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Smokey Mountain National Park, Newfound Gap

Number of Visitors

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Hot times in the Black Hills (Keystone SD)

 

Here we are sitting in our Home after a hard day of driving through Custer State Park.  It’s hard work but someone has to do it.

Let me back track, since I have not Blogged for a while and I do not want any more complaints from you know who, H & K!

Thursday August 11

Mitchell SD:  After the excitement of the previous night’s thunderstorm. we took a day off torest.  On Saturday, we decided to tour Mitchell.  If you look up Mitchell, SD you will see that their claim to fame is the Corn Palace.  The walls are covered by specially grown corn to make Murals inside and out.

Corn Palace - Mitchel SD (1)Corn Palace - Mitchel SD (3)Corn Palace - Mitchel SD (4)Corn Palace - Mitchel SD (6)Corn Palace - Mitchel SD (7)Corn Palace - Mitchel SD (8)

Now that is really “Corny”.  Get the pun, folks?

After that we went to the Ancient Indian Archeological dig.  It is an Indian village approximately 5000 years old.  Now that was interesting.

Indian Arch Dig- Mitchel SD (1) - CopyIndian Arch Dig- Mitchel SD (3) - CopyIndian Arch Dig- Mitchel SD (11) - CopyIndian Arch Dig- Mitchel SD (12)Indian Arch Dig- Mitchel SD (13)

We then tried to go to the McGovern Library, but it was closed.  So no pictures.

We left Mitchell, SD on Sunday and went to the Badlands.

Sunday August 14

We arrived at a small campsite on Indian land after driving back and forth trying to find the entrance.  Turning around on these back roads pulling your home in back of you is not fun.  Backing a 36ft 18,000 lbs. camper to turn around, is a challenge.  But we did it.

After we arrived we went to the visitor’s center.  Note to all.  When going to any National Park, always go to the Visitor's Center first.  They are very well done, full of information about the park and the park Rangers are very knowledgeable and friendly.

The first night we went on a nature walk where the Ranger explained all of the plants in the park.  Being from NYC, and having no idea about plants, most of it was over my head.  But we enjoyed it anyway.

The next day we toured the Badlands Park.

That evening we went for a night time star watch.  Let me tell you, there are stars in the sky.  Being from NYC, it is hard to tell.  Although the night we were looking up it was a full moon so not all of the stars were visible.  We got to see the Space Shuttle pass by overhead twice, along with many other bright stars.  They had 3 telescopes setup that we could look through, along with an interesting and knowledgeable presentation.  No pictures, too dark.

The next day we headed for the Black Hills, where we are today.  Today we toured the Custer State park.

 

This one I call Penis Rock.  I don’t think that is the real name, just my twisted view of a rock.

Black Hills Custer State Pk (30)

See you down the Roan Road…

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