Monday August 20, 2018 Badlands National Park

MONDAY AUGUST 20, 2018     OUR TRIP TO THE BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK

On the way to the Badlands National Park we surprised the girls with a stop to see the “world’s largest prairie dog” and feed some real prairie dogs (that just happen to live next to the store that sold a bag of 10 peanuts for $1 – that’s not too much is it? Or was the store built here to stop us silly tourists who were will to buy a bag of 10 peanuts for $1???) . Here are the girls with the “world’s largest prairie dog”, who was quite willing to pose for the picture. And we thanked him. The girls LOVED feeding them. They each seemed to have their “own hole”. They would sit up and squawk if another prairie dog came too close to their hole. Protecting the home front!!! The girls got the biggest kick of one in particular that clearly had eaten many peanuts and ummm how do I say this ….. had a hard time moving around and seemed pretty content to just sit by his hole.  And in the end, each bag of 10 peanuts for $1 was well worth the money.

And off we are to the Badlands National Park. We were hardly in the park and we could not believe how beautiful it was. The sculpted spires are one of the most beautiful views in the park. We stopped at the visitors center and then to the restaurant for some lunch before we drove through the park. For some reason, the girls passed up the opportunity to have a buffalo burger for lunch, go figure.

We followed the Badlands Loop Road, which is the main road going through the park, until we reached Sage Creek Road.  Here we are at our first stop. Typical of beautiful scenery, the picture doesn’t do it justice. But it does show a proud Grandpa with his two granddaughters. 🙂

The sculpted spires.

Our “dare devil” granddaughter Evie wanted to walk on the top of one of the spires and have her picture taken. Violet wasn’t so adventurous so she stayed back. So here is Evie with Mike about as far as you could go on the path. I only went part way. Hey, someone had to take their picture. And then Mike took mine. And I don’t even look scared!!

From the Loop Road we take Sage Creek Road which is where we are supposed to see buffalo. And lo and behold there is a sign warning us of such. Violet saw one, or possibly two, buffalo off to the side in the fields. Unfortunately we lost them as we were getting closer. We think they were moving. Oh, well. The girls were thrilled to have seen the one (or two). And Violet was quite proud to be the one to find it.

Down the road a bit was Roberts Prairie Dog Town. Which translates to “a small parking area for tourists to stop and see the prairie dogs in the fields”.  Originally we thought the people were pulled over to see the herd of buffalo (next picture) but they were interested in the prairie dogs. They probably had not stopped to see the “world’s largest” on the way into the park. You could walk all over the fields where their holes were. They are cute little critters. It was really cute to see the little kids see them and get excited.

Next, and last stop, was Wall Drug. Part of it was like Vidler’s in East Aurora, many sections of the store with each having it’s own theme. There was also a “mall” part where there were other stores. We were told we should stop and check it out. So, on our list it was. Driving in South Dakota on I-90, for over 200 miles, we saw signs advertising Wall Drug. Actually there were signs in Minnesota. We counted 85 signs. And since it was down pouring we are pretty sure we did not see them all. The girls opinion is “it is overhyped”. Umm I think Mike and I agree. We almost bought a pair of cowboy boots for Violet but the didn’t have her size in the pair she liked. Very sad!!! But the girls did get pop sockets for their phones and a cigarette charger for the car (they were getting nervous as their phones were almost dead!!!! AAAAAAHHHHH, we can’t have that!!)

Back to the motorhome. And yes, another game of Kwixx. And yes, I am bragging, I won again!!! Woohoo, go Grandma!!!

Violet keeps saying she will help with the post “tomorrow”. Hopefully one of these posts I’ll get her to post.

Till tomorrow!! And for a teaser, tomorrow we go horse back riding!!! Wish us luck!!!

Love to all. Dona