Big Brown Cows

Day 7 – After spending the night in our first commercial campground in 15 years, I have to admit it wasn’t all bad. Being packed in tight with tons of kids running around on little go carts was somewhat evened out by the convenience of a laundry facility, a pool, wifi (spotty at best mind you), and power (no water at our overflow site). On leaving the KOA we restocked groceries and then embarked on a three state day; we started in Montana (not the best roads and rest stops few and far between with virtually no tourist information), passed through Wyoming ( good red-tinged asphalt, great rest stops (even with wifi) and minimal construction, and ended up in South Dakota where Pete complained that the road surface was making a singing noise. 

We arrived at Custer State Park,
 probably the jewel in the South Dakota Park system. It reminds us a bit of Manning Park. A number of campgrounds well spread out, several at or near small lakes or creeks, and some with lodges with rooms, cabins, restaurants, stores, theatres, or other attractions close by. We are staying at Game Lodge campground, one of the largest, near the eastern end of the park. We have a large level site with power, close to immaculate shower/restrooms and the campground hosts spoil Mazy with treats daily. It has been another hot day with temperatures into the 90’s so we welcome the short reprieve that comes with a brief thunderstorm but were able to spend the rest of the evening outside in the cool breezes relatively bug free.

Day 8 was a full day touring Custer State Park, the Black Hills National Forest, and a visit to Mount Rushmore National Monument. However, even before we went in search of the wildlife that are a main feature of this park, one bison (or as my friend Marcela called them when we passed several at Elk Island Park outside of Edmonton, big brown cows) came to visit within a few hundred yards of our campsite for a morning graze and dust rub.

We drove the Needles Road through some very narrow (one just over 8ft wide) shallow tunnels to remarkable views of Cathedral Spires and Needle Eye peaks.

Lunch was at the lovely man-made Sylvan Lake after a short hike.

We continued in the heat to the Mount Rushmore National Monument. The place was packed but it was nice to have a bit of refuge from the heat in the museum and exhibit halls which explained the history of the construction of the monument.

A short diversion to Keystone for gas and then back to the Custer State Park. Even before we reached the Wildlife Loop Road we were stopped by a lineup of cars as two massive bison blocked the road

while the rest of their herd wallowed nearby. I am sure that my “Twisted by Choice” friends will be surprised that I did not reach out and grab some buffalo fibre when one of the massive beasts came alongside the van,
 but I remembered the warnings from Judith MacKenzie and restrained myself.





As we continued along the Wildlife loop we saw two more herds then a number of mules, again getting up close and personal with passing motorists, deer,





  and the native pronghorn – who look a little like antelope.

This is the kind of place that would be worth 5 days or more to fully explore, but the road calls so we are off to cross the rest of South Dakota tomorrow.