Photos from Badlands and Black Hills

The Black Hills: snorting bison, begging burros, friendly goats...and ricochet golf

K: The Black Hills of South Dakota are beautiful. Data and wireless are scarce which if it weren't for this blog would be great. I feel like I am in a vast petting zoo. The bison greeted us roadside as we entered Custer State Park. Several were roaming campsites. After a visit from the bison, a herd of mountain goats toured our camp last eve. Today wild turkeys.

On the scenic Wildlife Loop Road, we spotted herds of bison, mule deer, pronghorn antelope and, of course, the begging burros. When there are three burros with their heads in your car, tongues outstretched, you know they must have been tamed by the tourists.

And, I wonder how many "campers" are golfers. We are! Got in 18 holes today at the #1 rated public course in South Dakota, Red Rock. Bringing the clubs has paid off.

V: Driving, driving to the campsite ... wait, what was that? ... House of Scandinavia in Rapid City! We are turning around! Let' s buy some ost, kaviar, og fiskeballer! Yum, yum, fish balls for dinner last eve! And bison steak on the grill tonite ... with some steamed asparagus, and, of course, a sip or two of some vino tinto el boxo. Rain coming in tonight. We will see how the girl does camping in less than perfect conditions! And how fast she can help break camp in the morning as we attempt to beat the snow due to arrive, and head to Boulder.

Day Four and Five Highlights:

Camping at Custer State Park - two nights. Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse Monuments. Wildlife Loop with so much wildlife. Needles Highway. Golf in the Black Hills.

There's nothing Bad about these Lands!

K: Live from the campsight at Badlands National Park, South Dakota. The netbook is connected to the blackberry which is serving as the modem; we have wireless. I LOVE technology! The drive across South Dakota was stunning. The prairie grassland is windswept and desolate. Interstate 90 seems to stretch on and on and suddenly the Wall of the Badlands appears almost out of nowhere. It is beautiful.



V: Finally, I get the girl to camp. And it is great so far. We have camp set up in the Badlands with the tent facing part of the Wall - surreal and beautiful, as some of you know. Nighttime temps may dip into the '40s tonight, so we will see how she fares. Off to cook dinner. The bites tonight include Knorr's Roasted Garlic, Olive Oil and Broccoli Rotini with tuna, and, of course, sips of Shiraz (from a box). Oh, and there are about 6 deer feeding right behind our campsite.



Day Four: Have traveled nearly 1900 miles. Toured the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota. Hiking in Badlands National Park, deer and Big Horn Sheep sightings. And, finally, a second windshield trauma which will result in the replacement of the windshield at some point. The travails of the open road.

Corn, corn, corn and more corn

KB: Who knew these states were so damn big? And who eats all this corn anyway? Well, there is livestock too since we saw numerous trucks filled with live pigs and turkeys on the road.

V: I haven't seen so many wind turbines in all my life. Western Iowa is a huge wind farm.

Day Three: Approx. 800 miles across most of Illinois and all of Iowa to N. Sioux City. Slight detour west of Des Moines to see three of the covered bridges of Madison County. Yes, romantic. Still no camping but a lovely Hampton Inn. And dinner from the camping food box prepared in the room at the Hampton Inn. Tomorrow - the Badlands!

Are we there yet?

KB: Nearly 600 miles across West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and halfway across Illinois. And not too much to report: a lot of highway, corn and farmland. We can't get to the West soon enough.

V: I would have been a great trucker. 300-mile bladder, and I live to drive. (Thank God, because Karen lives to ride.) But can't wait to see the Corn Palace tomorrow.


Day Two Highlights: Ritzy Lunch, Clarksburg, West Virginia - home of the hot dog with the works (loose beef, chili, onions and cheese). But for $1.50 you really can't go wrong. And yes, you can seemingly smoke anywhere in West Virginia. Curious road signs across Illinois by www.gunssavelives.com. And a Best Western in Normal, Illinois. No camping yet.

Day One: The Departure

KB: Watching the BMW being packed, the fear continues to mount.... tents, sleeping bags, cook stove, lanterns, fuel, hunting knives, food crates (yikes, food in boxes and cans), bags of GORP, coolers, etc. These are items for which I have no familiarity. I was focused on packing the essentials: netbook, blackberry, cell phone, GPS, 2 iPods, 1 iPod speaker deck, and chargers (car and regular) for each device, and, of course, the golf clubs. As the car becomes more jam packed, I am thinking about the Ritz Carlton, the Four Seasons, W Hotel.... what have I signed up for?



V: I am so in my element looking at all the gear. No boutique hotels for Karen on this trip!!!! My fine cuisine ala camp stove; no Zagats for her. The kitchen and bedroom are in the back of the car, and I love it! My main concern now is keeping her entertained during the car ride.



Day 1:

Late start. 300 miles. 1 small ding to the windshield after mile 37 - bummer. 2 sites - apple picking at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site and Gettysburg Battlefield. 1 Holiday Inn hotel, Cumberland, Maryland.