July 13/2014 Hot today 84 and blazing sun. Even hotter riding thru the Park.
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| Nothing but rocky outcrops as far as you can see |
French fur traders who explored this area in the early 1800's dubbed this land mauvaises terres - "bad lands". The scenery is truly awe inspiring. You will drive thru moonscapes of ridges, crumbly spires and canyons stretching as far as the eye can see. 244,000 acres.
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| the scenic hwy 240 thru the Badlands Nat'l Park |
Now how can you imagine that magnitude of land. Here is my best sense of describing the size.... We road on hwy 44 which borders the Badlands for over 83 miles, that was around 2 hours on the motorcycle. Which was down a portion of one side. It seemed like forever....... there was nothing. It was almost creepy.
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| We pulled into this Ghost Town of Longhorn after 1 hour.... on hwy 44 |
In fact we were both becoming nervous if something happened out there we only met about 3 other vehicles. No cell phone towers. Nothing. Then we came across a ghost town which was not reassuring.
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| looks like the moon |
Eventually we came to the National Park Loop that takes another 38 miles through the unbelievable landscape.
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| then spires of crumbling rock |
And then 6 miles down the road after leaving the Badlands a vast oasis of ........ Wall Drug! The story goes that in 1936 the proprietors put up signs that all the travellers in cars passing thru the hot dusty prairie would be given free ice water and the rest is history of this tourist trap little town.
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| inside Wall Drug - Tourist Shops or tourist trap? |
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