Badlands National Park, South Dakota

July 13/2014  Hot today 84 and blazing sun.  Even hotter riding thru the Park.

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.  

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.

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. 

looks like the moon

Eventually we came to the National Park Loop that takes another 38 miles through  the unbelievable landscape.  

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.

inside Wall Drug - Tourist Shops or tourist trap?

Wall Drug Signs - South Dakota Interstate 90W

July 10/2014  70's to 80's today, low in 60's; Thunderstorm when we pulled into our campground at 2:30.

Anyone that has ever drove West or East on Interstate 90 can tell you about the marketing job that the little town of Wall Drug has accomplished.   We saw the first sign just inside the South Dakota border from Minnesota.   It said "Wall Drug 366 miles".   Then a few miles down the road we saw another sign.  And so on and and so on.  If you come anywhere close to the Black Hills you will be so curious that you simply must stop.   The mind just won't let it go.   I once was told by someone that the farthest sign was in Japan.    Really?  I think he was pulling my leg.   But I have to admit.  It's effective.