VIRB

We had a great day today. Set out from Sioux Falls at about 8, but chase left his cell phone at the hotel so we they had to drive back. While we were waiting I went into this store to buy some buffalo jerky. Well at that time of the morning the only person in there was the owner. An eighty for year old man named Dean. I talked to him for half an hour about everything from the Constitution, Foreign/Domestic policy, and the Korean War. He was a history teacher for forty years, and I left the store with more than beef jerky.

We drove and drove across the same stuff, ate lunch at a place that advertises the "Perfect Hamburger" paid too much for a not so perfect hamburger, but spent good money on there homemade cherry cream pie.

After lunch we noticed a noticeable change in the terrain. More hills, slightly rockier. After a while it felt like there was something great just on the other side of the hills to our left. Then we finally started to see it. Canyons. We took the turnoff for the Badlands, and made our way inside the park. It was literally breath taking. We had a lot of fun exploring, climbing on the cliffs, and trying not to get blown over by the ridiculous wind. We took the long way to Rapid City and it was so very worth it. Nothing but two lane and dirt roads with amazing scenery as far as you could see. The animal were a lot of fun. In all I saw: countless birds, prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, bison, antelope, mule deer, turkey, and rattle snake. So yeah quite a trip. The pictures are awesome, but it still doesn't do it justice.

Mt. Rushmore and Deadwood on our way to Cody tomorrow.

Oh, and we are staying in the historic Alex Johnson Hotel tonight. It's big and old and haunted...goodnight.