The Badlands Trip

Hi all you wonderful people out there......I am in a good mood this evening!! I didn't get into one bit of trouble today, not one bit. I was just the best girl, wee weed when I was told to, shee sheed when I was supposed to, didn't eat one bit of map or other paper products, ate all my meals at the appropropriate times, sat in the back in my space all but that one time when Daddy had to buzz me because he didn't want me on his lap and I really was being insistant.....until I got buzzed.....not zapped, mind you, just buzzed....but I know that where there's a buzz there's a zap if I don't do as I'm told......I'm no dumbie....

Anyhow, it was a slow day today. In the first place, it was raining when we got up, then we got into some pretty heavy fog. When we got out of the fog, we got to Deadwood. Daddy was really excited to see it because it's in all the westerns he reads......and then was really disappointed because it's just a big casino place. It is in a neat spot, though....in a gulch, with homes built all along the sides of the hills, but, alas, no cowboys and Imyuns. So sad. So on to Sturgis....the motorcycle capital of the world.....we have seen more motorcycles in South Dakota than we knew had been made. There are people from all over the country converging on Sturgis, the home of the Harley Davison, for a jamboree next week. The locals say they begin coming in this week, then the festivities are next week, and they'll be gone by the end of the third week. They stay as far as 150 miles away because there just isn't enough room in the city itself. You just can't believe it. Motorcycles and black leather and tatoos. Everywhere you look. It's weird and more than a little intimidating to us small town Vermonters!! They come on their bikes, bring tents or stay in motels, or they come in big campers and drag trailers with the bikes in them behind. It is a sight to see. AND hear when they all get started on a run to somewhere. They mostly travel in gangs.....and I mean like a lot of them from the same place, together to go see the touristy things. The town of Wall was full of them. One of the clerks told Mommy that by next Monday, there will be no room for cars in the main streets. So huge parking lots have been made behind all the stores so there's room for everyone to park....and the main streets are full of motorcycles. Just motorcycles. We'll be home by then.......

The Badlands were awesome.....especially the prairie dogs....and I did whine a little when I saw them, but I didn't beg to go out and play because I already knew what THAT answer would be. So I just looked and drooled on the window. We didn't get going as early as we thought we would, Uncle Gale, but it wouldn't have made any difference anyhow since it misted or rained all day. But we did see some great colors, and Daddy was impressed by the formations and the land. Mommy has seen it before, but it was a first for Daddy.

We're in a KOA campground in Kennebec, SD tonight. It's not very nice but mostly that's because it rained all day so it's sort of muddy. The town itself is only two hundred strong, has a post office, one gas station, one restaurant and bar, and this KOA. There are lots of little towns like this along Rt. 90 in SD.

So, that does it for today. Some pictures are coming, but not a lot because it takes so darn long to download them. We have wifi here, but it's not strong, so it takes a long time.

Anyhow, hope all is well with all of you. I miss you and can't wait to see you all again, soon and someday!! Love to all, Juni