CUSTER STATE PARK, SD - DAY 5

What a way to spend our last full day in Custer! This morning Tim and I loaded Jett up along with some hiking gear, water and a light picnic lunch. With many trails to choose from we decided on the Grace Coolidge Trail that starts at Center Lake off of the Needles Highway. 

The north end was where we started and  headed south from there. This trail is 3 miles one way. The trail follows the Grace Coolidge Creek, crossing it many times. As Jett discovered it was a great way to cool off! The creek meanders through a small valley here in Custer State Park. 

Along the trail we took a side spur trail (straight) up a ridge to see a waterfall and get a good view of Center Lake from a higher elevation. 

Back down we went and continued out the creek trail making many of the crossings along the way. Our adventure took us just over half way out this trail until we turned around. By the time we got back to the truck we had hiked just over four miles. Perfect. This is what I had been training Jett for in the months leading up to our departure. 

All was well until we got to the end of the trail and Miss Jett got a little sick. No big deal. She had a hard hike at elevations she is not use to and had been drinking a ton of creek water when she was crossing and eating who knows what kinda weeds and grass along the way. And I know that I did not hike through a bunch of poison ivy. Eeeek!!! It was everywhere! 

Then in the truck on the way back to basecamp we had an incident on aisle 2! Meaning Jett got sick again but this time in the back seat!!! Ugh. She seems to be fine now and has had a few hours of not getting sick. Phew!

After the clean-up of half the truck we decided that Tim would stay at basecamp with Jett to monitor her and I would drive to town for fuel and a few basic supplies. This would allow time for items to dry out that had to be washed. While I was in town I came across a few more sitings of bison! 

Tomorrow we will depart Custer and travel even farther west. We are hoping to land at an iconic landmark that everyone will recognize. It should be close and an encounter like no other. That’s just a hint! 

Today’s quote ...

‘... Because when you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing.’ - Unknown 

CUSTER STATE PARK, SD - DAY 4

Late last night after my last post we had a jam session in the Airstream. Even Jett got in on the action! A light rain shower chased us in for the evening. 

Today we decided to drive the Wildlife Loop Road here inside Custer State Park. The loop was beautiful and a very relaxing drive. We saw several different packs of the bison herd but they were too far away for decent pictures. The open prairies, rolling landscape and green grasses make for perfect grazing for the herd. 

The only other wildlife we saw were prairie dogs. Once Jett spotted them it was game on. She loved looking for them from the truck window and would bark when she spotted them. I put together a fun video of our outing today around the loop. Notice our elevations. Click the link ....

https://www.relive.cc/view/rt10006975742

Once back at basecamp we had to quickly get Jett settled in the Airstream. Then off to dinner at The State Game Lodge. We had reservations for a linen dinner! Dinner was great! We even popped into the lodge bar for an after dinner drink. 

The State Game Lodge had originally started being built in 1919 and officially opened in 1921 then burned down 72 days later. They rebuilt it in 1922. It then became the ‘Summer White House’ for President Calvin Coolidge in 1927. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. 

Another shower is on us now and I think everything is too wet again for another campfire this evening. Guess it will be a jam session inside again. Just practice for next weekend! 

Today’s quote -

“A bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you fail to make the turn.“ - Helen Keller

CUSTER STATE PARK, SD - DAY 3

Today we took a road trip outside the park and made a big loop through Custer, Hill City, Sturgis, Deadwood and Lead. A stop along the way at a Camping World was needed to get a new propane sensor. They only last about ten years making ours a bit overdue for replacement. About every other night it beeps at around 2AM. Ugh! 

In Hill City there is the 1880 Train and Museum. The train had already departed by the time we drove through. Plus we had Jett with us so not sure how much we could have seen. 

Next stop Sturgis. Crazy place! The BIG Sturgis Motorcycle Rally starts on Friday!!! Tons of bikers were there and vendors are already set up. It hasn’t even started yet. With having been to Daytona’s Bike Week we kinda knew what to expect.  This is on a much grander scale. They anticipate 500,000 to 700,000 people to attend over the course of the ten day rally. We enjoyed walking around town. Grabbed a bite eat at the famous Iron Horse Saloon. Even Jett had a good time. She did fine with all the loud motorcycles. Glad we visited when we did! 

The next planned stop was Deadwood. Deadwood is much smaller and was super busy as well. Cute town. Lots of motorcycles here too. We just couldn’t make ourselves stop with the crowds there. 

