out west adventure
We started our RV adventure in MN. Notice how flat and boring MN is.
Our first stop was the Corn Palace. I was very disapointed by the fact it was corn glued to the outside of a regular building. I was expecting an entire structure made of corn.
If you happen to check out the Corn Palace in 2007 you'll notice the design is nearly identical to the 2006 design. Because of the extreme drought this year they have decided to reuse last years design. Apparently sticking corn on a building wasn't as important as feeding animals. Who would have thought?
The next day we made it to the Badlands. Although extremely beautiful, the Bandlands are seriously hot. It was a record high 112 degrees and good luck trying to find any shade. But we weren't going to let a little heat stop us!
Badlands vista
Notice Bessy is the only vehicle in the parking lot. Hmmm.
Another action shot of Bessy the RV. Isn't she cute?
BEWARE! Good thing I had on my snake stomping boots.
We started out on a nice little hike. There were some stairs, it wasn't bad. At that point I rather liked the Badlands. After the nice little hike we went on the death hike. I didn't take any pictures, I was too busy trying not to fall off cliffs and pass out. He he. Check out Ryan's site for some great action shots.
Hey honey stand on that rock!
After the hot hot Badlands we needed some free water. It was off to Wall Drug! Honey go pet the nice bison bison.
Ryan says "Eww." Apparently the bunny was icky.
That was the closest I got to a bear the whole trip. Thank God.
Bison Bison in Custer State Park.
My honey in a cave.
Let's go over there!
We ended up renting a sweet Impala to explore Custer with. Bessy wouldn't have fit so well through the tunnels. Look out Falling Rock! Yes just one.
Rount Mushmoore. Cool to see but why did they ruin a perfectly good mountain with some faces? I didn't really get it.
Piggy backs. Again more fun in the Impala.
The next day Ryan and I decided to go mountain biking. There seemed to be a trail not far from our campsite so we took off. We had a little trouble finding the trail and ended up on some random path kind of thing. We had to forge a creek (my first time). After fighting with bolders we headed back and found the actual trail. Which had about a million more creek crossings. Thank God I had my flat pedals. I didn't fall once.
The next day we headed out to Yellowstone National Park. It was a long drive and we were sleepy.
On the way to Yellowstone we randomly stopped in the Big Horn National Forest. I'd definatly stop there again, it was beautiful. Ryan was a little sleepy and decided to take a nap on the sign.
A sweet waterfall in Big Horn National Forest.
And then all of a sudden we were in Yellowstone! Hooray!
Check out the neat colors in the mud.
We started out doing the typical tourist things, checking out old faithful, the mud pits, etc. Honey stand by that big hot hole in the ground!
This was the highest geyser in the park. We waited and ended up seeing it do it's thing. It was pretty neat.
The next day we set out off the beaten path. We found a great hike to a waterfall. It was absolutely beautiful. It was the best hike we went on the whole trip.
A cool picture of Ryan's parents in bateria mat area. Apparently they are using some type of bacteria found only here to do genetic experiments.
You aren't allowed to walk in the water, but apparently the hoofed animals are ok.
We took another neat hike to a bunch of huge waterfalls. I learned that if you get away from the parking lots you generally have the park to yourself. This was another hike where that was true. The people you did see when off the beaten path were generally not Americans. Hmm.
Aw my happy honey.
Water fallin.
We took a walk down about a million steps to get close to the waterfall. Turns out when you get to the bottom the trail is washed out so you can't actually get close at all. Still it was a good work out.
The snow thing they use to get around in the winter.
Filling up Bessy ain't cheap. She was a thirsty girl. $3.39 a gallon, a 50 gallon tank, 7 miles per gallon. Good times!
My honey.
We found a great river to cool off in on a hot day. Ryan was in the process of trying to figure out how to jump to that big rock. Notice the raging current just past the rock. I thought perhaps jumping was not the best idea.
I'd like to build my house right on the other side of the river.
The gate out. Pretty dramatic.
Next time I go to Yellowstone I'd like to spend more time. It was a beautiful park with lots to explore.