Today we took a tour of South Dakota! First stop was the Badlands, a curious geologic formation in the middle of an otherwise unassuming prairie landscape. The terrain around it is absolutely flat- endless fields of grass- and then out of nowhere there appears an almost alien looking mound of jagged red hills. Walking through the Badlands, it was amazing to see how water and wind erosion carved out these formations from the plateau that existed long ago. Little streams of water already showed signs of carving new paths through the rock. After the Badlands, we headed in search of a hearty breakfast. There was no sign of it in the ghost town of Scenic. As we saw from the pile of longhorn skulls on top of the local bar, they must have already eaten all of their cows. Luckily, we found a great little bakery/coffeeshop in Hot Springs. Then it was off to Wind Cave National Park. Wind Cave is one of the world's longest and most complex cave networks. But just as important, above ground it is home to many buffalo! Unique to Wind Cave is a peculiar cave formation known as "boxwork" that formed on the ceiling and cave walls. It looks kind of like honeycomb pattern. Finally to end our day, we explored the Black Hills- a lush, rolling landscape of tree covered hills that rises above the otherwise flat landscape. Mount Rushmore was the main attraction (Ellie you better be up there someday!) but I enjoyed seeing the small towns tucked into the hills and of course, stopping into a pub for a perfect meal of home-brewed root beer, cheese curds, and burger. After a short drive through the fog to get into Wyoming (and a beautiful sunset!) we checked into the town of Hulett.
Scary!
The Badlands at sunrise
Is this still planet Earth?
Both of us at the Badlands!
Cool prairie plant
The area around the Badlands- a meeting of land and sky
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Cows need to be kept off the highway
Hello!
Maybe we'll stay the night?
Entrance fee is one longhorn skull...
Having a stay in the local prison
Beautiful
The journey continues....
Our hearty breakfast!
Buffalo and his bird friend
Into the depths
Boxwork
Cave or Beehive?
The presidents and I
Next stop Wyoming
Sunsets are hard to photograph... but beautiful!
The forests of Wyoming
Fog makes everything look better
Devil's tower- ominous
Your are such great photographers, I can see you will be providing me with a library of new screen savers, so many great ones, which to choose? I see Max did not pack a razor, is this is a new look as well?
ReplyDeleteMontana is a long ride, as I'm sure you know by now. I hope you guys were able to check out the coal mining in the Powder River Basin. It's amazing. Not sure it is a positive thing, except they supply lower sulfur coal to most of the nation and parts of Europe. I'm sure you saw the endless numbers of coal trains along the interstate. Yellowstone's Gardiner entrance is worthy, it being the original entrance and the only one that is open to cars in the winter. The park HQ is there, as well as a museum. If they've got the park vehicle collection on display that is really cool. When we were there 5 years ago they were all in a warehouse awaiting some way to display them. Inside are stagecoaches from the 1880s until gasoline engines took over and park busses from 1912 through the point when the park was opened to cars. I'm envious! Have fun! Sounds like a wonderful trip.
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