Spectacular vacation!

When we got to South Dakota we slowed down and took in the fantastic natural phenomena in the area. Janet had vacationed in this area as a child and knew it was special.

Crystal Cave

There are numerous caves in the limestone formations of the Black Hills. This one, Crystal Cave is basically still unexplored.



Panning for gold in the Black Hills
Connor and Alexis each walked away with a small vial with gold flakes in it! Woo hoo!

My impression is that gold miners worked pretty hard for their money.


Custer State Park in the Black Hills
Connor hangs out with this gang of mules that shakes down passenger vehicles.





Mato Tipila
The Sioux call this Mato Tipila which means "bear lodge". It is known among tourists as "Devil's Tower", but this name was invented by some white devil and it unfortunately stuck. Too bad there are no bear anywhere near this area any longer. White men love cows better.

Wyoming's Yellowstone!
Before you die--and before it goes super-volcano again so hurry up--you must see Yellowstone National Park. This place is a magic landscape of spewing geysers, flowing waters, and big mammals. I will go there again.


Black-tailed prairie dogs inhabit only 2% of their original range.








Deer munching








Elk munching









Fox hunting







Moose munching









Bear hunting munching moose. We didn't see a bear until we left the park and just outside on our way out we saw this one lumbering beside the road. It scared the moose off.



Buffalo crossing the road. A buffalo can run faster than a horse, can jump over a 6 foot fence, and are more dangerous than bear in Yellowstone.




After a couple weeks of visiting these natural wonders, Janet and I looked at each other and said, "That was fun, but let's get on with our mission", so it's on to Oregon!