, in that it is designed to slowly heat a large area, where a space heater is ... read more
Badlands, South Dakota
Published: September 8th 2009North America » United States » South Dakota » Badlands
September 8th 2009
OMG!! today was the best! As we were driving to Murdo, we just passed the central time zone lol so I couldn't tell you what time it was lol the car clock is still on Vancouver time and my phone is an hour later and passing into central time adds an hour LOL but it was in the early evening. I saw a sign that said scenic road into the Badlands, I asked Nat if we could drive through there, she pulls in and drives for a bit. We got closer and could see the peaks of the Badlands, OMG OMG I told Nat we goin in :) We only had about $ 75 American. I said I'll use my credit card to get a room, we are doing this :) and man oh man it ... read more
