Devil's Tower, Wyoming

Native American legend has it that seven sisters were running from a bear. The bear chased them and chased them, the girls came upon a large rock and all jumped on and started praying to the rock god to spare their lives. The rock began to rise higher and higher and the bear clawed at the rock trying to reach the girls, leaving giant claw marks on the side of the formation. Today Native American tribes still worship Devil's Tower, and honor the rock god. The seven sister is what makes up the Ursa Major, the Big Dipper, in our solar system. The formation is massive, walking on the path around Devil's Tower it is easy to imagine it protruding out the ground. Geologically there is still debate on how the formation came to be, one argument suggests it is what is left of a once explosive volcano. Look really close at the picture below to see a climber (he is wearing a bright orange shirt). We saw about 4 climbers and one reach the top. Binoculars are fun to take making it easier to see the climbers and the old rope and stake ladder still hanging on the formation from someone first climbing it is 1937.

       

Sundance, WYO

Who knew?? Sundance Wyoming is actually named after Sundance Kid.

Chris says I look a little to comfortable in the slammer.

I'm still here...

Thank you to all of my faithful readers that have been patient with me!! There is a lot to share and I will be updating my blog soon. I am back posting, so keep checking below for updates. Thanks for checking in.

Oil Change

Full Service Gas Stations Still Exist

Spearfish Canyon, SD

Leaving Belle Fouche mid-morning we drove Spearfish Canyon. The Spearfish and Little Spearfish River flow with the road approximately 15 miles to Cheyenne Crossing where there is a store and cafe. We didn't eat at the cafe but it looked charming and busy with customers. There is an veranda outside covered with umbrellas and nice facilities out back for a potty break. After stretching our legs we jumped in the truck and headed back down the canyon to get our oil changed in Belle Fouche.

The Playground

So we wanted to get close to the boarder of  South Dakota so we could cross into Wyoming the next morning, we chose the town of Belle Fouche for the night. We have stayed in some beautiful places for little or no money but I have to say this was one of a kind. An old high school. We didn't see the owner, Windell, until the following morning. He told us he had bought the school at an auction about 15years ago. Windell said, "I tell my friends we just live in a classroom until we trash it then we just move to the next, we still have plenty of classrooms to go, so...,". He turned out to be nice man that had traveled, and camped all over the place and made some suggestions for our route. Windell's current  endeavor is mining for gold with some partners, they bought a plot of land and have been in the process of getting permitted to mine. He told us that there was so much land still not touched, that had gold, in and around the area. Maybe we'll just buy a plot of land in South Dakota:)

:)

Custer State Park, SD

Covering 114-square miles Custer State Park is a must visit when traveling through South Dakota. There are campgrounds, general stores, an awesome visitors center, covered wagon and jeep excursions, and of course wild life. The park is made up of Needles Hwy, Wildlife Loop, Iron Mountain Road. We visited a non-denominational church on Sunday that is put together by young people that work in the park, and supported by a non-profit organization. The organization provides young people with funds, supplies, and training so that they are more equipped when sharing Christ with others. Church was held in a small chapel, we sat on wooden pews, there was a piano and two girls, a little younger than me who lead the service. After church we went back to our campsite at Wheels West and ate breakfast at their charming cafe. All the locals eat at the cafe, so it is a great place to meet and talk with them. Sunday morning was packed for breakfast, as you can imagine, and we were seated at a table with a two other couples to save room. We talked and shared, and learned more about the people who lived in and around Custer. Finishing up breakfast and paying our tab we went back to the camper and packed up, we then drove for the rest of the day. We drove the Needles Hwy and Wildlife Loop, spotting bison walking up the middle of the road, and driving by a bison so close that I could have touched him. All the pamplets you receive and signs say do not feed or approach the wildlife, especially not the buffalo, but when we saw these bison on the street, cars were stopped people were walking right up to there faces taking pictures. We were giving them their space, but I took a picture from up the road because I was just sure something would happen if I didn't have the camera ready. Nobody got hurt, and I hope their luck continues, not following rules in state and national parks that have been preserved for our nations education and enjoyment is not something I take kindly too. I feel it is just plain disrespectful. O.K. so I'll get off my soap box. And tell you that Needles Hwy was an extremely entertaining drive on tiny two lane roads, we had to pull over for motorcycles to pass by, roads spiraling higher and higher with no ground beneath. We knew there would be tunnels, and tunnels there were, our width and height was just barely sufficed to get through!! They were short in length, one lane tunnels so there were cars lined up taking turns on going through. One tunnel we went through was 9ft. 4in. wide, and eleven feet high. I giggled in sarcasm when Chris asked me if I could touch the wall out my window...hehe, yes of course I could touch it, touch it with my arm bent. Wondering if your going to make it, going so slow, the intensity, coming out on the other side makes you feel so alive!! 

Wheels West Campground, Custer SD

Lovely people, delicious breakfast, beautiful location, and an opportunity to talk with locals.

General Custer camped on Wheels West land in 1874. There is a historical marker and a collection of artifacts in the front office/cafe. Locals know if your in a rush don't bother visiting the cafe. They are proud to take their time and there are several signs that get the point across. 

My Favorite Sign:

"All rush orders now taken by Helen Wait,

so if you are in a rush, go to Helen Wait".

ART Bison

These buffalo were spotted all over the old west town of Custer. I enjoyed looking at the art work and couldn't help but photograph some of them as well.

1880 Train Ride

All Aboard! Jumping back in time we waited outside the depot for the steam engine to arrive. The blow of the whistle sent a surge of excitement through the line, lighting everyone's faces. Departing Hill City Depot, we waved 'bon voyage'. We road the 1880 train for a hour to Keystone, enjoying sites and stories of history. Locals and campers waved from their business, campsites, and cars. One special wave was to a man named John. He is a retired railroad conductor that ran the 1880 train for some 40years, and built a cabin with a view of the railroad. He sits out mostly every day watching the train pass by, the train makes 4 runs nearly every day. John was sitting on his front porch waving the old 1880 wave, while his wife stood at the screen door. The crew members walk up the aisle selling popcorn, and beverages, and we purchased a little history book on trains, for $3 as a keepsake, a picture of our conductor Joe printed on the front. Reaching Keystone Depot we had 15min. to stretch our legs, and while I was in the ladies room Chris got Joe to autograph the front of the book for me. After Joe moved the engine to the front of the train we departed heading back to Hill City.

Rushmore

Hearing and seeing pictures of Mount Rushmore, growing up, in school books and history class makes you wonder if it will still be as awesome to you when you finally get to see it in person. Anticipating it makes you wonder, but we were not disappointed. We went to Rushmore mid afternoon, driving up the twisting road, looking out as far east as you can see (where we had just traveled from), and before you know it there it is, the faces peering out into the beyond. Each face with its own personality, each president looking his own direction. Entering the memorial, flags fly from every state of our nation. After walking on the paved path, Presidential Trail, around the monument we decided to take our own path, hiking down some old cement steps we climbed some rocks, and got a view less seen. Chris and I tried our hardest to get around to the back of Mount Rushmore but it was FEDERALLY CLOSED to the PUBLIC, signs everywhere. We had hopes of finding the supposedly unfinished Hall of Records, but we did not succeed this time. Making our way out to the Skamper, we had about an hour and a half until the night lighting ceremony, that a lot of people had told us, don't miss, so we made some dinner and reentered the park. Before finding a seat in the amphitheater we walked into the gift shop to find a man, special guest of the night, that was one of 400 men that worked, chisseling away, on the construction of Mount Rushmore.