Devils Tower to the Badlands

It is Sunday and 46 degrees at 6am.  There is a big Morning Moon in the western sky, waning, and the speed limit is 75 mph which is way too fast for mama....65 is plenty on cruise control.  We see rolling hills covered with yellow grasses that go on and on with frequent Angus herds scattered around and intermittent antelope herds.....but if there is green grass the herds of antelope are thick.  Lake De Smet is a surprising and deightful change after endless miles of barren landscape.  Thankyou Dwight D. Eisenhower for this wonderful I-90.....great highway and no traffic except us.  We gas up in Gillette and get a 39.2 mpg measure.  We pass a huge open pit coal mine near the road and opposite from it is the coal refinery and generating plant, and a railroad on which hundreds of coal cars are loaded and shipped out.  We counted several different trains....full ones coming out and empty ones going in. 

Dick and Devils Tower

Prairie Dogs at Devils Tower

In the Badlands

Next we took a side trip to Devil's Tower Nat. Monument.....that golden age card is soooo valuable!!!  Then we retraced our steps to the interstate, but instead drove southerly on Rt. 16 E.  toward Rapid City.  We passed the Osage Oil Fields with many pumpers going and storage tanks.  Down the road a piece we came to the refinery for the Osage Fields.  Later we passed by the National Monument, Jewel Cave, but decided against it as a forest fire had recently passed through and there were smoking hot spots still active.  Then it was on to Custer for a Buffalo Burger....very good!  (We split one of course)  Then it was to the chief Crazy Horse Monument to check on the progress of the carving....will be years to complete it.  Then passed Mt. Rushmore and through the Badland National Park....Amazing!  95 degrees in the Badlands!