Virginia to South Dakota - Friends and Family

We've been blessed to see friends from Virginia this year. While Jeff is officially from South Dakota now, we'll count it as Virginia for this blog. Last year our stays in South Dakota only overlapped by a day. So we were happy to share a few meals and side trips this year. 

Flag Guest

Next up, we saw the Ulfer family. This is the second time we've gotten to meet up with them thanks to their Facebook posts. I'd see a post and send a message asking where their next stop would be. If they were coming close, we'd try to meet up. 

Custer State Park

Facebook brought another encounter this year. I happened to post a photo indicating Badlands National Park. Immediately I heard from friends and family. The youth group from the church in which I grew up would be passing through the area on their way to the national youth conference. We were delighted to catch up with two of our nieces and a cousin as the group visited Mt. Rushmore.  Bonus!

Family!

We make an effort to join in with our new home too. We fly our banners at the base picnic. We attend the chapel on base. We shop at the commissary and exchange. We say hello to fellow campers we met in prior years. It may be a long way from Virginia, but we are making it work.

Banner day at Ellsworth

Maybe someday we'll be considered as really from SD

Where Are We Going Next?

Wild Weather in South Dakota

As we've come to appreciate the views of those wide open prairies and grasslands in South Dakota, we've also come to a healthy appreciation of the wild weather those landscapes bring. There's a reason vehicle dealers are required by their insurance companies to have awnings over their lots. There's a reason every campground warns you to bring in your awnings when not in use. 

As I'm writing this, we are experiencing yet another wind advisory, sustained winds of 25 - 35 mph  with gusts to 50 mph. The slideout toppers are creaking and snapping. It's supposed to be like this for another three hours before tapering off. If this were at night, we'd probably bring in the bedroom slideout in an effort to cut the noise enough for us to sleep. Thus far, we have yet to experience topper fabric or window awning damage. As they age though, we'll have to keep a closer eye out. 

The photos below are from a storm earlier in the month. 

Dark clouds coming

Rain, hail

Flood water with floating hail

Speed limit for kayak or car?

Aftermath

Hail accumulation on the roof

Hail accumulation spotted the next morning

Where Are We Going Next?

Morning in the Badlands

We try to go to Badlands National Park at least once during our annual visit. Twice now we've traveled the loop road from west to east with the setting sun at our back. That golden hour glow on the surreal landscape is beautiful. This time we wanted to try a morning run. We didn't make sunrise, which occurs around 5:30 a.m. this time of year. Even so, we enjoyed seeing the sun on landscape that was in shadows in the evening. Plus, we ended our loop at Wall Drug, where Harold, as a veteran, gets a free cake donut and cup of coffee. Sweet!

"Bloom where you're planted."

The things we do for photos

Big rig boondocking in Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, next to Badlands

Where Are We Going Next?

Buffalo Jam

Soon upon our arrival to South Dakota, we purchase our annual state park pass. We know that we're going to be driving through Custer State Park multiple times. Whether we're cruising the wildlife loop or circling through Needles Highway or Iron Mountain Road, we usually allow some extra time for sightseeing. 

We were stopped a good while on the wildlife loop on one of our trips this year. It seemed the entire herd decided it was time to cross the road. Someone needs to tell them about keeping their distance! Ha! We could hear the rocks tumbling under their hoofs and hear their snorting. Sure glad we weren't on a motorcycle. Like the t-shirt says, "Don't pet the fluffy cow."

This year we had an unexpected bonus. The Ulfer family was spending the night in one of the cabins in the state park. Harold worked with Bernie on several occasions while both were at Dahlgren. We enjoyed sitting around the campfire after they had a full day of sightseeing. 

The herd

Right of way

Greener grass??

Iron Mountain Rd and distant Mt. Rushmore view

Man...fire, good!

Where Are We Going Next?

