South Dakota – Black Hills – Day 3

A continuation from the Badlands Series | Day 1 | Day 2 | Scenery | Wildlife

SD – Black Hills / Custer State Park | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7

Day 3 we opted to sleep in a bit, pick up camp and ready ourselves for the next leg of our vacation, The Black Hills & Custer State Park.  From Interior, SD we head West on 44 to Rapid City. We really didn’t need to go to Rapid City, but Caribou was calling our name.  After obtaining two vessels of turbo-charged caffeinated awesomeness we continued on South on 79 towards Hot Springs; heading West again at the Flying J truck stop.  We opted to stay at Custer KOA campground as we were unable to find a tent camping option within Custer State Park that allow pets.  The KOA is just West of Custer; it was plenty close to town.  This became our home base for the next few days.   The campground was sparsely populated with motor-homes.  There were no other tent campers in sight.  Clean bathrooms and showers just like our previous experience at the White River KOA.

After setting up camp we headed South to see what Hot Springs, SD was all about.  We didn’t really find much there in town other than the Dew Drop Inn.  I was in the mood for some ice cream, but no luck here as it was closed and for sale.  A few minutes East of Hot Springs we located a cold spring.  It was a nice little pit stop in the middle of the warm day; a refreshing place to dip your wiener in the cold water to cool her off.

We headed back to Custer State Park in search of wildlife .  It didn’t take long to find some.  We had a great day 3.  Here are a few shots from our first day in the Black Hills.

The Scenery

The Wildlife

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10.24.14 – Tight Spot

Tight Spot.

2014-10-24 Tight Spot

Views: 83

10.23.14 – Central Station & Platform

Central Station & Platform.

2014-10-23 Central Station & Platform

Views: 60

10.22.14 – Big Splash

Big Splash.

2014-10-22 Big Splash

Views: 34

10.21.14 – Overpass Hangout

Overpass Hangout.

2014-10-21 Overpass Hangout

Views: 92

Autumn Spectacle

I love this time of year.  The Autumn Spectacle that is the vibrant and radiant yellows, oranges and reds is almost past.  The majority of  Minnesota and Wisconsin is at or even past peak color.  In my neck of the woods the color is holding fast.  I have not had the time to go out and explore the color in my surrounding area.  Cooler temps and winds will soon be here, but for now, I will enjoy it.  I wish Autumn were 3-4 months in length.  Winter could certainly be shorter as far as I am concerned.

I have managed to snap a few frames while traveling from here to there and back; here they are.

 

 

Views: 102

10.20.14 – Lofty Wisps

Lofty Wisps.

2014-10-20 Lofty Whisps

Views: 55

10.19.14 – SPRGRL

SPRGRL. #On The Road

2014-10-19 SPRGRL

Views: 51

10.18.14 – Steel Panel Sunrise

Steel Panel Sunrise.

2014-10-18 Steel Panel Sunrise

Views: 124

Badlands National Park – The Wildlife #exploresd

Badlands National Park – The Wildlife

Badlands National Park not only boast beautiful scenery, but also plentiful opportunities to view wildlife.  We met the Western Meadowlark, mule and white-tailed deer, bighorn sheep, and many prairie dogs.  The Prairie Dogs are quite entertaining to watch…our favorite wildlife in the park.  We didn’t spy any bobcat, coyote, pronghorn or bison.  We heard a lot of coyotes.  Here are a few shots of the wildlife we experienced.

Views: 364