Day 28 Custer State Park, Black Hills National Forest, Mt Rushmore, Rushmore Caves

June 16

Custer State Park, Black Hills National Forest, Mt Rushmore, Rushmore Caves

Happy Father’s Day!  Marg & I took the guys for breakfast to start our day at the Chuckwagon, KOA.  After a full tummy we headed to Custer State Park.  We did the Custer State Park and Mt Rushmore loop, 67 miles.  The exciting part of this road are the tunnels, there are 6 of them.  The smallest one being 8’4”w x 12’6”h which we crept through so the mirror of the truck didn’t touch and the widest tunnel 14’w x 12’9”.  One tunnel is blind.  Someone needs to get out of the vehicle to make sure no one is coming.  People stand and watch as you drive through the tunnel by what they call the “Needle’s Eye”.   

 

Mt. Rushmore next stop.  It is already buzzing with people.  We stopped in the museum and in the theater we watched a short video on the vision and creation of Mt. Rushmore by Mr. Borglum; mostly done with dynamite!!  It took over 400 workers 14 years to complete.  Amazingly enough, no one died!  Mt. Rushmore has so many visitors they keep improving and adding to the attractions. 

The Walk of Flags

 Caves are another Black Hills attraction.  We toured through Rushmore caves.  Our tour guide explained the rock formations and for the most part we were able to walk up right.  A few tight spots, skinny and low.  The tunnel we were taken through was about ½ mile long.

 

Next to continue with the Black Hills loop from Keystone, 3 of the 6 tunnels and hair pin turns, and cork screw bridges made of wood or otherwise called braided bridges.  Oh yes there is a sign, no RV’s, buses or vehicles over 21 feet.  At the Norbeck Overlook Mt. Rushmore is visible.

 

 
I must comment that everyone around here (South Dakota) is very polite and everyone says hello! 

Daily Stats: 
Today's distance: Bogaert’s turn to tour 
Weather:  Sunshine with clouds; High: 24 degrees; Lo: 10 degrees
Diesel Price: $3.679 in Custer City $3.24 gallon for gas
Wildlife:  Bison, prairie dogs, marmot, deer & pronghorn
Campsite:  Custer/Mt Rushmore KOA in Custer City
Walking:  6 km

Day 27 Devil’s Tower, WY to Custer City, SD

June 15

Devils Tower to Custer City, SD

Leaving Wyoming and heading into South Dakota.  First though, I had to run to the post office to mail some post cards (post office right at the KOA entrance).  On the road again we took the scenic route Hwy 24, rolling hills and red shale rock in the hill sides.  To confuse things, once you cross over a state line the highway number changes, we are now on 34.  The other dramatic change we noticed are the houses are very nice and well kept.  First stop Sturgis, known for its motorcycle rally.  There was a rally going on but it was farm tractors lined up on main street and children's games.  Sturgis, the town, is celebrating its 125^th anniversary.  Sturgis will be holding its 73rd annual Harley/motorcycle rally in August.

A short distance is Deadwood.  They were hosting Buffalo Bill Days.  Main street was blocked to vehicle traffic and a band stand set up in the middle of the street.  We spent the afternoon walking up the street and back looking at all the old buildings.  If we hadn’t prebooked our campsite in Custer City we would have stayed in Deadwood.

 

  Bill Hickok made an appearance

The drive from Deadwood to Custer City was interesting.  Old buildings, old cars, driving over a reservoir dam, and driving by an old train museum and train rides in Hill City.  Arrived at our campsite in time for dinner and then ice cream for $1 at the registration office.  Walked around the campsite and caught a glimpse of the critters living under the cabins. 

Baby bunnies

Daily Stats: 
Today's distance: 368  km 
Weather:  Sunshine; High: 21 degrees; Lo: 16 degrees
Diesel Price:  Sturgis $3.899
Wildlife:  Deer, Red Wing Blackbirds, and bunnies
Campsite:  Custer/Mt Rushmore KOA
Walking:  5 km
Sports Event:   Boston over Chicago in O/T 2 - 1
 
South Dakota Stats:
Flower:  American Pasqueflower
Bird:  Ring-wrecked Pheasant
Insect:  Honey Bees

Day 26 Devil's Tower National Monument

June 14

Devil's Tower National Monument

A gorgeous day to wander around Devil's Tower.  It is a 2 mile drive from the park entrance and there is a fee.  We purchased an annual pass for $80 which is good for all national parks and monuments.  Once at Devil’s Tower there is a small visitors/info centre.  We chose the 2 mile trail around the base of the tower.  Up close and personal.  What made it interesting walking around, were the rock climbers, 3 pairs at different parts of the tower and heights.  The tower is 865 feet above ground level. 



