We left Winner, South Dakota at 8:40 this morning under clear skies. (So far we have been very lucky with the weather). Two hours of driving through farm land and cattle ranches brought us to a very different landscape at Badlands National Park. We spend 1 1/2 hours driving through this amazing rugged terrain. Amazing!!
Exiting Badlands National Park, we drove into Wall, South Dakota, a real tourist trap and home of the famous Wall Drug Store. We ate lunch at the Cactus Cafe across the street, then braved entering the famous store. You can buy anything and everything in their various specialty sections. There was even a Traveler's Chapel. We must say - the ice cream at the side fountain was delicious! We then toured the Wounded Knee Museum, which was very interesting and moving.
By 3:30, we were in the Black Hills National Forest. It was a beautiful drive through the pines and winding roads. But our favorite part of the day was driving Needles Highway in Custer State Park. Awesome granite formations rising high above ground level. Many one-lane tunnels through the granite. We saw deer, goats, and pronghorns that resemble antelope.
After checking into our room at the Econolodge and dinner at BaRLee's in Keystone, we attended the after-dark show at the amphitheater of Mt. Rushmore. A video talk about the four presidents carved in the mountain. Then, as America the Beautiful is sung, the spotlights gradually enlighten the famous sculpture. A beautiful way to end an amazing day. Thank you, Micki and Dave, for recommending it.
We took LOTS of pictures today. I will try to publish some on this blog when the are down- loaded from the cameras and I am not so exhausted!
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