Summer - 2021 NP Wanderlodge Trip - Blackhawk, South Dakota

Three Flags CG 7.07 - 7.17.2021

We used our campground as the hub to visit all the attractions in this area; so for this area post #1 will be TOAD fuel, & #2 TOAD miles driven #3 is constant #4 will be as usual, food & attraction visit. Quite a few storms rolled through in evenings and late night. Not for the faint of heart.

Rapid City, SD - 7.7.2021

1) Since we are here for 10 days, miles driven will be in our TOAD and cost of fuel for the Jeep. Distance for supper was 26 miles round trip. Fuel in this area at that time was $3.58 a gallon. Fill-ups running $55 - $65

2) To get here in the Wanderlodge : 61 miles driven today; 2,330 miles traveled so far from home. We are in MST, and past the middle of the Congenital US

Drive to Rapid City and Back - 20 miles round trip.

3) Three Flags CG, here for 10 nights, $284.91. Not a large CG, right by I-90; convenient on & off interstate. I would come back here, easy in & out. Great laundry and management. Our site was water & 50Amp electric. We had to move to dump.

4) Our first night we went to Firehouse Brewing Company we saw advertised on I-90 since entering SD. Food was fantastic, about a 40 minute wait to get a table, any table.

Firehouse Brewing Company:

Beautiful frescos on the buildings, Historical building, fantastic food.

Cheesy Artichoke Dip - with garlic beer bread

Wings and Rings

Asian Tuna Salad

Dakotah Steakhouse

Good appetizers, Steaks cooked perfectly, Tasty deserts

FMCA, Gillette, WY - 7.8.2021

1) 156 miles round trip

2) NA

3) Three Flags CG, here for 10 nights, $284.91. Not a large CG, right by I-90; convenient on & off interstate. I would come back here, easy in & out. Great laundry and management. Our site was water & 50Amp electric. We had to move to dump.

4) We drove to Gillette, WY to attend the FMCA convention and Happy Hour with the Burdette's. Had lunch at "The Main Bagel" Bagel sandwiches and Cinnamon roll the size of 4 at home and Happy Hour nibbles with the Burdette's. Good food and fellowship. Met YouTubers "TexasRVY'all" Stacy, and Jojo had a ball rolling along in his Wagon.

<-- Three Flags CG

Pronghorn Antelope every where in Wyoming

FMCA Gathering Happy Hour Snacks

Stacy from Texas RV Y'all

Vintage Car Museum - Gillette WY

Vintage Bird Family - Randall & Linda Burdette

Linda & Wade Farrar

Mount Rushmore - Crazy Horse - Custer State Park 7.9.2021

1) 110 miles round trip

2) Filled up Jeep 7/8/2021 - $50.75 - Jeep gets ~24 mpg, last gas purchased was in St Ignace, MI

3) Three Flags CG, here for 10 nights, $284.91. Not a large CG, right by I-90; convenient on & off interstate. I would come back here, easy in & out. Great laundry and management. Our site was water & 50Amp electric. We had to move to dump.

4) Started the day in Rapid City at Black Hills Bagels, yum!, Then to Mount Rushmore, we arrived at opening and walked right in, I had to wait 15 minutes for the gift shop to open. Bought our T-shirts & ones for the guys at home (Son & Grandson) and get our NP Stickers. I was surprised how small Mount Rushmore, the Park was, Parking areas were larger that the actual park area, with the carved monument, the amphitheater area and avenue of states. What id wonderful are the peek-a-boo sights of the Presidents that you find at different parts of the drive around Mount Rushmore. Love the framed view from "Needles Hwy" framed by a tunnel. (Picture to come)

Next we headed to Crazy Horse. I was so impressed with what is being done at Crazy horse, no government money, all private funding. Crazy Horse is an impressive sight once you turn off Hwy 16 onto the Avenue of the Chiefs. The Museum of the American Bison, We thoroughly enjoyed the short film outlining the life work of Korczak, almost 40 when he started work on the monument. He knew that he had willingly dedicated his life to keeping his promise to the American Indian people. However, he did not know until later that he would marry Ruth Ross and they would have 10 children. This turn of events made him both happy and proud, and Crazy Horse became a family story.

The Indian University of North America academic experience is focused on the interrelatedness of Care of Self, Care of Community, Care of Environment, and Care of Culture. Promoting and sustaining the Proud Lakota Tribe and culture.

