Jun 09, 2010
Spent four hours or so driving through/hiking in the Badlands.** Owing to their lunar quality, we selected Mouse’s “The Moon and Antarctica” as the soundtrack to our morning drive-through. Saw buffalo, prairie dogs (that apparently have the PLAGUE! DO NOT TOUCH!), and deer along the way.
The structures are just as magnificent/astounding up close. We were both struck by how brittle they seemed, almost like a heavy rain might wash them away. No surprise to learn that they erode two inches every year. Won’t soon forget the experience of climbing up a log-and-rope ladder and then cruising around on top of several Badlands [Ed. question: Is each hill actually an individual Badland?]. Oh, the vistas. Oh.
** Overheard a grandma-age woman say to her redheaded-teenage granddaughter: “You KNOW there’s a god when you see stuff like this.” LVL overheard the selfsame redhead say to grandma at a later time: “Oh, look at their license place (DC plate slogan: “Taxation without Representation”). They must be Tea Partiers.” LVL delivers mild rebuke. Oddly, we walked past grandma/redhead later that day at Rushmore [Ed. note: And of course, I took that opportunity to snap a picture as they walked away].
The message is already in all caps, but PLAGUE! is in super caps. We get the message.
Oh, wait. Were we really supposed to listen to the "stay in car" warning? If wind increases the spread of the plague, we're superscrewed.
Early in our SD trip, we thought this was the closest we'd get to a buffalo. Such novices.
I didn't know buffs rolled in dirt like pigs.
Superbad.
Taking iPhone pic for mobile upload. But no AT&T, of course. And just bright enough that I couldn't see the pic on the screen. Nevermind, Facebook.
A little wind can't stop the schmoop.
Another shot that doesn't do the view justice.
I think we chose the window trail.
Ready to crumble at a moment's notice.
When this duo came down they took pics of Josh going up. They wished aloud that he had a walking stick so it would look like a more rigorous trek.
Not all that tough of a climb. But still a good payoff at the end.
And we can still celebrate all our accomplishments, even if not so tough.
Pah-lease. Josh ives for danger.
Best/most hideous self-portrait yet.
Doesn't really look it, but kinda felt on top of the world.
We really thought it would look like I was falling. Not so much.
Heading back down.
And again, we celebrate.
Josh realized his dome was getting a little more sun than was ideal.
Up close on his look.
The seated construction worker had a word or two to say about Josh's fleece headdress. Josh is thinking of suing if she gets rich off his idea.
A bit too proud.
The only thing that tops my barn envy is my Airstream envy.
Fave construction worker from a few pics ago was then transferred to traffic duty. They kept us there a bit longer than the driver might have liked.
Goodbye, friend.
A second chance to view/appreciate the world's largest prairie dog.
Dino in Wall
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