Sleeping in the parking lot of a truck stop with big rigs does not allow for peaceful sleep come morning. So, I got up, put gas in the car (next to an orange lamborghini), and headed for Theodore Roosevelt National Park south unit. I took the long scenic drive as far as I could. The entrance gate had mentioned the road being closed due to construction at some point. I turned around a little before the construction due to a road block of bison. It was great to be the only tourist there enjoying this moment watching the herd as they enjoyed their breakfast. There were babies and adults. It was a large herd.
Finally, another tourist car arrived, and I took my leave to return back towards the entrance. Along the way, I took all the pull outs and read all the signs. Some of the pull outs had small hikes again to look over the valley. Other pullouts were simply for bathroom use. The park was waking up, but I was enjoying the solitude of being one of a handful of visitors so early. I stopped by Theodore Roosevelt's lodge in the valley for photos from the bottom and to read about the history.
Feeling like I had seen everything there was to see of the park, and making it back to the entrance. I decided to stop in to the visitor center. Unfortunately, it did not open until 9am. So, I waited and once again used their free wifi to look up things. As 9am approached, the ranger came out with the flag, and I stood with a few other tourists and their families as the ranger raised the flag. Then, I checked out the visitor center gift shop, and added that I had seen the bison herd with their babies along the scenic road towards the construction turnaround. Finished with that, and the plan to return to the black hills area, I headed back out on the road.
With the use of my road atlas and the roadside america curiosities and oddities website, I found many things to see as I headed back to Rapid City, SD. Passing by the start of the Enchanted highway, I took a photo of the first sculpture along the tour to send to my mom, as we had just taken her along that route the previous October. Close to where I headed back south was the sculpture of Salem Sue, a large Cow that could easily be seen from the interstate. Of course, I had to stop, take photos, and hike to the top of the hill (or was it a butte) behind her. After visiting with the cow, I found my 2-lane highway and headed south. Part of the way along, I happened upon a veterans cemetery, which I had to drive through. It seemed like a miniature Arlington National Cemetery.
I had decided I wanted to go through Standing Rock Indian Reservation on my way back to the black hills. Eventually, I found myself needing gas, and not being real lucky to find it. Eventually, I made it to a spot where the pumps were old style in that they did not take credit cards, and you could pump your gas first, then pay. It was in the middle of the Standing Rock reservation, and I was extremely thankful it was there.
Along the way, I found my way to a Sitting Bull memorial park, Sakakawea monument/memorial, and a Sitting bull monument. These were out in the middle of nowhere Dakota, and there were no tourists for miles. All of these sites were part of what I later learned was the Native American scenic byway. Eventually, I made it into Hoven, SD where my road atlas said there was the Cathedral on the Prairie. It was a quick drive by photo stop, in a small town. Not much else was going on that day.
From Hoven, I continued to head towards Pierre, SD where I encountered the Oahe Mission School and Chapel near a reservoir. I walked around reading the history of the place and taking some gorgeous photos of the area. There were a variety of dedicated benches lining the walkway around this historic site. Besides the heavy winds, it was another part of my peaceful journey through indian land and history.
Eventually, I made my way back into Rapid City area and the familiar site of the presidential heads and madonna of the prairie I mentioned previously but for which I did not provide photos (see below). My plan was to head back to Hot Springs, SD and get a hotel for the next couple nights as I waited to pick my sister up and head back to Colorado. Little did I know that I had chosen a hotel in the middle of the road construction area and which was housing the construction workers. I wouldn't realize that mistake until the next morning...
Standing rock rez
Buttes
Sitting bull burial &monument
Salem Sue
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