The Green Black Hills and the Good Badlands

It's one thing to fly across the country in four or five hours to appreciate its vastness.   Driving takes it to a whole new level.  So far, we've covered only 2,015 miles from Salem to Rochester, MN, and we are in awe, especially today, Independence Day.  One of the songs on our play list as we crossed into the verdant prairie of Minnesota was the Boston Pops' rendition of "American the Beautiful."  So appropriate, beautiful, and emotional.  It should be our national anthem.  

Devils Tower Ntl Monument

After our first night in Umatilla with friends, we traced part of the Lewis & Clark trail over the Lolo Pass, MT, where we camped.  It took nearly two days to get across Montana and NE Wyoming, but it was beautiful every inch of the way.  

We must return and spend more time there!  South Dakata, especially the western part, was a delightful surprise.  We were expecting sagebrush, sand, and desolation.  Instead, we were wowed by lush greenery, majestic scenery, and unbelievably friendly people.  

In the Wind Cave NP & Custer Area

We spent four nights in a rustic and beautiful campground in the 73,000 acre Custer State Park, and it wasn't enough. One or two weeks would have been more appropriate.  We rode part of the George S. Mikelson rail-to-trail,  We saw Crazy 

       

 saw the Cazy Horse Monument (from a distance on the trail), saw lots of bison, 

toured one of the longest and unusual caves in the world at Wind Cave National Park, 

Inside Wind Cave

Cave formations in the rock before the cave was formed

saw Mt. Rushmore, drove the Needles Highway and hiked in the granite cathedral-like spires.

                                 

The Needle

One of the tunnels on the Needles Highway

Heading East past Rapid City and the kitchey Wall Drug, the stunning Badlands arose from the desolate prairie.  They weren't the Badlands, they were the Greatlands!

The Minuteman National Monument and interpretive center was right afterward.  Built on the site of a former nuclear missile silo, it reminded us of what it was like growing up in the Cold War and how much danger we still face in a highly-armed world.  

As the SD license plate tagline says, "Great faces, Good places."  We couldn't agree more!  Plus the people, roads, and rest stops are good, too.

After a long day, we found one site in a crowded RV park near the Missouri river and a Lewis & Clark campsite.  We were treated to a parade of decorated golf carts and ATVs from the residents who spend their entire summer there.  All in all a good day, and a nice trip so far.