Tuesday 6/7/22
49 degrees at 6:20 when we decide to go explore the South section of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. There is a 36 mile loop through the park, but unfortunately one section of road is closed, so we have to drive about 30 miles, then turn around and come back. The rain is intermittent and light but enough to discourage hiking.
Just a short distance from the campground, we stop to admire a herd of wild horses. They are pretty far away but we can see there are one or two foals among them.
We spot a few deer and a bison or two.
Then we come upon this antelope with what looks like a newborn! She moves off rather quickly, nudging the little one. Unfortunately I didn't have my long lens on the camera and couldn't get a good shot.
There are several exposed coal veins in the park that are slowly burning. There are signs that say not to report them as fires. All we see is steady wisps of smoke in a few spots.
More interesting layered rock formations and vistas that are hard to distinguish through the misty weather. We stop for a hearty breakfast of sausage and egg tacos at an empty Badlands Overlook. (Not much to overlook.) We've seen very few other vehicles, so feel free to run our generator to make coffee.
On the way in, the prairie dog town seemed deserted, but on the return trip the rain has quit and the prairie dogs are out and about, doing some housecleaning - moving mud? We sit and watch and listen to their chirps and whistles. I know they are rodents - but darn cute ones!
By 11AM we have sunshine. Yeah! We do a quick stop at Painted Canyon - part of the park, but on a different road, and then move on towards South Dakota and the Badlands.
Interesting road signs for driving - the first one says THINK and a little while later a sign says WHY DIE?
Miles and miles and miles of beautiful grasslands and frequent antelope sightings.
Unfortunately, within an our or so we can see banks of dark clouds in the distance and we can tell that we'll be in their vicinity before too long. We drive into heavy rain and lightning. But it doesn't last long. I think this area of the country is very prone to storms and bad weather - recalling terrible storm while camping in this area years ago.
The rain all but stops as we near Sturgis, South Dakota - the site of the huge yearly motorcycle rally. (I think it is in July, so we're good.) As we wind back roads into Sturgis we come to a short section that has substantial SNOW along the road! Must be a high spot!
Considering the rain, we decide not to try boondocking on dirt/gravel road at what is referred to as "The Wall". Instead we opt for the paved parking area at the Wall Drug complex.
Wall Drug is an American icon, with signs for miles in either direction advertising $.05 coffee, free ice water, clean bathrooms, etc. etc. It has become a shopping mecca of sorts, with many stores, places to eat and drink, animated and stuffed animals, and hundreds of "cheesy" attractions and souvenirs. (A perfect place to pick up a couple of post cards.)
This is one of a complex of buildings at Wall Drug.
We wander around for a while, then find the designated boondocking parking lot where just a few others are spending the night. Only draw back is that it is next to a railroad line - quiet, except for when these engines warms up and depart sometime in the wee hours. I didn't know it took so long to warm up!
We will be just a few miles from the entrance to the Badlands National Park in the morning!
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