Bear's Lodge/Devils Tower

Thursday, June 12, 2014

A very good day. But first, we keep seeing these in fields not far from the highways. Anyone know what they are???




Didn't take us long to get to Wyoming. They were very helpful in having a lay-by for us to pull over for the requisite picture. Someone must have known Tom was coming, and he really felt special.



We stopped again when we first saw Devils Tower. Again, Wyoming had a nice little parking area for us, so John felt "moved" to take in the view.






View in Wyoming





What an awesome monument. It was a beautiful day, probably in the 70's, and we walked around for a while, admiring this magnificent structure.






This guy photobombed my friends. He was totally oblivious.





He moved, and I got a nice shot of our friends. When I saw the guy again, I complimented him on the nice bomb. He laughed.





On the way out of the park, there was another Prairie Dog Village. I begged for a stop so I could take a few more pics. What I really wanted was for one of them to climb in the car with us. Didn't happen. They kept ducking into their burrows.







Back in Deadwood, we went to the Adams House. It was the wealthiest home in Deadwood , and has a unique history. When the owner died, the widow (who was 40+ years younger) boarded up the house, moved to California, and nothing was touched in the house for over 50 years. There were even cookies in the cookie jar, and they are still there now. John wanted one, but I promised him a candy bar if he'd leave them alone.





Outside the Adams House.





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Wild Bill, Seth, and Calamity

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Yesterday, at the Crazy Horse monument, among many other items, John saw these trade beads on display.  Unbelievably, these are THE trade beads, part of the sale of Manhattan!


At our lodge yesterday, I went for a little photo walk before breakfast, and saw two adult marmots having their breakfast.



Then, I found a huge rock with lots of holes, and found 2 babies.  They let me get pretty close.





Then, on to Sturgis.  Nary a cycle in sight.  Thank goodness.  We purposely decided to avoid an August visit.


On to Deadwood, where we checked in for the next few days.   A lot like Eureka Springs in atmosphere, except slot machines everywhere you look.  And sights like where Wild Bill was shot and killed.


We went to the Adams Museum, and spent some time there.  Interesting collection of Deadwood history, and of  legends of the area.  they had an area called curiosities.  Here are a couple of unique items from there.


Yes, a fetal calf (see below).  This was about the size of a pocket dog.


After the museum, we went to the famous Mt. Moriah cemetery.    Stone-leavings, coins, and other items were prevalent among many of the graves.  Wild Bill:

Just to the right in this picture is Calamity Jane, but there is nothing to indicate it except for a plack on the wall between her and Wild Bill.  No dates, Nada.


As high as you can go in the cemetery, then another 750 feet higher is Seth Bullocks family grave.  I didn't see it in person, but luckily, some nice men from Iowa were coming back from here, and he sent me some pictures by text.  I love technology.  It probably prevented a heart attack!


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Custer and Crazy Horse

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Custer and Crazy Horse

Driving through Custer State Park, we only came upon 1 gas tank. This was before we pumped, but it WAS 3.99 per gallon. In town for lunch we saw it was 70 cents less. Supply and demand, I guess.



Needles Scenic Byway was beautiful.

















Sylvan Lake


Red winged blackbird, about the only bird call I recognize.


Baby Buffalo


Crazy Horse Monument was really very nice and interesting. Lots of things to look at, a very interesting film about the history and the making of Crazy Horse, and we really enjoyed a talk, song and dances by a Latoka grandfather, son, and grandson.









Back to Keystone and a good dinner at BarLees, with a wonderful student/waitress from Jamaica. We've met a number of people that come to places like this for the summer and work, and have discovered there is a huge market for seasonal workers. Hmmm. I wonder where I will be next summer.

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Bad Barb in Bad Lands

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Bad Barb in Bad Lands

Busy day today. We had a quick breafast at the hotel in Wall, then went to the famous Wall Drug. Not impressed. Sorry. The best thing was a donut and 5 cent coffee. Dicks 5 & Dime in Branson is a lot more interesting. However, I did get the yahoos to pose for more pictures:


























We didn't spend much time there, thank goodness. However, just across the street is the Wounded Knee Museum. Small, but good. We need to never forget. Worth walking into town for.

Then, we headed out for some REAL sightseeing, through Badlands National Park. They have had so much rain, that everything was green, and wildflowers were in bloom, as well. It was much prettier than I thought it would be.
























































We also came across a field of prairie dogs. They were awesome. I watched one in particular for a long time. Suddenly, he sat up and starred at me, let out a squeal, then dropped to the ground, paying dead. There were a bunch (herd? group?, clutch?) of smaller prairie dogs nearby, so I can only surmise this is a way to warn the others, or deflect the attention of preditors. I could have spent a lot longer watching these cute little critters.


























After the loop drive, we went south just a mile or so to Interior, and ate a very good pizza at a bar & grill. That this little town of under 100 even is there, is pretty amazing. We were the only ones there at first, but before we were done, many bicyclists had shown up, apparently a known stop on the flat road just south of the scenic loop through the National Park. Then, on to our first ghost town, Scenic. There is still a post office there, but still kinda cool.



























While in Scenic, we noticed a new business with a sign outside and a web site. It took us a long time to find the right stuff, but if you'd like an interesting story, read this: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2011/10/10/why-did-a-secretive-filipino-church-buy-a-south-dakota-ghost-town/

On to our next hotel in Keystone, SD, just a few minutes from Mt. Rushmore. This is the picture from our room balcony.









So is this, if you use the zoom on my camera.








And, at night.








Corn Palace, check
Wall Drug, check
Badlands, check
Mount Rushmore, check

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