Custer State Park and visited the donkeys and Bison. By far my favorite place to visit in the land of plenty attraction, good food, plentiful unusual wine - AKA Rosy Ass Rhubarb Wine, tart and delicious and a great label.

Finished the day at Bear Country. Full day, but saw so much. Bear Country - admission - $18 per adult and $12 per child (age 5-12), Max $65 per car. Elk, Snow Wolves, Reindeer, Mule Dear, Big Horn Sheep, Pronghorn Antelope, Bison, Cougar. The amount of wildlife to see is amazing for the price. Highly recommend a drive through.

Magpie Birds

Mammoth Site, Hot Springs - 7.10.2021

1) Our farthest travel destination from this hub, Mammoth Site @ Hot Springs, SD; 66 miles. The Drive is beautiful, Then 2.5 miles to Wind Cave from there we drove 35 miles to Custer SP and 40 miles back to Blackhawk Looking for those NP Passport stamps & Stickers. Total today, 144 miles round trip.

2) Bought gas for Jeep $24.08 at Sundance on 7/8/2021, only station we have seen since Gillette & a ways to go to Blackhawk when returned from Gillette.

3) No change

4) Mammoth Site is a nice visit, pet friendly if carried. W1)e have a 12 pound Chihuahua that I do not like to leave in the RV for long periods. I prefer to take him with us if possible, he is a good a good car rider. [We have RV Whisper that allows us to monitor (with WiFi connectivity)power to the RV and temperatures inside the Bird, as well as our Refrigerator and basement temps. This is helpful while in the Birdnest during the winter.] On the way back we stopped at Wind Cave and back to Custer. We really love Custer SP!

Wind Cave - 7.10.2021

After visiting Hot Springs, SB we went back to Custer SP via Wind Cave. We stopped by the visitor center for stamps and the Wind Cave cancel stamp in our NP Passport book. The Prairie Dog area is so fun to listen to he barking and chirping, we heard our first barking in Custer with Jojo out walking to potty, as you are so protective of your animal in these wild areas, watching for any predator. Took us a minute to figure this is a prairie dog, they are funny little animals.

Needles Hwy, Custer State Park - 7.11.2021

If you only have time to see one thing at Custer SP, drive Needles Hwy in Custer State Park. Such a beautiful drive! The rock formations that are called the Needles, are stunning! Altimeter reading at Sylvan Lake - 6,273 Feet 43.50.38N; 103.34.2W

Sylvan Lake

Badlands NP - 7.12.2021

1) Badlands distance 66.4 miles. Total today, 135 miles round trip.

2) Bought gas for Jeep $24.08 at Sundance on 7/8/2021, only station we have seen since Gillette & a ways to go to Blackhawk when returned from Gillette.

Again a fill up on 7.12.2021 $ 55.09 in Custer SP on way back from Mammoth Site

3) No change

4) Stopped at Blaze Pizza on way back through Rapid City to Blackhawk.

Like stepping on another planet, the Badlands are so different than anything we have seen. Stark and desolate, home to Big Horn Sheep (saw my first time near Wall at the dispersed camping area) and snakes ( saw the signs). The park is large (379 Square miles) and a CG within the park.

Spearfish, SD - 7.13.2021

1) Spearfish distance 41.5 miles, traveled the full canyon @ 25 miles one way Total today, 133 miles round trip.

2) none bought

3) No change

4) Towering limestone cliffs and a rushing mountain stream keep you company along the 19-mile stretch of US Highway 14A known as Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. A quant town, with a nice visitor center on Main street. Lots of interesting looking eatery's, we had lunch Redwater Kitchen. Driving the Scenic Byway is stunning, waterfalls and a babbling brook running by the 2 lane road. Definitely worth a visit if in the area.

National Cemetery - 7.13.2021

Sturgis, SD - 7.14.2021

1) Distance to Sturgis is 23 miles from Blackhawk , out to the Bell Joli Winery 3 miles, on to Deadwood.

2) none

3) No Change

4) Enjoyed driving around Sturgis and out to Bell Joli Sparkling Winery. Beautiful area and tasty sparkling wines.

Bell Joli Winery

Deadwood, SD - 7.14.2021

1) Distance to Deadwood from Sturgis is 14 miles to Mt Moriah Cemetery, down town another miles. Back to Blackhawk is 36 miles. So total distance today driven is 76 miles.

2) none

3) No Change

4) Enjoyed driving around Sturgis and out to Bell Joli Sparkling Winery. Beautiful area and tasty sparkling wines.