Badlands National Park to Custer, South Dakota

As great as the pictures are, they just don't do the place any justice. Dissappointed that we couldn't find an open campground with electricity (necessary to run our heater in the below freezing climate) we spent Wednesday night in a hotel. But we woke up Thursday morning to a nice dusting of snow in Wall, South Dakota. So we immediately hopped into the car to see the Badlands National Park. Its so different from anything we were accustomed to. Its like being on the moon! We saw lots of wildlife but it was the inpenetrable hills that really wow-ed us. I just kept thinking that if I was an outlaw bank robber this is where I would hide. After touring the Badlands we moseyed on over to Wall Drug for lunch. For the South Carolinians reading, Wall Drug is like the I-95 "South of the Border" with an old west theme but on CRACK! Its just this giant tourist trap but its so cool.
After lunch to took off westbound on I-90 toward Rapid City and the Black Hills. The snow was really picking up but we knew the next spot we wanted to visit was the Mt. Rushmore area. We arrived at the Fort Welikit Campground late in the afternoon. The guy that runs the place was very helpful in getting us into our campsite. Since the Suburban isn't 4 wheel drive, we had a really tough time getting up the hill. The campground owner had a shovel out throwing dirt in front of our tires as we climbed into our campsite. But it was all worth it as I can tell you that there is not much better than drinking a cold beer with a belly full of Buffalo Steak (no kidding) in your toasty warm camper when its 17 degrees and snowing outside. Pictured above is Jack wearing his brand new coat that he got at Cabelas on our way across the plains.

So now we're in Custer, South Dakota and its really the kind of place you could get stuck in. Not just because the snow is too deep to get the camper out either! Beautiful scenery, warm people and lots of interesting things to do. Not to mention a really great coffee shop where we can update our blog!