We spent a relaxing afternoon at the campsite while John and Marg drove to Hulett 10 miles away.   I finally got the chance to ride my new bike around the campsite.  Laundry done too.  We turned on the air conditioning in the RV for the first time.  After dinner we walked across the street to the shops and for a Sarsasparilla.  We walked back into the park and to Prairie Dog Town, a mile from our campsite.  The field on both sides of the road is covered with prairie dog homes.  There is a state campsite in the park near Prairie Dog Town which has no services except a bathroom; $12 per night.  Actually not a bad campsite if you don't want any services.

Look up, way up!

  

Daily Stats: 
Today's distance: 10 km 
Weather:  Sunshine with clouds; High: 28 degrees; Lo: 15 degrees
Wildlife:  Deer, prairie dogs lots
Campsite:  KOA Devil’s Tower
Walking:  5 km

Day 25 Ranchester, WY to Devil’s Tower, WY

June 13

Ranchester, WY to Devil’s Tower, WY

Today we started north back into Montana to Little Bighorn Battlefield.  We spent about 2 hours walking around the memorials, listening to a Park Ranger on the events leading up to the massacre, and went through the museum/visitor centre.  The battle took place June 25, 1876.

Markers where Custer & 7^th cavalry men fell

We stopped at a road side pull out for a quick lunch then heading south east to keep ahead of the thunder clouds building behind us.  The rocks and hillsides are a red shale, interesting color.  We stopped to check our map in Alzeda just before crossing into Wyoming at Stoneville Saloon with a sign “Cheap drinks” “Lousy Food”.  We almost went in to check it out.

 

Saloon

Back in Wyoming, rolling hills, cattle country here and forestry.  You know you are getting near Devil’s Tower when there is a huge rock out cropping.  We got settled into our campsite and what a view.  Our front door is facing Devil’s Tower.  Ominous!  The movie “Encounters of the Third Kind” is shown here every night.  We decided to watch it since it has been awhile since we’ve seen it.  Loved the part where Richard Dryfuss is building Devil’s Tower out of mashed potatoes and then when he kind of goes crazy and throws trees and dirt into the house to build it in his living room.  Do you remember when this film was made and who made it??

Approaching Devil's Tower from North

 

Daily Stats: 
Today's distance:  300 km 
Weather:  Sunshine, thunder clouds chasing us but never caught us; High: 25 degrees; Lo: 14 degrees
Diesel Price:  Ashland MT  $4.009 gallon, gas $3.849 gallon
Wildlife:  Pronghorns, Llama, coyote, Redwing Black birds, Western Meadow Lark (state bird)
Campsite:  KOA Devil’s Tower
Walking:  5 km

Quiz Answer:  1977 by Steven Spielberg

Day 24 Yellowstone to Ranchester, WY

June 12

Yellowstone to Ranchester, WY

Did you know there was a Canadian connection to Yellowstone being established?

Leaving Yellowstone via the East gate we climbed to 8550 feet through Sylvan Pass and rain but also very close to the snow line.  Forest fires have destroyed a lot of the hill sides and a Forest Fire Fighters Memorial from 1937 has been set up to recognize those fire fighters lost.  This highway otherwise referred to as "Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway" runs 182 miles from Yellowstone to Ranchester with some very unusual rock formations.

 

Just before arriving in Cody, coming along the lake is the Buffalo Bill Dam.  We didn’t stop but it looks like you will drive right through the mountain or should I say into it!  In Cody we stopped to visit the Buffalo Bill Historic Centre.  An amazing Museum with 5 museums in one including Yellowstone, Draper Museum of Natural History, Plains Indian Museum, The Cody Firearms Museum which displays 1500 guns and rifles from all manufacturers and another 1200 displayed on another floor, and Western Art with a section on the gunslingers.  Two hours here really isn’t enough probably four would have been better.  Admission is for two days if you are staying in the area.

 

The highway gets interesting after Greybull towards the Shell Canyon and driving through the Bighorn Mtn.  We were blown away.  Rock formations and the color of them!  Signs indicating the age of the rock formations.  The canyon starts at 4400 feet and takes you up to 9033 feet at Grants Pass and drops back to 4500 feet.  The temperature went from 24 degrees to 13 degrees.  I would love to redo this part of the highway!  It was “take your breath away”!  Spectacular!



 

 



Winding highway thru Shell Canyon

 

There were weather warnings constantly coming through the radio and TV for our area for severe thunderstorms and hail up to 3 inches.  Well the thunder and lightning hit after 10 pm but we must have been on the edge of the storm as it didn't last too long.  Thank goodness, no hail!!

 

Daily Stats: 
Today's distance:  336 km 
Weather:  Rain then sunshine with clouds; High: 28 degrees; Lo: 10 degrees
Diesel Price: 
Wildlife:  Elk, deer, moose, and weasel
Campsite:  Lazy R Campground, Ranchester ($22 electricity & water)
Walking: 2 hours Buffalo Bill Historical Centre incl. 5 museums

Quiz answer:  Seth Bullock Born near Windsor, ON 1849 - 1919 Introduced a resolution to preserve the land, protecting it from settlement.  His resolution was adopted and Yellowstone Park was established March 1, 1872.  He was also made Deadwood's first Sheriff after Wild Bill Hickok was murdered!

