Goodbye South Dakota, Hello Wyoming

Lesson # 6 My children will always find me in the bathroom.

No matter how far away the bathhouse is, or how hard I try to sneak my children will always find me in the bathroom.

Mount Rushmore

Lesson # 5 Do not sight see when it is 100 degrees outside

We have no complaints about the weather! We have been traveling two weeks now and have not seen a rainy day. Most days have been in the low 80's. Making it a great time to hike, fish, play, and sight see outdoors. But on the day we were in the Badlands it was 85 degrees when I woke up. The campground was deserted. Everyone had left early to beat the heat. We enjoyed the morning and left the campground about noon. It was hot. So, we drove through the Badlands. It was too hot to get out and walk much, but we took a few pictures and took a wildlife drive and were able to see  some bison. Still a great day. But the next day we decided to swim when it was 100 degrees and left the campground at about 5 pm.
There is a reason my family likes to vacation in the fall. We do not like the heat! Again, we have no complaints about the weather. Just a lesson learned.

After we left the Badlands we headed to Mount Rushmore.

Staying in the Badlands

1) Why is it called the Badlands?

The Lakota people were the first to call this place "mako sica" or "land bad." Extreme temperatures, lack of water, and the exposed rugged terrain led to this name. In the early 1900's, French-Canadian fur trappers called it "les mauvais terres pour traverse," or "bad lands to travel through."

Under the Homestead Act of 1862, settlers were given 160 acres of land for approximately $18. They had to live on it and cultivate it for 5 years and then it belonged to them. Most of the land in this area reverted back to the government.

Today, the term badlands has a more geologic definition. Badlands form when soft sedimentary rock is extensively eroded in a dry climate. The park's typical scenery of sharp spires, gullies, and ridges is a premier example of badlands topography. 

Badlands National Park

Who knew you could pet a prairie dog???

At the end of that gravel road when it seemed like we would never get there. We stopped to feed the prairie dogs.

Traveling across South Dakota

Yesterday we traveled across South Dakota to the Badlands. On that fourth turn on the map we were very surprised to see a sign that said Cottonwood population 12. So surprised that we missed that turn. After we turned around and found the  road, we passed it again, because it was a gravel road. So we stopped, I looked at the map and there really was no other way to go so we turned. That turn was an adventure all in itself.

We decided to stop for a minute for David to take a break. We were nearing the end of our drive for the day and we all get a little anxious to "get there".  It was isolated.

But

Family Photos

Goodbye North Dakota, Hello South Dakota

Traveling across North Dakota

David's favorite kind of driving. 200 miles with no red lights.

Painted Turtle

Sunflower Fields in North Dakota

Chahinkapa Park Zoo, Wahpeton, ND

This zoo is a perfect example of how bigger is not always better.  This is a small zoo, but we had a great experience there. We were there during many of the animals training times. The zookeeper was great to take time to answer questions and explain everything to the girls.
Those bears in the photos are a brother and a sister. They were rescued, when their  mother was killed by a train in a populated area. People  in the area had been feeding the bears and they became too comfortable.  The mother was killed and many other bears had to be euthinized in this area.

Chahinkapa Zoo

Goodbye Minnesota, Hello North Dakota

Gull Lake Recreation Area had Accessible Swimming Beach

It was a very nice blacktop bath all the way to the beach. It made in very easy for Macey to transfer to the water to swim.

Wheelchair ramp for HaRV

This is how we get Macey in and out of HaRV.  We purchased this portable wheelchair ramp.

Gull Lake Campground and Recreation Area

Gull Lake Campground and Recreation Area MN