If there was a drought in South Dakota, as I reported yesterday regarding the Sioux Falls, then there isn’t one now! Apparently my mystique brought along some precipitation to the state! It rained yesterday morning all last night and then a mist or heavy rain almost all day today as I traveled towards the Badlands!

There was a rest stop along the way in Chamberlain, which is right on the Missouri river and actually a historic site. Lewis and Clark used this area as a focal point while setting off on their expedition of the northwest in 1804. It has to be the most picturesque rest area I’ve ever seen.

As I approached the Badlands, the bad weather seemed to be behind me and heading east. The prairies and rolling Hills of South Dakota were incredibly scenic. I finally got to the Badlands and could see another band of dark clouds in the horizon as I headed west. I entered the park and pulled over to enjoy the view and take pictures on several of the lookout areas. Every corner you took along the park loop in the Badlands seemed more breathtaking! Fortunately, the drizzle, then rain, and brutal wind held off for a couple of hours, and I was able to get out to take pictures. Obviously the pictures just don’t do the landscape justice.

Right about the time I took the last picture it started to rain and the wind began to really blow! The rain would let up and then really come down I had to take a chance getting out of my car! At one point, I opened my door and a huge wind gust started blowing it further open. I thought it was going to get blown off the hinges. I had to use both hands to pull the door shut! Then my hat blew off so I had to make sure the door was shut and run after the damn ballcap! Fortunately it hit a post, delaying its flight long enough for me to grab it! I thought for sure it was going down into the canyon.

Again, the pictures don’t do the landscape justice. It is not as vast as the Grand Canyon, but it is unique in many ways and very impressive.

I met several people including a couple from Georgia that were riding on their motorcycle. I’m not sure where their campsite was but at one point during the storm, I ran into them and they were putting on winter gear over their rain gear. The guy had all he could do to handle his bike with that wind.

I met and chatted with a few other couples, one of which was actually from Stratham, New Hampshire! (Stratham is in the same school district as Exeter, where our boys went to school) Then the woman tells me they are going to Missoula, Montana to meet up with her son who currently lives there! For those of you that don’t know, that is the town where I will be meeting June next week for the “Lord Huron” show!

The weather was so bad when I stopped at the campground visitor center. I spoke to a park Ranger and she suggested I stay in a shelter due to the winds and wind chills. The temperature will be well below freezing not to mention the rain! It was at that point that I decided to continue on to Rapid City, which gets me closer to the Black Hills. I had hoped to spend the night in the Badlands because I’ve heard the campground I planned on overnighting was pretty cool, but mother nature did not cooperate. I told myself when I started this trip that I was not going to stay overnight in bad weather just because I could save a few bucks and use the rooftop tent.

Despite the bad weather, I was treated to yet another Majestic site; five Buffalo! As I left the park, I saw six more! I was able to pull over to get a picture of them!

I’ve begun planning for tomorrow which includes planning for the weather. It is a far cry from Indiana Dunes National Park where it was in the 90s. The windchill is in the 20s here in Rapid City. I’ve got to take that into account when I hike tomorrow and see some of the other sites. I’m definitely camping Tomorrow night however! The cold doesn’t bother me because I am prepared. It’s the wind and rain that get to you when you’re trying to set up.

On a sidenote, I have seen a number of different RVs, trailers, and modified rigs on this trip! It is incredible what they have out there and what people will travel in to enjoy this country! One guy had this weird top on the back of his large, pick up truck. A vent he installed was flapping in the wind. I kept waiting for it to snap off and hit my car in the windshield.

I think my favorite was a large, contemporary, teardrop shape, RV! It had all the bells and whistles with large tires. The name of it was, “the Bean!“ For those of you that don’t know, one of our cats nickname is the Bean!

This trip has been so easy compared to what it would have been like in the 90s. Now, can text and call June and the boys right from the car using voice activation. I can add or change the directions on my GPS and don’t have to pull out a map. I can do my banking and listen to some great tunes all on my phone!

Speaking of great tunes, I’ve really been able to take my mind back to my youth much of the trip. I’ve been playing bands such as Ambrosia, 10 cc, Jim Croce, Todd Rundgren, the Little River Band, Genesis, the Eagles, Journey. Of course I have also been listening to the band June and I will be seeing a week from today, Lord Huron! I’ve also enjoyed listening to Derek‘s music as “blue for you.”