Sports Event:  Chicago beat Boston in 3^rd O/T 4 to 3

Day 23 Yellow Stone Natl Park to Teton Natl Park return

June 11 

Teton National Park loop

Today we decided to drive the northern loop of Teton National Park and heading south we crossed the Continental Divide again 7988’.  We drove into Lewis Lake but the campsite was still closed, snow!  We stopped at Crawfish Creek to see Moose Falls.  Otherwise the road was boring, no wildlife, just lodge pole pine trees.  The road to Signal Mountain was interesting.  Beautiful scenery overlooking the valley below and a view of the road we will be returning on; also visible from here is Jackson Lake, the southern portion of Yellowstone and Grand Teton Mt.   Tons of Arrow Leaved Balsamroot – yellow flowers – or as I was calling them Daisies, all over the hill side and Purple Lupines in the meadows. 

Panoramic view

Mt. Moran Lookout is a great stop for pictures of Grand Teton Mt 13,770 ft and Mt Moran 12,605 ft.  Watch out for Rattle Snakes on the trails.  The Tetons are among the youngest mountains on the Continent.   A little tid bit from the Tour Book.

 Mt Moran

Jenny Lake Drive is very nice with a close up of the Grand Teton across the lake.  Lots of bicycle trails, walking paths plus hiking trails.  We didn’t have time to do any of them.  As we were leaving the Visitor Centre across the field a grey fox was scouting out the prairie dogs (gophers) for a quick lunch.  We stopped at Moose Jct at Dornan’s for lunch and ate in a TeePee.

 

Mt Teton across Jenny Lake

The road north is following the Snake River Valley, also known as Jackson Hole, is an 89 mile long valley. Our last stop was at the Cunningham Cabin Historic site.  Only one building is left but originally it was a 560 acre ranch and all that is left are the foundations of the other buildings.

 

Daily Stats: 
Today's distance:  303 km  Louttit truck
Weather:  Sunshine with clouds; High: 21 degrees; Lo: 13 degrees
Diesel Price:  Fishing Bridge $4.399
Wildlife:  Squirrel, Elk, Bison, Prong Horn, Grey Fox, and White Swans
Campsite:  Fishing Bridge RV Park
Walking:  7 km

Day 22 Yellowstone National Park

June 10

Upper Loop to Mammoth Hot Springs & back
 
Today we are driving the upper loop.  We started out stopping at a lookout, already full of people spotting 2 elk.  The camera equipment is probably worth $10,000 per person.  Next we actually took a wrong turn and ended up at Upper & Lower Falls on the Yellowstone River otherwise known as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.  We started out on Uncle Tom’s Trail which is 328 steps down to the falls.  Then we had to climb back up!!  Then up to the North Rim Drive.  Amazing view with a drop of about 800 – 1500 feet.

 Uncle Tom’s stairs

 Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River

Road construction near Tower-Roosevelt along the side of the mountain.  Trying to get it done before the crowds arrive??  Well off to see a Petrified Tree.  Part way up the road was blocked so we walked the ¼ mile.  Park Ranger blocked it off because there was a mother black bear with two cubs.  That was more exciting than looking at a Petrified Tree.

 Bears

Mammoth Hot Springs!  Here we have pools of cascading hot springs that form terraces.  The mineral deposits build up and the terraces are formed and continually change and build.  In 2006 a boardwalk had to be removed as the springs and minerals were forming.  Very interesting place to visit!  One of the Park Attendants was just giving a talk on how the terraces are formed when we got there.  Beautiful little village with buildings dating back to 1891 to 1931 for army headquarters and troops assigned to Yellowstone National Park.  Elk roam freely around the town so as we were walking around Historic Fort Yellowstone they were grazing on the lawns. Careful where we step!! 

Palette Spring

 

Orange Terrace

We were looking forward to a dip in a Hot Springs!!  After lunch in the village we drove the Upper Terrace Drive instead of walking the boardwalk since we had walked about half of it.  Driving back to the campsite from here wasn’t exciting since we’d been over part of the road before.  We took the Virginia Cascade Drive and headed back to the campsite.  I would have liked to stop at the  Mud Volcano again to see the Black Dragon Caldron but it was hot and it was time to get back for supper and do laundry.

Daily Stats: 
Today's distance:  126 km Bogaert’s truck 
Weather:  Sunshine; High:  28 degrees; Lo: 12 degrees
Wildlife:  100+ Bison, Elk, Geese, Deer, Black bears, and Prong Horns
Campsite:  Fishing Bridge RV Park
Walking:  10+ km 
Answer:  No swimming hot springs at Mammoth!!