South Dakota Redux

Welcome to South Dakota

We were stationed in South Dakota at Ellsworth AFB from 1976-1978 but the things we have seen here in the last week were totally new for us. We visited Mt. Rushmore then, but at that time there was just a patio area to view the mountain, no flags or amphitheater, no ceremonies. I don't remember visiting Custer City before and in those days Minuteman Missile Launch Facilities were definitely off limits. Now you can visit a museum and a missile silo that has been decommissioned since the end of the Cold War. Would never have believed it would be possible back in the day. Rapid City has grown, of course, and there are wineries and breweries here now! Bonus!

Before we got to the Badlands, there was this new sculpture of Sacajawea at the Chamberlain (SD) Rest Area on I-90. I'll bet she's beautiful at night when the lights are on.

The Minuteman Missile Site Museum...sorry about the spots; our windshield was definitely in need of a wash!

Significantly warmer weather here, but I quickly changed into cooler clothes. The Badlands National Park is awesome.

Even Willis was enjoying the view.

There's a prairie dog town here too.

We stayed at the Beaver Lake Campground and RV Park just outside Custer City. The spot we got used to have a mobile home so there was a little yard, which the dogs loved. And there were bunnies running around everywhere that the owner says stay all year. He feeds them a little in winter, but for the most part they are wild and free.

We drove up the Needles Highway in Custer State Park to Sylvan Lake. There are 3 tunnels on this route that would not have allowed our motorhome to go through.

Some wicked turns too!

This one was especially tight.

The Needle Eye

Sylvan Lake

Supposed to be an easy walk around the lake, but parts were a little tricky.

Thursday night we went to Mt Rushmore to see a lighting ceremony and tribute to our military. They showed a movie about the mountain and the presidents represented there and how they contributed to our National Park system. Then lights were shown on the faces followed by an invitation to all active duty and veterans to come to the stage to lower the flag and be introduced.

I counted 11 Air Force vets along with Army, Navy, Marines, & Coast Guard.

Unfortunately the flags were all wrapped around the poles so we couldn't get a good photo but it's an awesome display with the faces behind. I hope you are clicking on the pictures to get the full effects of them.

Friday we got up at 4:15 AM for the Buffalo Roundup. We were told the parking lot opened at 6:15 and people start lining up at 4:30. There were two viewing areas and we scoped them out the day before so we'd know where to go. We opted for the South viewing area and headed out at about 5:15...didn't want to be too early. The roundup didn't start until 9:30. But they offered a pancake and sausage breakfast between 6 and 9 so we went for it.

Pancake and sausage breakfast kept us going until the running of the bison.

We were at the South Viewing area looking across to the North. The animals would be rounded up between us.

Cowboys waiting for the roundup.

The 'Four' Presidents were in attendance.

As the morning advanced, so did the crowds shown here in the North Viewing area.

This group was reportedly part of the Governor's entourage who got a view from a higher area.

And here they come....

The herd here consists of around 1,200 head.  Very imperessive!

Into the corrals

This one was exempt.

Buffalo, of course, are a big attraction here and these guys were too. Painted with scenes of the area, and scattered around the town, they are auctioned off in the Fall as a fund raiser.

This pig wanted in on the act. It was outside the Purple Pie Place.

Tomorrow we head toward Denver then through one of the most beautiful stretches of highway, I-70 from Denver over to connect with US 50. We're getting near the end of this adventure.  Part of us wants to be home and part of us doesn't want it to end.  So we're looking for places to delay the inevitable.