From there we drove a short distance to Lead, SD. Through a quick Google search before we left basecamp we discovered a dog park for Jett to get a run in at! She was a happy girl!!!

Tomorrow we plan to stay inside the park for a fun driving adventure. 

Today’s quote -

“If you never go, you will never know.” - Anonymous 

CUSTER STATE PARK, SD - DAY 2

With a few things to check off our bucket list today we took off early to head for the hills. The best route to get there was Iron Mountain Road. Along the way we saw a few North American bison otherwise known as buffalo. Not only is Custer State Park home to largest publicly owned herd of buffalo but it’s one of the largest state parks in the United States. 2019 marks their Centennial Celebration! 

Iron Mountain Road is a very scenic drive located in the Black Hills of South Dakota. In only 17 miles the road has 314 curves, 14 switchbacks, 3 tunnels and 3 pigtails, turns which loop over their own road, allowing the road to climb rapidly. The road encompasses miles of stunning views through twisty hair pin corners, high elevations and steep grades, some at 10%.

First stop was Mt. Rushmore ...

Then not far away we stopped at Crazy Horse. This stop turned out to be my favorite of the day. A work in progress and once completed, the mountain carving will be the largest in the world. 

On our way back to basecamp we stopped in the town of Custer at Mt. Rushmore Brewing Company for some local brew and a ‘burger’. Sorry Mr. Bison. This turned out to be our first time eating out since we began our journey seven days ago. 

Once back at basecamp we settled on a nice cozy campfire. A great way to end the day! 

Today’s quote ...

“Where ever you have dreamed of going, I have camped there and left firewood for when you arrive.” HAFIZ

CUSTER STATE PARK, SD - DAY 1

At the crack of dawn this morning I took off with Jett for her morning walk. While cruising through the campground in my jammies I hear an on/off noise like someone is dragging a blue boy on the ground in the other side of the campground. Then all of the sudden the sound is ever so familiar. It’s a hot air balloon!!! Majestically but slowly rising above the grand forest. Jett and I went off on a trail running a ridge line to get a better view. Spectacular! 

This will be our shortest travel day over the next four months. Tim moved the Airstream from camp site number 33 to site number 28. Jett and I just walked over. 

This will be our basecamp over the next six days. From here we will explore what we can in the time allotted. Based on weather and day of the week we have a lot of ground to cover. 

O nce Tim and I got settled in the new site we decided to go for a hike down to the lake with Jett. The trailhead starts at the campsite where we were at last night. Jett just couldn’t walk fast enough to the lake!

At a glance at my FitBit this evening I have done over 10,000 steps today. And it says 48 floors. Wow! I know it’s mountainous here and I have been all the campground and down to the lake and back. But that’s just crazy! 

On our return to camp I got a little hammock time before the rain set in. Then we had ‘blueberry lemonade’ beverages prior to some very tasty Mexican Taco Stew for dinner. A perfect day!!! 

Today’s quote - 

‘I am at home among the trees.’ - J.R.R. Tolkien

Temperature- 76* (nice)

Elevation - 5,250’

MONTROSE, SD to CUSTER STATE PARK

We made it y’all! And arrived here one day earlier than anticipated. Originally we had thought we could stay two nights at one place somewhere along the way and when it came to our stop last night we could have stayed there one additional night however today was going to be 90*. So we decided to take the 90* on the road and get to Custer a day early and enjoy 75* here tomorrow. 

Our adventure driving today made for a few stops. We first stopped to see Dignity. She is a beautiful site of stainless steel sitting at fifty feet tall on the bank of the Missouri River in Chamberlain, South Dakota. She is absolutely stunning representing the pride, strength and durability of the native cultures. 

In Mitchell, SD is the Corn Palace. You have to go at least once in your life. It was a fun drive-by to help break up the day. 

Our next scheduled stop was thenworld famous Wall Drug Store in Wall, SD. We knew we could take Jett in and did so. What we didn’t know was how tight, busy and crazy it was on the inside. Well Jett happened and we did not stay long nor would we have had we not brought her in. It was not our cup of tea so to speak. We do not need to go back. 

The main goal of the day was to land safely at Custer State Park in South Dakota. This park is worthy of being a national park. We haven’t even seen much of it. Breath taking! Tim and I will now have the week to explore here and are really excited that we won’t be driving hundreds of miles tomorrow. 

Quote for today ... 

‘If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.’ - Maya Angelou