Badlands Tour, Wall Drug, Friends, and PIE!!!

Monday, 9/19/2011

Cedar Pass Campground

Interior, SD

Today we started out with a stop at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center just up the road from the campground.  It’s a very informative and interesting place with lots of information about the Badlands, including a short movie.  We spent quite a bit of time there.  Afterward, we stopped back home for a quick lunch and then headed out for the Badlands Loop Road.  The Loop Road is SD240 and it runs from Cactus Flat to Wall, SD.  It’s a very scenic drive with many pull-offs and beautiful scenery.  It’s about thirty miles from the campground to Wall.  Near the end of the loop we turned left onto a gravel road called Rim Road and took it to Sage Creek Road.  We turned right onto Sage Creek Road and followed it back to SD240.  We took the side trip in hopes of seeing some buffalo.  Instead, all we saw were prairie dogs.  Here are a few of the many photos of the Badlands that I took today.  I was distracted from the beauty of the park early on by these two beauties.

These four stopped by for some lunch, and then headed out for a journey.

There were a number of times throughout the day that we saw Sherry and David. They were touring the loop also. 

Of course, we stopped at Wall Drug in Wall, SD.  I’ve been there before, but it was a new experience for Terri.  Our big purchase was a postcard.

We headed on home by way of I-90 and SD240.  Last night Sherry and David stopped over for a while.  It was nice spending time with them.  Tonight after dinner we headed over to their place for a visit.

Terri took a freshly baked apple pie.  I was so focused on pie I almost forgot to take a picture.

We all enjoyed the pie.  It was very delicious.  Tomorrow we’re planning to leave and head toward the Rapid City area.  Sherry and David are heading east toward Mitchell.

It was great seeing them, and we hope to catch up with them again real soon.