Added Days - Sept. 27 & 28, 2024

Today is officially “Day 1” but in fact, we left home yesterday and traveled to Cypress Hills, Saskatchewan. My family held a reunion here every other year for forty years. Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park is the highest point between Quebec and the Rocky Mountains. It is 300 feet higher than Banff! Hundreds of miles of prairie in every direction, and then this. Amazing and stunningly beautiful. I got a few late evening shots on the 27th and some shots around the park this morning. Including a pair of shy Moose.

Then after having to backtrack 50 kms to get a low tire fixed, we headed to Montana. Interestingly, we crossed at Willow Creek, MT and we were the only car there. So, they did a little search and took our honey, claiming some people lace it with cocaine. Oh well. Then on the Lewistown and a couple shots of the downtown. Quite a pretty little place.

Day 1 - September 29, 2024

Another long day on the road today. We started out by driving around Lewistown a little for few shots before heading down the highway. We stopped along the roadside to get a few shots of some juvenile Golden Eagles. Magnificent creatures.

Then it was off to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. This is the place where General Custer made his “Last Stand”.  I find it odd that a supposed military genius with lots of experience would spread his force out over miles when they were badly outnumbered. But that’s what happened. Anyway, it is a fascinating place, and more info can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Little_Bighorn. On a side note, it was...38 C at the Battlefield today. Yes, you read that right. 38 C.

There was a large fire to the southwest of the battlefield and we stopped for a few shots on our way to Gillette, Wyoming. Also, some very nice fall colours.

Day 2 - September 30, 2024

Today was a short day in miles (under 200), but a long, beautiful day, nonetheless. First it was a temperature shock. We went from 38 C yesterday to 11 C this morning when we left the hotel. On the drive we saw several Pronghorn Antelope (mating season, LOL), and after an hour we were at Devil’s Tower, WY. Devil’s Tower was made famous in the movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”. It is an amazing rock formation in eastern Wyoming that rises 1,267 feet above the plains below. Formed millions of years ago, it has been a sacred place for native peoples for thousands of years. Over 6,000 people attempt to climb it every year, not all make it home. I just walked the 1.6 miles around it.

Then we were off to South Dakota and the Black Hills. The plan was to drive Spearfish canyon and then the town of Deadwood, but the canyon was too beautiful, and we took too long, so deadwood will have to wait.

Day 3 - October 1, 2024

Today started off slow but finished strong. First up was a drive to Custer State Park for a drive around the Wildlife Loop. On the way we stopped on the highway for a distant shot of the Crazy Horse Memorial. It’s the largest mountain sculpture in the world. On the Wildlife Loop we saw a few Bison, Antelope, wild burrows (and what looks like a burrow/horse cross) and wild turkeys.

Next, we drove the Iron Mountain Road. Very beautiful. As the sign says, there is lots to see. When you drive through a couple of the tunnels, you see Mount Rushmore, framed in the tunnel. Then the needles Highway. 14 miles of amazing. So many people drive right past the “Needle” rock and don’t even know it is there.

Mount Rushmore. We timed it to arrive late in the day and stay for sunset. Good plan. We got lucky with a wonderful sunset. Also, at this time of year there are far fewer people than in the summer. All in all, a very busy, very good day.

Day 4 - October 2, 2024

After the big day yesterday, we just took it easy today. First a small tour of Sturgis main street, then Deadwood. We wandered, had lunch, and generally relaxed. There is plenty of history here and they have done a great job of preserving (as much as possible) the original architecture of the wild west, frontier town. This was our last day in the Black Hills. Tomorrow we start the drive to Chicago.

Day 5 - October 3, 2024

A relatively long day today, starting with a stop in Wall, SD and the famous Wall Drug. Verna almost got herself a new boyfriend, but he smoked so she decided to turn him down. Then on to Badlands National Park. Much like the badlands around Drumheller, only larger, more pronounced and with more colour. Very pretty. We also saw a little wildlife on the 25 mile drive we took through the park.

Next, we headed south and east through rural South Dakota and Nebraska to Norfolk, Nebraska. We stopped to get some shots of some cool old buildings along the way.

Day 6 - October 4, 2024

Not many photos today. Today was just a drive from Norfolk, Nebraska through Iowa to Rochester, Minnesota. A few road/scenery shots (miles and miles and miles of corn) and a couple from a few small towns along the way. Many of the towns were built with a central “square” with a large government building taking up a city block and the businesses on the streets surrounding it. Huge trees, wonderful architecture and a mix of well preserved and run down buildings.