| 9/15 |
Yankton, SD |
We drive up to the Lewis and Clark Reservoir and camped that night. We had the camp to ourselves. It rained all night, and we had to pack the tent wet.
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| 9/16 |
Interior, SD |
We drove most of the day and set up camp in the Badlands. We did a quick
driving tour of Interior and then went back to camp to enjoy the scenery.
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| 9/17 |
Badlands, SD |
We hiked 11 miles through the Badlands during the day, both on established
trails and off. Whoaa, we weren't used to that much hiking!
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| 9/18 |
Badlands, SD |
It rained on us as we packed camp that morning and we had to pack the
tent wet again.
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| 9/18 |
Badlands, SD |
We took walked the short but beautiful Door Trail at the east entrance
on our way out. This is our favorite park of the park.
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| 9/18 |
Sturgis, SD |
We then headed out for Devil's Tower. We stopped at the beautiful Black Hills
National Cemetery to reflect on the veterans that gave their lives for our country.
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| 9/18 |
Devil's Tower, WY |
We finally approached the tower about noon. You can see it for miles away.
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| 9/18 |
Devil's Tower, WY |
We hiked the short trail just below the boulder field.
There were two parties climbing down the south face while we watched.
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| 9/18 |
Devil's Tower, WY |
We did a bit of boulder climbing on the east side, but we were too sore from the
Badlands hiking to climb too far!
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| 9/18 |
Devil's Tower, WY |
We camped at the KOA just outside the park entrance that night.
The view was incredible! The next morning was COLD - 50 degrees in the tent.
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|
| 9/19 |
Spearfish, SD |
We headed out through the Black Hills towards Hot Springs.
The drive through Spearfish Canyon was beautiful.
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| 9/19 |
Lead, SD |
We stopped in Lead and toured the Gold mining museum at the entrance
to a real Gold Mine.
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| 9/19 |
Custer, SD |
The Crazy Horse memorial is not nearly finished, but you can tell what it will look like.
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| 9/19 |
Wind Cave National Park, SD |
Wind Cave National Park is beautiful. There is a lot of land and wildlife in addition
to the cave. We took a guided tour through the cave.
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|
| 9/19 |
Wind Cave National Park, SD |
Many of the pictures we took underground are too dark to do it justice.
We went 200 feet below the ground, and saw many beautiful geological features.
Our guide Jim was VERY enthusiastic!
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|
| 9/19 |
Hot Springs, SD |
After four days of camping, we were ready for a good night's sleep.
We spent the night in a hotel.
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| 9/20 |
Nebraska |
We drove home through Nebraska, stopping at Lake McConaughy for lunch, and meeting
some friends in Lincoln for an after game celebration.
We spent the night in a hotel there.
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|
| 9/21 |
Crete, NE |
We met Greg's nephew J.L. Vertin in the morning at Doane College in Crete.
J.L. teaches math and computer science there, and Greg spoke with his
introduction to computing class.
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| 9/21 |
Crete, NE |
After class J.L. gave us a campus tour. The college is very pretty.
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| 9/21 |
Overland Park, KS |
We were very happy to get home, and found that we were missed.
Erica had baked us a surprise!
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