Badlands National Park

Our day started with a drive about 50 miles Southeast of Rapid City to Badlands National Park.  I had waited so long (63 years) to purchase my first (and only) Senior National Park Lifetime Pass for only $ 10.00.  Joy and I have been in all the parks in the Lower 48 with the 8 remaining in Alaska on the trip ahead.  Today there are 67 National Parks and each one is truly worth the visit.

Badlands had a reputation in the old West of containing only bad men, Indians, and rattlesnakes.   Not much has changed.  This land was established in 1929 but did not obtain National Park status until 1978.  It contains 242,600 acres of stark contrast and vistas.  Lack of facilities had us enjoying a picnic lunch in the Jeep as you can see.

The afternoon had us on several back roads on the way home including a stop in Scenic, S.D.  Let us save you a trip – it doesn’t live up to its name.  We plan to attend services in Rapid City in the morning before heading down to Wind Cave National Park and perhaps a trip by the Crazy Horse monument that has been under construction since 1947.

Mt. Rushmore and Black Hills

What a day it was!  Perfect weather today as we visited Mt. Rushmore National Memorial.  You can't help feel a bit patriotic when you're here.  We discovered that a vault exists here carved into the granite.  This 70 foot long chamber houses many engineering items, busts of famous Americans, and other artifacts about the United States placed here by the stone carver Gutzon Borglum.  It is not open to the public.  If you will recall the movie National Treasure II, Nicholas Cage found such a room at the end containing unspeakable riches belonging to America.  

After hiking up close to the President's "feet" we traveled on to Hill City for lunch at Alpine Inn.  Joy enjoyed her first and last glass of Rhubarb wine.  Following a great German lunch we headed down to the Needles Highway (SD87).  What a scenic ride with the tops off the Jeep.  My family came here more than once in my childhood.

After touring around Custer State Park we headed up several more quite scenic roads enjoying the wildlife.  At one point, Joy thought she saw a Bigfoot in the woods.  Turned out to be a trout fisherman.  We observed Big Horn Sheep, Buffalo, and a lone Antelope today.

Tomorrow we are headed for the Badlands National Park out East of Rapid City.

Yankton, S.D. - Lewis & Clark Recreational Area

May 21-22

Arrived Tuesday evening in Yankton, S.D. at the Lewis and Clark Recreational Area.  Spent the past two days under rainy and cool weather.  We toured the Visitor’s Center on the bluffs overlooking the Dam and power plant near where Lewis and Clark first met the Sioux Indians in 1804.  Did see lots of Lilac in bloom across the state as you see Joy stopping to enjoy it on a morning walk.

We enjoyed lunch at Minerva’s here in Yankton.  Our Ozark friends will fondly remember the original Minerva’s in Sioux Falls.  Took in a movie this afternoon (Star Trek) and a quiet evening at home readying for our trip tomorrow to the Black Hills.  Down along the river we did not have wi-fi or very good phone service so we're posting a day late.  It will happen again.

May 23

Departing Yankton this morning under sunny skies.  We enjoyed a quiet and uneventful trip across farm country through smaller roads until we rejoined I-90 west of Mitchell, S.D.  Joy had to stop at Wall Drug Store in Wall after seeing hundreds of signs.  Their claim to fame was free ice water back as far as 1931.  And yes there was a pharmacy but no Mr. Wall.  Across South Dakota we saw many Little Houses on the Prairie like the last picture here.  Always wonder about the story that house has of life lived, children raised, broken dreams, and life fulfilled.

We are now parked at the Rush No More RV Park in beautiful Sturgis, S. D.  Mountain Time is now the rule as we continue West.  We will be here until Tuesday morning to enjoy Memorial Day.  Watch our blog the next few days as we sightsee Mt. Rushmore tomorrow, then head out to see Wind Cave and Jewel Cave National Parks, followed by a trip to the Badlands.  And we might just through in a side trip out the Devil’s Tower, WY where that cult classic movie “Close Encounters” was filmed in part.

WE'RE OFF!

It was hard for us to believe but we are finally underway to Alaska.  Departed home this morning under clear skies.  Other than some rain showers just West of Columbia, MO the weather was dry and windy as we passed Kansas City headed North on I-29.  Our prayers go out to those folks in Kansas and Oklahoma yesterday and today.

We are settled tonight just South of Omaha, NE in the Victorian Acres RV Park.  Finished putting away some last minute additions to our supplies.  Our motorhome ran flawlessly and our Jeep was still behind us when we parked.  We plan to depart tomorrow enroute to Yankton, S.D. heading to the Lewis & Clark Historic Park on the Missouri River.  It took them from May 14th to August 30th traveling up the Missouri River on their great adventure -- just two days for us.

We had a great weekend with our daughter, son, and granddaughter Alivia.  The helped us with the final details.  We will join our life-long friends Bob and Sharon in Helena, MT about June 1st.  Leave us a comment or just enjoy the pictorial view from my new left seat.

Don and Joy

Preparations to get underway

Well, time is growing short before our departure.  We have planned this trip for almost ten years!  We have been working to gather up all the clothes, food, sporting equipment, RV parts, and oh, don't forget the RV itself.  After an Airstream, Carriage 5th-wheel, and now a Tiffin motorhome we are ready to go.

Finishing up what few reservations we need to make for the Summer it's almost time.  De-winterizing the coach, doing routine maintenance, getting our Jeep tow vehicle ready, and cleaning the house are now top priorities.

We look forward to sharing our trip with you as we travel 4,300 miles to Fairbanks, AK, then fly another 800 miles to Barrow, AK to see the Arctic Ocean, then travel 4,300 miles back home through Alaska,  Yukon Territory, Alberta, and British Columbia.

See ya' on the road!