July 24, 2021 – Rapid City, SD

 

Sat, July 24

We left Jackson, MN, and pointed the bus west on I90. Out target today is Hart Ranch RV Camping Resort in Rapid City, SD. This resort is a membership RV Resort however we were able to stay by taking a sales tour. The membership is quite tempting but we decided Rapid City is too far away from our Florida home to take full advantage. At least for now. …

 

Sun, July 25

Sunday we drove to Deadwood, a town that in 1876 played by its own rules that attracted outlaws, gamblers and gunslingers along with the gold seekers. The town is full of western gold rush history and is overrun with casinos and bars; probably just like in its heyday. It definitely has the vibe of a party town. We looked into taking a tour but they were all open air and the temperature was in the 100’s so we elected to walk Main Street for a short and then headed to Devil’s Tower. The tower is a rock formation that juts up 867 feet from its base. It is not uncommon to see climbers due to its hundreds of parallel cracks. It is considered sacred by indigenous people of the Great Plains and Black Hills.

 

Mon, July 26

Monday saw us in the Black Hills on Needles Highway as we traveled to Mount Rushmore. Needles Highway, lying in Custer State park, is a National Scenic Byway completed in 1922. The road winds through tall granite structures and forests and takes you through several tunnels; Needles Eye being the most popular. On Iron Mountain Road we could see the “faces” of Mount Rushmore framed by several tunnels.

We arrived at Mount Rushmore National Memorial and viewed the majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Although the weather was warming we enjoyed the 60 foot sculptures of Gutzon Borglumwho created the sculpture’s design and oversaw the project’s execution from 1927 to 1941 with the help of his son.

 

Tue, July 27

We hit the trail early taking I90 East to Wall, SD, near our approach into the Badlands National Park. We entered at the Pinnacle entrance and began the 39-mile loop taking dirt and paved roads to the many overlooks. Each stop was like stepping into a different world with granite buttes and spires shaped in many configurations and colors created by deposition 75 million years ago and erosion 500,000 years ago. Even though the temps hovered at 107 degrees we enjoyed the park immensely.

Badlands Slideshow

 

Wed, July 28

We checked out of Hart Ranch and moved a few miles up the road to Happy Holiday RV Resort for our remaining 2-days in the Rapid City area. We spent the day catching up on o “admin” stuff.

 

Thu, July 29

Today we go back to Custer State Park famous for its bison herds, wildlife, scenic drives, historic sites, visitor centers, fishing lakes, resorts, and campgrounds. This is a beautiful park with grasslands and granite spires and roads with carved-out-of-granite single lane tunnels.

Custer State Park Slideshow

 

Fri, July 30

We  turned south, the left side of our summer journey, if you will, and look forward to visiting with family and friends in the Denver area. We will spend 1-night in Wheatland, WY on our way to Colorado.

 

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