Across from Wall Drug

We started the day heading toward the Badlands, just what it was that made them so bad. However, on the way, we were waylaid by signs for a mythical place called Wall Drug. At this place, according to the signs on the road, you could get free ice cold water, coffee for 5 cents, free donuts and coffee, see giant dinosaurs, visit a shooting range, shop for home decorations, shop for western wear, and I can't even remember what else. These signs started about 50 miles from Wall Drug, and were scattered all over the road.



After that side trip, we were ready to continue on our way to the Badlands. Once we got there, we discovered that the Badlands were most likely named the Badlands because they'd be a really bad place to live. They have rattlesnakes, don't seem to have good land, and they're hot. to leave the rest of the Badlands till tomorrow. Check in again for the actual photos of the park.

Instead, we headed over to Mount Rushmore. We spotted George Washington's face from the side of the road, and drove on closer to the park, figuring we'd get a better view.

Driving from Rapid City, SD to see Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse required us to go through South Dakota's Black Hills National Forest. While a National Forest is no National Park according to Michele, who has it in her head that she must visit all of the national parks in the U.S., we were pleasantly surprised by the Black Hills. Although we still are unsure as to why they are black (ok, well, they might look a little black from a distance with all of the evergreens), we still found them quite pretty and well worth the taking of a few snapshots from Nancy's spiffy camera.

After the mountain of presidents, we headed for the soon to be mountain of an indian - Crazy Horse. The mountain has been a work in progress since somewhere in the 1940s. Again, we went the cheap route (although at least the Crazy Horse people didn't do the "the fee is for parking" scam), and took a shot by the side of the road (accompanied by some other frugal travelers).

Deciding that was enough for the day, we headed for the big city of Rapid City. Along the way, we encountered a couple of muffler men, who you can see in the pictures.