road trip: day 17 -- and on the 17th day, God's ice maker broke

[chocolate_chip]

Got caught in a hailstorm today. I was worried for Sei, since in Colorado you always hear about people's cars getting dented by hail, but he seems to be okay.

So I went up to see my old house in St. Anthony, MN. It was interesting to see what in town had changed and what was the same. Almost all the houses are the same, and the high school looks exactly the same, but they tore down and rebuilt the water tower, shopping center, and community center where I went to day care. I took for granted what a nice place it is when I was living there. There were bunnies in my old front yard. ^^

I stayed at a Microtel in Mankato, which was surprisingly nice, especially considering that it's, you know, Mankato. I decided that night to abandon plans for going further west than Yellowstone. Perhaps it's because of that weight being lifted off my shoulders that I enjoyed my drive through South Dakota so much. Or perhaps it's because Bump of Chicken + South Dakota = OTP. Either way, I think South Dakota is my favorite of all the places I've been to so far. You have to love a state where one of the main attractions is a building covered in corn. Between that, Wall Drug, and the whole turning mountains into statuary thing, I think it's pretty safe to say that the people of South Dakota have way too much free time on their hands.

Anyway, I got to Badlands at sunset and camped there, thinking I could do some hikes in the morning before it got too hot, and be on my way. However, I was unprepared for the temperature going from mid-70s to mid-90s in the space of an hour. x_x Those rocks really heat up when the sun hits, and the whole place turns into an oven. Luckily, I was able to get to the ranger station before puking. The rangers who took care of me were super nice, though. But it put me out of commission for a few hours, and I had to take it easy for the rest of the day, so it really set me back on travel plans. I was able to make it to the Black Hills though, and let me say that I love the Black Hills, especially after 400 miles of hot prairie. On Mr. Nice Ranger's recommendation, I went to the lighting at Mount Rushmore, which is nice if you like your patriotism laid on thick. It really does make you realize how amazing those men were, though. Our recent presidents seem pathetically weak and ineffectual in comparison.

I meant to be in Montana by tonight, but there is so much to do in the Black Hills! I drove the pigtail bridges of Iron Mountain Road, saw the buffalo and feral donkeys in Custer State Park (a baby donkey tried to eat my shirt), and tomorrow I'll visit the graves of Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane.

Wildlife List! South Dakota:
deer
rabbits
bluebirds
the very rare black-footed ferret
big horn sheep
prairie dogs
mountain goats
pheasants
feral donkeys
buffalo
marmots
chipmunks
red squirrels
antelope


day 17
3225 miles

Comments

[thealisonbailey.livejournal.com]

Prairie dogs are the most fun animals to watch, I think. There were a ton of them at Devil's Tower and we watched them for at least an hour. The Black Hills were awesome. South Dakota was really a surprise, it was so nice -- even the so called "Badlands" were pretty.

When you went to Mt. Rushmore, weren't you a little surprised by the scale? I always pictured them as being bigger. =/ Maybe going to the Crazy Horse memorial skewed my perspective.

Glad you're doing well out there on the road. The dogs keep getting under the comforter in your bed looking for you. XD "I can smell her, she must be here!"

[chocolate_chip.livejournal.com]

I come from Colorado farmer stock, so I was taught to think of prairie dogs not so much as "wildlife", but more as the equivalent of underground pigeons.

I haven't seen Crazy Horse, so I can't comment on that. ^^

And lol, puppies. XD