Rapid - Day 2

(Day 2)
We had one more day as tourists and decided to head for the Badlands.  As a side note, we didn't need to stay in Rapid for 3 nights except for some really stupid airline fare pricing. We had originally planned to fly in Tuesday, take care of business on Wednesday, fly home on Thursday.  Nice sweet, in out trip, right?  It would have cost us over $1000 more to stick with that plan.  By staying until Friday, we saved over $1000.  If anyone can figure out how they price airline fares, please let me know.  If only Southwest would fly to Rapid City...

Badlands National Park is East of Rapid and in the plains area of SD.  I am so used to the "golden" fields (that would be dead/dormant grass) that you see in most of the West and Southwest this time of year that I was shocked how green SD was looking.  Maybe that's normal, I really don't know.  We were excited about going to a National Park because we got to use our Senior Passes (use to be Golden Eagle or some such nonsense) and we didn't have to pay an admission fee.  Yeah!

The short summary of our trip:  We saw cows (not fenced), buffalo (not fenced), prairie dogs, and lots of eroded soil.  It was really neat.  Here's some pictures of our day:

We didn't have the time to spend to take side trips, hikes, or much of anything else.  It was also a 103 degrees which limited our outside time as well.  We will return when the weather is a little more conducive exploring.

Despite my warning, Mary had to stop at Wall Drug on the way back to Rapid.  For those of you who have been there, need I say more?  If you haven't, don't go unless you like to visit tourist traps. 

We are no longer Crabby and how we did it

(Day 1)
Last week we finally stopped being Crabby (inevitable if you live in Maryland) and became official South Dakotins.  On July 9th, we jumped on the plane a flew to Rapid City, SD.  This was a monumental trip for me (Roger) as I finally completed something I had been working on my whole life - I have been in, stayed in, visited in, traveled in all of the 50 states.  South Dakota was the only state I had never been to.  My guess is that there are not too many people that can claim this bragging right.

By late morning of July 10th, we had everything wrapped up - new driver's licenses, library cards, etc.  It was time to become tourists for a day and a half.  

(Note the long lines at the Rapid City Drivers License bureau)

Driver's licenses in SD are pretty easy and fast.  I think it took us longer to actually fill out the form than to get the license issued.  


After getting out mail, we took off for the Black Hills and a little touring.  Heading towards Mt. Rushmore, we opted for the scenic loop around the south side with a trip to Custer State Park to visit the buffalo (herded onto a fenced summer pasture range unfortunately) and drive on more narrow mountain roads with crazy tunnels.  I've been driving in the mountains since I was a kid and enjoyed watching the flat landers ride their brakes down the mountain. These were not roads for motorhomes, btw.

(This was pretty much true for the next 8 tunnels)

(Last tunnel on the Needles Road - note the 45' tour bus just clearing the tunnel)

(Those brown dots are buffalo)

(The Needles)

(The final destination after wondering around the mountains)

After all that, we headed back to Rapid (as the locals call it) for dinner and some sleep.