The Finale
Badlands and Windshield Time
Although we couldn’t distinguish any fossils on the formations along the quarter mile boardwalk, we enjoyed reading the informative plaques along the way.
Battle of the Buffalo
Having to tear ourselves away from that, we continued the wildlife loop, at one point walking a distance through field & stream toward a restless buffalo herd of hundreds.
Wild and Wooly Steer
We sadly departed Wyoming, and took refuge for a muni-park lunch in iconic but then biker-free, uncharacteristically lethargic Sturgis, South Dakota. Changing course, we moved on to the surprisingly lively and prosperous casino town of Deadwood and visited the well hyped gravesites of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane in Mt. Moriah Cemetery.
A Tribute to the Past
As we approached the town of Devil’s Tower, many cars were stopped and fireworks were lighting up the sky around us. Embarrassingly, it took me a few moments to remember it was Independence Day. We did not plan it, but we arrived to enjoy a fireworks show in front of the country’s original national monument on our country’s Independence Day.