Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Our plans for today didn't go quite the way we expected. So, we adjusted and ended up having a very pleasant adventure. Our original agenda had us attending church at a small LDS branch in Phillips, SD. However, once we got to the address shown on the web site, we found a funeral home. Who know where the chapel is! The town is super small; a population of 779 people. (That's less than the student body at Skipcha!) We drove around a bit; found the school, a small hospital, the post office and another denominational church. But, not the LDS chapel.  Anyway, there was a local grocery store in the town and we were running low on fruit, veggies, bread, and milk. We decided to make a quick stop, only to discover that food in a small, South Dakota town in OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive. We bought the minimum; in hopes of finding a Wal-Mart somewhere down the road.

On our way back to the campground, we were almost taken out by a massive piece of farm equipment! We were enjoying the drive through the grasslands and had just driven into a curve when a truck pulling a HUGE harvesting attachment came driving toward us... in the middle of the road. Luckily, the shoulder was (barely) wide enough for me to pull quickly to the side. CrAzY!!!

After we ate lunch, we had intended to go to the Minutemen Missile Silos for the afternoon; but, found out they are closed on Sunday. We opted to take a drive through Badlands National Park and then make a trip over to Wall Drug. On our way into the park, we found another roadside oddity; a giant prairie dog!

This big guy is right outside the east entrance to Badlands.

We were pleasantly surprised to discover that today is the 103rd Birthday of the National Parks System! The ranger working the front gate informed us that it was a no fee day because of that. Of course, we would have gotten in free with our Lifetime Pass. The rangers were serving birthday cake and ice water at one of the visitor's centers. Fun!!

The park wasn't too horribly crowded. We only stopped at trail heads where the parking lot wasn't crowded. We did a tiny bit of walking on trails because Ron isn't quite up to it; but, we enjoyed what we managed to do. 

Ron and I on the Window Trail.

Walking out Window trail.

LOVE the boarded walkway. It made it so much
easier for Ron to walk out there.

The view from the window is breathtaking.

There was very little traffic through the park and we were able to stop on several pull outs and get some great pictures.  Even though the landscape is super harsh; I really love this park. The stark contrast between the park and the land surrounding it simply amazes me. There was a wild flower blooming that filled the entire park with the most amazing smell; earthy with a hint of sage.

This picture doesn't quite do the massive size of
the park justice. But, looking at the car in distance
helps give you an idea of what the drive through the
park is like. 

One of the last pictures I took on the way out of the park.

Just past this area, the land turns back into grasslands.

Here, the peaks are much more rounded.

Sort of a gentle goodbye; come again soon!

On our way out of the park, we saw several prairie dog towns and managed to get a few pictures at one of them. They are such cute little animals; always busy and curious.

We ended the day with a stop at Wall's Drug. It's one of those places you have to visit at least once in a lifetime. I've been twice now; don't plan on making a special trips to see it again. I did find a little chapel in the complex that I hadn't seen on my last trip there. I made Ron come inside with me and said, "There. Now at least we can say we've been in church today."

                                   

Ron really wanted to see the Jackalope and we managed to find it. Then, we bought a few post cards some T-shirts then were ready to leave. It really is a huge tourist trap; but, a must see if you are driving through South Dakota. Oh, and I did get a pound of yummy fudge!

Look. It's Ron... talking to a complete stranger.
Surprised? Nope.

A unique place with an interesting history. Worth the stop...
especially if you are into shopping.

Tomorrow, I think we are heading out to Spearfish and Deadwood with a possible side trip to Sturgis. But who knows! Our plans might change again. That's the nice thing about being retired. We can do whatever we want!