Hot Springs, SD---day 3 and 4 May 24th and 25th

 When Tuesday morning rolled around and the weather was way cold and rainy (over 80% predicted) we decided to take a break from riding in the truck and get caught up on some of the mundane "house" keeping chores.  I spent most of the day walking back and forth to the laundry room.  Since sheets and towels needed washin' it took most of the day and most of my spare change...$15.00 to be exact.  I feel certain that I could purchase a new something / anything with what it costs to do laundry on the road.  I know these campgrounds need to make some money, but come on, $1.75 to do a load and 25 cents for 8 minutes in the dryer, but guess what...you have to put 50 cents in or it won't work, so you get 16 minutes whether you need it or not.  Fortunately jeans can be worn more than once.

Wednesday started out looking pretty grim, but since it was our last day we needed to get to the Badlands come hell or high water, which was very likely....the high water I mean.  We left fairly early with low hanging clouds covering most of the mountain tops and headed north toward Rapid City.  Dan promised me breakfast on the way and I jumped at the chance to have something other than peanut butter bread.  I did make oatmeal one morning, but forgot the cinnamon and it just wasn't the same.  Well, being from the big city and fairly populated areas neither one of us took it upon ourselves to check and see if there were any eating establishments along the chosen route.  Fifty plus miles up the road, still no food and none in site.  Lots of little towns, but none with food...so on we went with great expectations that there would be something at the park entrance.

Entering Badlands National Park....do you see any food???

It was cold can you tell...I think we went on for about another 40 or so miles when we came to the town of Interior.  Total population of 72 with a Business District.  Now if you followed the direction of the arrow you would find a dirt road with the requisite ruts and a school bus.  So much for enterprise on the reservation.

However just around the curve in the road was the Cowboy Corner Store...gas pumps where you had to pay inside.  We stopped so Dan could get his coffee and this is what greeted us

What????...an Indian interpretation of Mt Rushmore?

 Finally, we reached the "real" entrance to the Badlands.  How did I know that you ask...because we had to fork over $15.00 for the privilege of driving our own car around a bunch of mountains.   But alas, there was a lodge that had dining...it was 10:30am and I was ready to eat one of the ground squirrels we saw along the way....

We took a seat by the window and this is what we looked at while we ate.....not bad

This was just the start of what turned into one of the best days so far.  The weather was absolutely glorious...sunny 65 degrees with a rather crisp breeze blowing about 20 mph.  I have to say I wasn't having a good hair day!  Fortunately there are no pictures..wouldn't want to give everyone a fright  lol

We saw so many wonderful sites and there really are not words to describe them....will let them speak for themselves.  By the time we finished we had driven 257 miles through the most unbelievable landscape.

Looked to me like this was an eagle sitting on top of the mountain....boy was I surprised when we got close enough

Don't understand why Arnold Palmer or Jack Nicklaus hasn't jumped all over this area and put in one of their signature golf courses.  Now, the rough's would be a little tough and you could only play 9 holes, in lets say...a week, but the views are priceless!

I mentioned before that Dan got an iPhone before we left.  It didn't take him long to master the ability to drive and take pictures.  I download mine on a daily basis, but forgot about his....last night I downloaded 694 pictures, that's right almost 700!  WOW, won't bore you with them all, however there are a few more worth posting...

                            A whole bunch of turkeys crazing in the grass..
If you ever get a chance to visit this area the Badland National Park is a MUST SEE!!!

Stay tuned for Casper...