Day 7

Late yesterday afternoon, I wanted to go hiking and G3 wanted to go swimming but Mother Nature denied both of us our desires. She sent is rain and so we ate an early dinner and called it a day. However, shortly after we returned to the campsite the rain stopped. G3 and I took a walk to where the prairie dogs live and watched them run and interact with each other. It was fun, definitely not something we can do at home. I had no idea they were so loud — at zoos, I never heard them make a sound — but their bark sounds more like a chirp.

When the rain started again we retreated into our tent to play cards.

Daddy always used to joke out in Long Island when he saw a horse standing alone, away from the herd, that it was the Elizabeth horse. He’d say this in jest because I never really played well with others and often kept to myself with a book. This morning, as we were leaving the campsite, a lone bison strolled across the road at the edge of the campground and Kati exclaimed, “It’s the Elizabeth bison.”

Today we visited Badlands National Park. Twenty-five years ago I saw the Badlands for the first time on a cross country trip following my college graduation. It was the first National Park I visited without my parents and the beauty of the park blew me away. I honestly never thought I’d be back.

Have you ever made drip sandcastles at the beach, you know the ones where you let the wet sand drizzle through your fingers? Well, that’s what the Badlands remind me of. Only you can really see the various sedimentary layers, especially when the sun strikes it. The Badlands are definitely one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

G3 had a blast. Usually he grumbles about hiking but today he couldn’t wait to bolt out of the car and start exploring. He loved the more rugged up hill trails. We certainly had a full day of physical activity.

On one trail we met a nice couple from New York. They were kind enough to take a family picture of us. Perhaps, we went a little over the top with our matching.

I had wanted to visit the site of the Wounded Knee Man mssacre but it is on the Pine Ridge Reservation which is still on lockdown due to COVID. Oh well, what would a long trip be without a disappointment or two.