Thursday - 21 Sept - Rapid City, SD

Because I didn't get any photos today, I thought it appropriate to include one from yesterday of Margaret trying to hit me with a snowball. Fortunately my superior youth and agility enabled me to dodge the cold, snowy missile.

The drive from Devil’s Tower in Wyoming to Rapid City, SD is a short one – a little over 100 miles. Our intention was to see Mt. Rushmore (just south of here) and move on. But after learing of the variety of sights in this area, we decided to spend two nights.

This decision was confirmed when the campground manager said it would be raining the next two days (TV weather says there will be winds up to 50 mph) and cold (low 40’s doesn’t sound that cold, but with the rain and will it will be – what’s the word? – RAW. So we have decided to rent a car to see more of the area and leave on Tuesday next week (26 Sept). We’ll see how it goes.

I am surprised at the topography. I thought everything in South Dakota was flat prairie. But we are parked on “top” of a local hill with a nice view of the city below us. To the east, it looks pretty flat – beginning of the central US prairies; to the west are the Black Hills – apparently called that because the trees are a very dark green with dark brown trunks. We cannot see south yet because of the hills, but will drive down weather permitting.

The afternoon was spent catching up on finances (gotta pay the bills) and a well-deserved nap. Margaret has started a new book after finishing "The Grail Conspiracy". She reports it was not as good as DaVinci code although there are similarities.

The rain has started as a light sprinkle. The weatherman says it is raining harder to the south and east and will come through here tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday. It is supposed to be back up to the low 70's early next week. Looks like our plan to stay until Tuesday is a good one.

Tomorrow we're going to pick up the rental car and explore some of the area in the rain.