May 30-June 1, 2022 & July 24-25 – Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Badlands National Park and a visit to Wind Cave National Park

Part of this post is delayed – when you are reading this – 2 month later – we are back in South Dakota and started the second part of the trip …..

We are staying a couple days on a private campground – near the Badlands National Park Entrance
We driving many miles through this amazing park.
And take a walk through the “fossil bed”.
The weather is not perfect – but we still do some hiking between the strange formations.
Picnic in the cold.
Bighorn Sheep climbing the cliffs
… and many Bison in the grasslands.
We visit the touristy town Wall … with one of the biggest drugstores you can imagine.
Hi !!!
Wind Cave is the seventh longest cave in the world (3rd in the US) with 154.2 miles (248.16 km) of explored cave passageways.
We take a tour down – pretty impressive!
Lots of “Boxwork” in the cave.
Then we stay a Cold Brook Lake – a very nice Army Corps Park.
Our Campsite … on the almost empty campground … is super nice.
Our friends campsite.
The Cold Brook Lake
Cold Brook Reservoir & Damm
The campground was “occupied” by 4 geese families – wonderful to watch them all day.
… and the little once where soooo cute!
Lots of very busy swallow nests in the walls behind our site.
One last campfire and dutch oven meal with our friends.
“bye for now” … our friends leaving to Denver to fly back to Munich.
We take another trip to Wind Cave National Park – for a nice hike.
… with a prairie dog town
… and many beautiful wildfowers.
Our last campground – a KOA in Rapid City – so we can clean, pack and get ready.
… a very busy campground!
One last visit to downtown Rapid City
Rapid City – Art Ally
For the next 2 month we found a storage place – and will leave our truck and trailer here in Rapid City, South Dakota.
… flying home …
The airport in Charlotte is packed !!!
This is the result for now … !
… but more to come soon!

… 2 month later: July-23 …

… back at the Storage Place – we are finding the trailer in good shape — Puuuh that is perfect!!
This time we got a spot on the National Park campground – very nice!
A bit more lucky with the weather this time.
We get to hike inbetween the stone formations.
Even some wildlife on the trail …
A short visit a the Minuteman Missle Site.
A 30 minute visit – the same time frame from hitting the button to a totally changed world.
Visitor Center – at this brand new facility we watched the virtual tour presentation of the command center – 60 feet under ground, 24 hours shifts with no escape in a very small place – with the knowlege if you had to push the button there is no escape – and the world will be changed forever.