Friday, August 23, 2019

SD/ND/MT/WY Friday June 14, 2019


We got up this morning, had breakfast at the motel, then drove down to Wind Cave National Park.  (We had to stop and take a proper picture of Mount Rushmore National Memorial first since we didn't get one the night before.)


As soon as we passed the entrance sign (we entered off Highway 385), we saw bison and prairie dogs everywhere and up close.  It was amazing.  They were all making little noises, running around and the babies were playing.  A bison kept scratching his back against one of the park signs. 



We arrived at the visitor center around 9:30 and were able to get on the 10:00 am cave tour.  There were a lot of the people on the tour and we’ve seen better caves before but I felt like we couldn’t go to Wind Cave National Park without going into the caves. 



The tour took about 1.25 hours and literally, the moment we got back into our car, it started to POUR – then hail.   The park ranger had recommended we go on a hike at the northern end of the park called the Rankin Ridge Trail but it was raining WAY too hard so we just drove out the northern entrance along highway 87. 

We were trying to make our way back to the town of Custer so that we could check out the Crazy Horse monument on our way back to our motel but my phone directed us down some crazy dirt road and the road was closed where we were supposed to turn (and it was still pouring) – a little nerve wrecking but we finally figured it out and pulled into the town of Custer close to 1pm after passing a herd of buffalo.



After lunch at Dairy Queen we drove back to the hotel.  We saw Crazy Horse on the way home but opted not to stop.  We got back to the room around 2:30 or so then Ryan, Nick and I decided to drive down a back road from our hotel to the town of Hill City to pick up some groceries and wine. The drive was spectacular – beautiful homes with gardens and chickens and deer and land. 

We’re now back in the room – it’s 6:00 and we’re heading out to dinner at Powder House in just a few minutes.  But we’re listening to Cuban music on Spotify with the door to our balcony open.  The sun finally came out so all we hear are the helicopters touring Mt. Rushmore that were grounded all day due to the rain. 

P.S. Dinner was great.  I watched a few episodes of Stranger Things Season 2 then went to bed.
Saturday June 15, 2019


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