Jewel Cave National Monument

This is our third time to the Black Hills area. This time we went to visit Jewel Cave National Monument. Jewel Cave is the third longest cave in the world. Wind Cave, just down the road, is the sixth longest. I wonder if continued exploration will show a connection some day. Mammoth is the longest in case you're wondering. Of course, just about every cave tour on which we've been, the tour guide says that the cave is not fully explored. 

Unlike Wind Cave, Jewel Cave is a mix of dry and wet. It's the wet portion that provides the stalactites and stalagmites with which most people associate with caves. I think it also adds more color as minerals are deposited. 

We signed up for the scenic tour. The Wild Caving Tour requires one to fit through an 8.5" x 24" crawl space. That's not us. No refunds if you sign up and then don't fit through the test block either. Regardless of the tour, you must wear enclosed shoes. Those athletic sandals will not pass muster. Ask us how we know.

The tour has a lot of steps, 734 according to the national park service. There were a lot of ups and downs to see the different areas. We did enjoy the tour and the 49° temperature in the cave. 

There are so many things to see in the Black Hills area. It's nice to have a month to do things at a leisurely pace.  We were glad to add yet another new experience.

Lots of color

Crystals

Soda Straw

Bacon

Up...again

Where Are We Going Next?

Foosh on the Fourth

I had been eyeing the Black Hills Roundup as something to do over the Independence Day holiday. I don't particularly like late nights, and Belle Fourche (pronounced foosh) is a little over an hour away. The rodeo on the last day of the roundup is held in the afternoon. I wasn't sure I cared for being out in the heat, but we decided to go anyway.

We went early enough to watch the parade through town. Governor Noem and Lt. Governor Rhoden were near the front as well as Miss South Dakota. We both found it interesting that Belle Fourche High School had several floats of alumni classes in the parade. It's a big weekend for reunions. Horses, not tractors, took center stage in this area. We saw a couple of horse-driven stagecoaches as well as a hearse. Here's a hint for those participating in parades on a hot day. Forget the candy, go for a watergun! 

After a lunch at a local burger joint where we chatted with BFHS 1982 alumni, we headed to the fairgrounds. We had purchased front row seats for the rodeo. Oh yeah! We could hear the snorts from the horses and the thundering of the hooves. What a way to celebrate America. I can't imagine the long hours, the determination, the dedication, the falls, and the injuries it takes for these cowboys and cowgirls to do what they do. We were impressed. Chances are good that we'll be back another year. Great faces, great places - just like the South Dakota tourism advertises.

Not too many of these around unless you're in Amish country

Gotta smile!

It's a ...

Not sure who had more fun

Yep, those are real

From the parade to the arena

Team roping

Got the head, now for the two hind feet

My legs and back would not like that at all

Calf scramble...first two to return the ribbon on the tail win cash

Charro style...Tomas on Hollywood

Barrel racing

Roping

Bull riding

Where Are We Going Next?

1880 Town

Since we were staying at the  Belvidere KOA about a half mile up the road, we decided that we'd visit the 1880 Town. I'm not sure we would have visited otherwise. There certainly wasn't much else to do in the area! 

The wide, open spaces of South Dakota's prairies are really growing on me. Sometimes you can turn a full circle and not see another structure. You'll see some fences, green fields, the road, and maybe some cows and a windmill or two. I find it very peaceful. Then the wind blows, and I'm ready for some trees to block its path, albeit distant trees after the tree falling on the bus episode.

1880 town is a collection of buildings from the 1860 to 1920 period. Quite a few are authentic, moved from other locations. Others were constructed from old buildings as a part of a movie set, which is how the place got started.  The collection of artifacts in the buildings is rather prolific.

You stroll through the buildings at your own pace, spending as much or little time as you like. You can rent costumes if you like. Imagine the photo of you coming down the stairs in the hotel in your period appropriate garb. We saw a couple of folks dressed up. 

It wasn't a bad way to spend an hour or two. 

Dances With Wolves movie props

Main Street

Bank and firehouse

Emporium

Saloon

Prairie church

Harold and the train

One room schoolhouse

Schoolhouse building

Where Are We Going Next?