Journal entries are just that – the digital copy of my hand-written entries in my journal. If you aren’t interested in the daily details of our adventure, feel free to skip on to the next “regular” post.

We wake up, have breakfast and head out to bicycle. I spotted a park on the map that is supposed to have a bicycle path. Unfortunately, like all the bike paths in Mitchell, IA, it is merely a wide sidewalk so it’s very bumpy. The roads are tarmack and also less than enjoyable to ride on. So we hit the 10-mile mark and head on home where we pause and grab a backpack before heading across the street to get eggs, onions, and hummus from the store.

Packed up, unleveled, and headed back to the grocery store from last night for some Caribou Coffee. Swung in too quickly and a kitchen cabinet swung open, belching out a coffee mug. Thankfully, it somehow managed to bounce across the floor but didn’t break.

I had a delicious dark chocolate mocha while Ashley had a vanilla latte. We sipped our drinks as we headed down the road. About lunch time we pull into a rest stop for lunch and pick brochures and maps for The Bad Lands and Black Hills area. Ashley reads up and finds a free campground as I drive on.

Hopefully the bulk of the Sturgis crew is gone by now – we are close enough that it doesn’t make sense to wait another night. Having seen signs for Wall Drug for over 100 miles our curiosity is piqued and we decide to check it out.

While the Sturgis rally is officially over, Wall is still a tourist trap and there are plenty of bikers around. It’s packed! We find a parking spot and head to the drug store. Very much a tourist spot, we tire of it quickly. I grab an ice cream cone and read the history of the store, then we head to a gas station to top off. So much traffic it’s hard to maneuver in the small space but we manage to squeeze in and then make it out safely.

Out of town and on the road to the Bad Lands! Our National Pass lets us in the gate quickly and we soon spot the turn off to the campground. Immediately the view is breathtaking and we move in a line of cars to see the rock formations and herds (2) of Big Horn sheep.

We pull off in the first view point and take in the sights. Magnificent!

12 more miles of washboard gravel roads, we slowly work our way along. Ashley is worried about how the campground might end up, after having such a drive down into nowhere. We pass by miles of prairie dog town along the way. We watch them watch us go by.

I see the campground miles before we reach it, tucked into a valley of grassland. 1.2 miles off the road we finally pull into the loop, like the eye of a needle. Lots of tents inside the loop with a few RV’s scattered around.
We pick a spot and settle in, facing away from the main grounds. Only one wheel needs leveled, so that’s pretty handy!

What a beautiful setting! We are in the grasslands, rather than the rocks but still gorgeous. In a valley, we have a stream bed east of us and hills on all sides. With the awning pulled out over our door, we seem to have the place all to ourself as our back is to the campground.

We grill supper and go for a short hike to the stream. The trail peters out so we go the other way, up a hill to see the cairnes people have built. The sunset is amazing and we are stunned by the views. Almost out of light, we head back down, watching a bison head up the next hill over.

A bit of reading before bed, periodically checking for stars in the sky. Too cloudy, though.