Monday, September 16, 2013

The Badlands

We departed Steel Wheel RV Park heading down, down, down to Deadwood and up, up, up to I-90 at Sturgis.  Never did go to Sturgis, oh well. Next stop Wall Drug about 82 miles east.

Wall is now a destination rather than a stop.  There is at least a three-block area will all types of shops and museums.  We ate at Wall Drug and Tom was the only one to try a buffalo burger.

Wall DS map

Map of the Wall Drug Complex

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Jim cozying up for a photo op.

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Inside Wall Drug

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Animatronic tyrannosaurus.

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In a weak moment we were talked into posing on this Jackalope

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Tom was not interested in this lovely lady.

Wounded Knee Museum

In December of 1890, American soldiers massacred 90 unarmed Lakota men and 200 women and children using something similar to a Hotchkiss gun much like a Gatling gun. If that was not appalling enough, the government handed out at least 20 Medals Of Honor to Soldiers.

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One of the many first-hand accounts of the massacre on display in the museum

 

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Sherry is afraid of snakes.  We thought it would be fun to have her pose by this sign.  Did not see any snakes at all.

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A herd of Bighorn Sheep

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Discovered this big guy close by the road.

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We went to the Ranch Store on Hwy 240 where you can feed the prairie dogs peanuts.  We all had a good time.

Prairie Homestead, Cactus Flats, SD

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Sometimes you do goofy on vacation.

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White prairie dogs at Prairie Homestead

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Inside a soddie

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I hope this guy has his Sears Roebuck Catalog

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Badlands

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Our Badlands campground

We called to make reservations and when we arrived 94 year-old, Jesse greeted us and ushered us to our sites.

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We are rock-hounding on designated forest service land.

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We each have a sack of rocks.

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Jim climbed up this mound to take a picture. It was actually pretty difficult to get town without taking a tumble.

 

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