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Published: August 18th 2021
Sunflower fieldsToday we enjoyed breakfast outside on the patio at our Holiday Inn Express in Chadron, Nebraska. I had fun showing Ed the pancake machine. It’s one that you just push a button and it makes your pancake and shoots them out on your plate! It doesn’t take much to entertain me!! I am starting to get my taste back but just certain things. Today I ate a piece of bacon that tasted like bacon. I still can’t taste coffee or many, many other foods! AND I still can’t smell!!
Our goal today was South Dakota. What I love about our group is that if we see a sign for a place that looks interesting we stop or head that direction. So today we saw a sign for Wind Cave National
Park so we decided we should check it out. It was packed!!! While planning this trip I read about the National Parks being crowded and today that was true. We didn’t get out at the visitors center because there was a long line. We drove through the park, stopped at several of the pull off places, took many pictures, and saw more wild life than we have ever seen!!
Lone farm in the plainsSpeaking of taking pictures, anyone who knows me knows I take thousands of pictures. I figure the more I take the better chance I have of getting a good one! Today was no exception! I was so tickled with all the close ups I got of the prairie dogs! Once we got back in the car and we’re on the move I started checking out my pics. The ones on my iPhone were pretty good. When I checked the pics on my Canon I got the dreaded message “there is no card In the camera”. That was a first for me! So no close up pics of the prairie dogs!!
As we continued on our journey we stopped at an interesting looking town called Custer. We went in a Trading Post that was built in 1882. Sadly a drunk driver crashed into the awning/porch and it had to be replaced. The girl working there told us we should take a side trip to Hill City which was about 12 miles out of our way. We are so glad we took her advice.
Hill City is in the heart of the Black Hills and easily accessible to Mt Rushmore,
Rick formationCuster State Park, And Crazy Horse Memorial. It is a lovely town full of shops and restaurants. We made several purchases while we were there.
When we left there we actually drove right past Crazy Horse and we’re able to stop and get great pictures. There were long lines waiting to get in so we didn’t join them.
During our trip two years ago we visited Mt Rushmore but it was closed for remodeling. Of course you could see the rock carving and go to the gift shop, but there were no state flags, no museum, no movie, none of the extras. So that was our goal today to get to see all the things we missed on our prior trip. It did not disappoint. We were worried that the haze from the smoke would inhibit our ability to see but the view was great.
Once we left Mt Rushmore we went in to Rapid City looking for a special camera card for Ed’s camera. Sadly we didn’t find one but he did get to go to a Fishing shop and buy some flies.
Next stop was about an hour and a half north west….Devils Tower.
BisonSomehow we missed that when we were here two years ago. It was worth the drive. What I love about driving this country is the change in scenery. You’re driving what looks like the plains and around the next bend and up the hill there are huge rock formations or great pine trees and thickets. You have to be aware at every turn
I think my favorite picture on this trip is going to be of Devils Tower. We were there at the perfect time… the sunset was beautiful! I also got my prairie dog pictures there….with the SD card in the camera!
Our home for the night was an Airbnb in Spearfish, SD. We had dinner at a local restaurant and everything was fantastic! We had mountain oysters for an appetizer and they were delicious!
Now it’s off to bed for these weary but happy travelers!
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Deb
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Betty’s Wonder
As I read these blogs to Betty she smiles and will ask questions. Of course she loved the pictures of her boys the most. And Becki, Devils tower pic is frame worthy! Praying for y’all