Yesterday was quite a busy day. We visited Bear Country USA, which is a drive thru wildlife park. We saw Arctic wolves, wolves, coyote, buffalo and both black and grizzly bear. I am just fascinated with the bear, they were all over the place. We were really lucky they opened for the season at 8:00am and we were there about 8:15. Things are looking up. It was only flurrying, but there was a high wind warning.
We found a bagel shop here in Rapid City, Marty was so excited. I know a long way to go for a bagel, but what the heck.
After breakfast we headed to Mt. Rushmore via the Needles Highway (thanks Andy for the tips on Bear Country and Needles Hwy), anyway, as we drove aroound a bend, there it was, we were both speachless, what a sight! It just appeared in the sky, incredible. Of course then we drove to the monument itself. What a work of art.
From there we drove to Badlands National Park. What a ride that was. It is hard to believe that we were on the same planet. We did a loop (scenic) ride around the park. We took a short walk down a trail, but is was really really windy so we ended up back in the van.
It was getting late, so we decided to head towards a state park that we wanted to visit, Custer State Park. On the way, we stopped in a little town called Wall, we walked around a little, just to stretch. The road to the park was a blast, it was one of those roads with the whoop-de-whoop humps. It felt like a roller coaster (or what I imagine a roller coaster to feel like since I don't ride them). They manage to hide them so you don't know exactly when they are coming up. Since the speed limit was 70 and the road was ours.....I laughed until I cried and I caught Marty doing the same. When we got there the timing was perfect, it was dusk, so we took the wildlife scenic loop thru the park. Saw more mule deer and lots of buffalo, we saw what we think was a pronghorn, but he was on the move and wouldn't stand still for a picture. We also came across some wild burros, one was much more cooperative, he stood still and posed for what seemed like 5 minutes.
It was dark by now so we headed to find a room. We couldn't find anyplace to eat, so we pulled out our camping food, which I am glad we had. I ate peanut butter and jelly yummy. Marty ate a sardine sandwich, yuk.
There are a couple of parks we wanted to visit today, but I don't know the weather is supposed to be snowy and windy again today. Somebody, anybody please turn the switch and let them know it's spring.
I know that it isn't quite the season for parks and all but I can't believe that these beautiful parks are so empty. People don't know what there missing! It seems to be mainly the state parks. Especially when we were in New Mexico, they were closing all but about 17 of the state parks.
For some reason my connection here isn't allowing me to publish pictures, so you will have to use your imagination for now.
On the road again.......
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