Devil's Tower National Monument

Sunday - 22 September 2002: Spearfish, South Dakota - According to our guide book, we are just near the geographical center of the United States. We can't figure this out - unless this statistic also includes Hawaii and Alaska? Guess so. Well, I am feeling terrible "centered", so something is up.

We started the morning with another dog walk. It was cold again, though no frozen water pipes, no coyotes, and Snickers wasn't too interested in a walk - especially the very steep uphill part. Below the campground is some sort of party facility. Probably, it can be rented for family reunions and company picnics. Yesterday, they held a wedding here. Snickers and I checked it out. It is along a big, bubbly creek, with lawn, a few tepees, BBQ area - with a huge, drum-style grill - and a covered picnic area. Along the creek is a wide, flat area where chairs had been set-up and a garlanded arch was placed near the water. It was a very pretty scene. (However, I think the Happy Couple will still have to tell their grandchildren they were married in a trailer park.) Walking through empty champagne bottles back to the motorhome, I noticed the Porta-Potties had flower wreaths on their doors!
 
When I was in Cody a few years ago with my parents, I experienced a truly American Rite of Passage: My First Wal-Mart. Imagine, being in your 40's and never seeing a Wal-Mart? We just don't have Wal-Marts in our county. My Father, always wanting the best for me, escorted me through the doors of the Brand-New Cody, Wyoming Wal-Mart. The Cody Wal-Mart, I have since discovered, is the Nordstrom of all Wal-marts. I have never since been to such a nice store and have been to some Wal-Marts that were total dumps. But, the fabulous Wal-Mart in Cody is now closed - only to be replaced by a newer and larger SUPER WAL-MART, 1/4-mile down the road. Filling-up the country with empty stores... that's The Wal-Mart.

Cody, Wyoming Super Wal-Mart - photo by DT

As we returned from our shopping expedition - Goldie and the BC2 were parked at Wal-Mart - my cell phone rang - Julie was back from Cancun and wanted my Buffett tickets! Good timing! We found a FedEx drop-off box on our way out of town. Enjoy him, Julie - and have a Margarita for me!
 
We headed east on Route 14, over 9,033 ft. Granite Pass. Route 14 is a beautiful, "Scenic Byway", starting up a canyon, over the Big Horn Mountains to Sheridan, WY. We saw many, many Mule Deer and fawns. We stopped for a few minutes on the pass, and walked down to a pretty, little mountain stream. Autumn is here! Ice had formed along the edges of the stream, and Snickers walked out to take a drink and nearly fell-in when the ice collapsed! (Yeah, yeah, I know he shouldn't drink out of streams, but he's a DOG.)

Granite Pass - already a bit of snow


Doodle Dawg on the Continental Divide


Photos from Granite Pass - our future ahead. Washington, DC is "that-a-way"

At Buffalo Tongue Turnout, we had a glimpse of our future - nothing but plains as far as the eye can see. Around the next curve a herd of cattle were in the road. Snickers barked them out of the way - who knew Beagles could be so useful?

Snickers herding cattle in Wyoming

As we entered I-90, there was a herd of about two dozen Pronghorn Sheep (American Antelope) (whatever) on the side of the road. We saw Pronghorn Sheep all afternoon - so many, in fact, that we quit pointing them out - they were everywhere. The sheep are so exotic-looking - strikingly marked, with brilliant white rumps.

Pronghorn Sheep (American Antelope)


Devils Tower - from the East

At the last minute, we decided to stop over to Devils Tower National Monument. This 865-foot column of hardened magma is attractive to rock climbers, spiritualists and nature lovers. We talked to climbers - men from New York and Massachusetts who had climbed today. There are two hundred routes and a guidebook. They chose a route based on their skill-level, to climb to the top in one day. Overnighting on Devil's Tower is not allowed.

 
Devil's Tower from the West - and a close-up of climbers

As we left Devils Tower, along Highway 24, we came within seconds of hitting a deer! Luckily, she escaped - bounding across the ditch and over a fence. We were left, breathless, in the middle of the road as she disappeared into the woods. Within the next 40 minutes, we saw at least 300 deer - some in herds as large as thirty. (Note to Mom: DO NOT DRIVE ON THIS ROAD.)
 
We ended up, exhausted - nearly 400 miles today - near Spearfish, South Dakota. Sunday night is Pizza Night - I made a cheese pizza and salad and we are calling it a night. Tomorrow: Mount Rushmore!

RV Park: Chris Campground in Spearfish, South Dakota