Subject: Postcards from Mt Rushmore--#3

Tuesday AM, September 15, 2009

Weather update: Temp on Monday was 80 and then we toured the Badlands where it was 95.

We are now in Custer City, SD having arrived Monday afternoon from Mitchell. On the way, we stopped at Wall Drug and also toured The Badlands National Park.

While in the Badlands we stopped at several of the overlooks and walked around on the rock terrain and ledges. I kept telling everyone to stay on the paths as this was rattlesnake country but Earl kept wandering off trail and scurrying around on the ledges telling me there were no rattlesnakes here as it was too far north. At a later stop when we encountered the “Danger, Rattlesnake area” signs I made him stand by one of the signs so I could take his picture. Later, at the Badlands Visitor Center, Earl found the rattlesnake display and remarked they were a different color that what he thought they would be and how well camouflaged they were with the terrain. DUH! If I make it back from this trip without losing anyone it will be a miracle.

The Badlands were a big hit and everyone was fascinated by the prairie dog towns. We also saw rabbits, chipmunks, deer, pronghorn antelope and a big horn sheep. I’m sure we even saw a few rattlesnakes but just didn’t know it.

Oh, speaking of losing someone, we did have our first injury of the trip. In Mitchell, after returning to the motel, Mike H. and Earl decided to take a walk around the neighborhood for some after dinner exercise. There was a residential area behind the motel so an easy area to walk. While on the walk Earl again got off the sidewalk path and upon returning found he had cockleburs on his socks and shoes. I’m paraphrasing this as Mike H. told this story to us on today’s drive with only slight protest from Earl. Mike H. said that while Earl was removing the burrs he pricked his finger and he “cried like a girl” (I’m not paraphrasing that as those are Mike’s exact words). Mike H. had to lend assistance in removing what were apparently very thorny burrs and on today’s drive Earl kept saying a piece was still in his finger and kept trying to show it to us. Since I was driving I refrained from looking and told him to “Man Up” but not before repeating the “cried like a girl” phrase several times. I believe we will be using that one for several days to come.

We got to Wall Drug by 10:30 in the morning, having gone there first after leaving Mitchell. I wanted to wait and get our breakfast at Wall Drug so everyone could sample their homemade donuts. I knew Wall Drug is kind of spread out so not wanting to lose anyone, I broke out my trusty walkie-talkies. They did the trick and we were able to go our separate ways but get back together when needed. Wall Drug has mostly trashy souvenirs but I also discovered some high-end items. There was one sculpture worth over $28,000. I’m sure it will be there the next time I pass this way. Their western clothing, leather and hats were also the real deal and brought a high price so not everything was cheap in that place. I think everyone enjoyed Wall Drug and we each got a bumper sticker to take back home with us. Those bumper stickers were free, so technically Mike H. still has not purchased any souvenirs. The rest of us purchased something to bring home, mostly of the simple trashy variety. However, Carlos made up for Mike H’s frugality and came out wearing a new high-end western belt and also carrying a very large box that looked expensive. I believe it was a sculpture carving of some sort.

While in Custer City we are staying at The Bavarian Inn which will be our home for the next seven nights. Even being the off-season, this place was pretty packed Monday night. They upgraded us to the Chalet lodge for the price of the regular room. They only had one Chalet room available for Monday so Earl was gracious enough to let Mike H. and I have that as they would move into their new room on Tuesday. Our room overlooks the back parking lot where on the other side is the Bavarian Inn’s restaurant, which we ate at Monday evening.

At the restaurant I got a Walleye Pike fish dinner and the rest ordered from the authentic German cuisine selections. Halfway through the meal Carlos turned ill and went back to the room unable to finish his plate. Too bad, as they all said the German dishes were very good. Later, we were trying to figure out why Carlos turned ill and they decided it had been from Saturday night’s meal in Waterloo at the pizzeria where he ate off the buffet table. He and Earl said there were several items on that table that looked like they hadn’t been touched in days. Hey, I AM NOT taking the blame for that!! I may have picked the restaurant but did not force anyone to go through the buffet! Besides, doesn’t food poisoning show up quicker than 48 hours? I’m more inclined to blame it on the cooler of beer in the van and all the junk food they’ve been shoveling away while I’ve been driving.