BADLANDS AND GOOD PRESIDENTS

June 13, 2006

The next morning we were up and out of the hotel early.  We continued our western trek, passing over the time zone boundary from Central Time to Mountain Time.  After so much flat, grassy prairie we were beginning to see some hills and even mountains.  Just before we entered the park we stopped to find out about the Minuteman Missile site that is now a national historic site.  We were told that the visit was by reservation only and no reservations were available for that day, so we continued on through the Badlands.  .

The South Dakota Badlands are a kind of pastel version of Bryce Canyon.  Where the formations at Bryce are bright red the Badlands formations are pastel gray-blue with pinkish stripes.  Where the Utah sky is brilliant turquoise against the red rock the South Dakota sky is pale blue.  We drove through the park enjoying the interesting scenery and stopping to take a short hike on the fossil trail and also to see an actual dig in progress.

As we were leaving the park Don spotted a line of cars going to the Minuteman Site.  I was driving, so he had me rush up and join the line and we all pulled up and the ranger unlocked the gate and Don and the rest of the tour went in to look down into the well of the silo and hear the talk about the Minuteman program.

As we left the Minuteman site after the tour was over Don told me all about it.  We continued west for a short distance to Rapid City where we got off the freeway and entered the Black Hills National Forest to see Mt. Rushmore.  Although there is no park entry fee you can only see the presidents from one spot and parking there is a very fancy, multistoried granite parking garage--$8 to park. 

We ponied up and hiked up the granite staircase and through the dramatic arcade decorated with flags to see the famous carving in the mountainside.  While we were there I got a telephone call from my mom, so I enjoyed the view of the presidents while Pauline and I talked and Don took photos.

After leaving the Mt. Rushmore site we took the scenic drive through the Black Hills to Spearfish, Idaho, where we would be staying the night.  As we drove along enjoying the pretty pine trees and mountains—so different from our last few days of scenery—we noticed big black clouds gathering.  Soon we heard a clap of thunder and the next thing we knew we were being bombarded!  First HUGE raindrops came down and hit our windshield with a loud SPLAT!  But soon the raindrops had turned to hail, and this was not like any hail we have in California.  This hail was the size of a quarter and when it hit our car it was so loud we though it surely must crash right through the roof and make a hole.

Don decided to pull off and try to find some shelter under a tree.  The first place we tried was all full.  There was a group of motorcyclists hiding out, along with several cars taking up any possible shelter.  We continued on for a bit and it just got worse and worse, so finally we pulled off on a side road and were able to get under a tree, a little bit.  We sat and cringed as an occasional hailstone hit our car and watched as the ground was covered with jawbreaker sized ice balls.

After about 10 minutes the hail let up and we continued along our way to Spearfish.  We checked into our hotel and went up to our room, but just like the Three Bears, someone was sleeping in our bed!  So, back to the check in counter, where the attendant went up to check the room himself, and then returned with the news that he would have to upgrade us.

Woo Wee!  We got the Bridal Suite, complete with complimentary champagne, two-person Jacuzzi bathtub, two TVs, a sitting room, kitchenette and huge king bed.  How nice.