June 8, 2013 - Devils Tower and our drive to the Black Hills

     After a night of thunder, lightning and rain, I expected to get up to nasty weather.  On the contrary, there wasn't a cloud in the sky.  We got an early start after getting up at 7:00 AM and having a quick breakfast. 

     The air was fresh and clean from the rain so we ventured up to Devils Tower to do the short hike of about 2 km around the base.  There were a few people readying themselves for the climb to the top.  It is 867 vertical feet almost straight up on columns formed when molten lava was forced into sedimentary rocks above it and cooled underground. Over millions of years erosion has exposed this amazing tower.  In 1906 it was named the first national monument ever in the United States.


makes you feel kind of small

looking souh at Devils Tower

climbers getting ready for their assent

   

It was a beautiful sunny morning

here are some native prayer cloths hanging in many trees

c'mon, push harder and put that rock back where you got it from

magnificent!

here are some residents of Prairie Dog Town

 Our goal today was to reach the Black Hills in South Dakota and the drive was wonderful.  We arrive into the national forest around lunch time and stop at Boondock for lunch and a snoop around their shops.  Lots of memorabilia

a cool cow at Boondocks Diner

     Ron and Shanon have recommended Crooked Creek Resort to stay at so that is where we end up.  It is just outside of Hill City, a quaint little tourist trap where we wander the streets and stop for a beer.  This area is truly Harley Davidson country and almost nobody wears a helmut.  They are all decked out in their various leathers and bandanas and are looking pretty cool.

this was an amazing scuplture using found and recycled items and
had 5 bronze castings of horses on it

 

     After we get set up with water, electricity and very slow internet ($30 per night), we put on some dinner; a steak we picked up in Hill City and some veggies.  When we're finished eating we get on our bikes and ride down Michelson Trail which runs 110 miles behind our campground and then back for a fire and some marshmallow roasting.

SCORE!  Free wood along the trail

our campste at Crooked Creek