Into North Dakota

We have been in South and North Dakota so WiFi has been far and few between so here is an update from the road. We first spent a week in Custer State Park in western SD. It is big park with the second largest bison herd in the states. We saw lots of bison, Prong Horn Antelope, Mule Deer, wild Burros and Big Horned Sheep. The campground was small and very nice and quiet after the crowds off Yellowstone. We did a 4-mile bike ride and a 6-mile hike, right from our campground, to a lovely lake on our ‘rest’ day.

We did a day trip to Wind Cave National Park. The cave is totally different than Jewel Cave as it is a dry cave so it doesn’t have all the water-formed features. It is best known for its box formations and it is a long narrow cave with out  big rooms so you really feel like you you are in a cave. Very nice tour and ranger guide.

We did another day trip to see The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, SD. We really didn’t know much about this when it was recommended in the campground, but it is amazing! They discovered this site with a bulldozer making a new subdivision in 1974 when they struck a mammoth tusk. Fortunately they stopped construction and  called an expert and they have found over 60 mammoths and other skeletons including a rare Giant Short Faced Bear. They theorize the animals fell into a sink hole and couldn’t get out. The bones are not petrified so they have left rock around them to hold them together for display.

Another day we revisited Mount Rushmore and went to Keystone which is a typical town outside a national park so think tourist shops and lots of motels and restaurants. We  were actually looking for the Holy Terror Miniature Golf and it lives up to its name being on several levels with steps and impossible holes. Looks of fun and a good day off.

On Saturday we left SD and went to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Southwest ND for three nights. It is mostly bad lands but the was quite striking in its ruggedness. We did lots of hikes and driving on scenic roads in the park. One hike was through a Prairie Dog town, yes that’s what they call them, with thousands of dogs. They will sit on their hill and yip at you to warn their group of impending trespassers. It was quite noisy but fun to watch.

We are on our way to Duluth to see the Lake Superior Railroad Museum and take the North Shore Scenic Railroad ride. More later…