Day 76

Old West Towns and Sights

Jul 21, 2013, 8:30 PM

We are off to see some old west type things and other stuff along the way. We are going to go to a town that is supposed to be exactly like it was in the 1880's. It's called 1880 Town and it was cute. We had a good time walking around looking at all the different buildings. After 1880 Town we wanted lunch and we found a place that wasn't very good, but what the hell. After lunch we went to the Petrified Garden, oh my gosh, that was just a total rip off. There were petrified rocks allright, but they were just tossed around a fenced in yard and the grass needed to be cut. There was nothing to it. We were disappointed, but again what the hell. Then on to the Prairie Dog Ranch. Well we did see prairie dogs. As you're going in they say you have to feed the prairie dogs only their special prairie dog food. So Steve went to get me some. God I love this man, he's so indulgent. The "ranch" was another fenced in yard, but at least there were so many prairie dogs, and they did come out for the special food, which were unsalted, in the shell, peanuts. That was fun we fed them and I got plenty of photos. 

All of this pales by what came next. We drove through the Badlands and it was so spectacular. I have NEVER seen anything like this. There were grassy fields and then either rocks would jut up out of the ground or the ground would just fall away and turn into caverns and canyons. We saw wildlife in several locations. That was really exciting. Steve spotted a ram that was so far off on a crazy rock outcropping. I don't know how he saw it. Also I can't imagine how cowboys and pioneers and the Indians were ever able to find their way through the Badlands. There are twists and turns that open up into more twists and turns, that lead into canyons and go nowhere. How could they do this in an era before GPS and prior to the area being mapped; I can't fathom it. When I looked over edges I was looking to see if there might be a covered wagon that was just wandering around still trying to find their way out. It was just stunning and I could go on and on, but the photos will speak for themselves. I tried to go through some of the photos so I could get the blog out, but oh my gosh I have so very many photos to go through. I may have to suspend the blog just so I can process photos. 

Tomorrow is our day at Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse. I think it will be a late night getting back so there will probably be no blog. You all have a wonderful evening and I'll check back in on Tuesday at the latest. I almost forgot, Kim I found a face in the rocks just for you. Actually I didn't see it till I saw the pictures.