Well, we are going to find out for sure this week as we head into North Dakota, our next state on the travel map!
One of the best ways to experience each state we travel through is to try at least one of their local foods or dishes.
We tried our first Runza sandwich in Nebraska, and absolutely loved it!
As it turns out, every state and region creates some type of dish, sandwich, or food unique to their area. And often, the folks in that area don’t even realize how unique it is outside of their region.
We learned that a long time ago when Mary put out one of her weekly recipes on her food blog.
But as soon as she put it out, she was flooded with emails and comments from folks saying they had never heard of such a dish. And even one that said it sounded like the worst combination ever! LOL
Enjoying The Foods Of Each State
So as we travel around now, we always try to ask locals what their unique foods are. And then of course, try them out!
Chislic is a delicious version of what we know as steak tips. And I mean delicious! They are most often deep-fried, but can be grilled as well.
In Nebrasksa, it was the Runza sandwich (See : Our First Runza Sandwich), which up until we landed in the state, neither Mary or I had ever even heard of.
In the Southeast South Dakota region, it was Chislic. Chislic is one incredibly tasty version of what we know as steak tips.
It can actually be made from lamb, mutton or even deer. But in South Dakota, if you ask for Chislic, you are most likely going to be served it up using steak.
So What Is Knoephla Soup?
And so that leads us to Knoephla soup in North Dakota. Which quite honestly, can’t wait to try for the first time while here this week.
We can’t wait to try a bowl of Knoephla soup in North Dakota.
Knoephla soup, as it turns out, is a creamy potato and dumpling soup with german origins. It is made in either chicken or vegetable soup.
Knoephla gets it name from the type of dumplings made for the soup. Talk about a comfort food!
It should be the perfect treat for us this week. Especially since the weather is starting to turn a bit chilly here.
Good Thing We Hike & Bike A Lot!
I have said it before, and I will say it again. It is a really good thing that we are biking and hiking as much as we are on this trip.
Its a good thing we love to bike and hike all along this journey!
If not, we may have just had to expand our little teardrop camper! With that said however, I am already looking forward to what Montana, our next state, might have in store for us as their favored dish.
Here is to enjoying the local flavors of each state and region – and still trying to stay in shape!
Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary
CURRENT TRIP STATS
Day 14 of 365
States Visited 3 / 50
Stayed In : Bismark, North Dakota
Miles Driven : 209
Total Trip Miles To Date : 2442
Total Gallons Used : 180.89
Biking Miles : 0
Biking Miles To Date : 55.1
Hiking Miles : 1
Hiking Miles To Date : 32.25
About Our Living Simple Tour
On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States
After an interesting day and night in Faith, SD, we had no idea that tonight we would be camping off the grid.
We spent the morning walking around the quaint little town looking
at the damaged caused by the storm. There were limbs and trees down everywhere.
And the gravel on the roads had been forcefully pushed aside
to allow the heavy stream of water to run downhill.
Because it was quite chilly, so we headed back to the camper and decided to spend the morning getting caught up on some writing that we wanted to get done.
It wasn’t until noon that we decided to pack everything up and head northeast to our next overnight destination, Little Moreau State Recreation Area.
The Roads of South Dakota
There are acres upon acres of sunflowers all across the South Dakota landscape. I can only imagine how beautiful they are when they are in full bloom.
With today being our last full day in South Dakota, we
really paid attention to the scenery as we drove.
We both were in awe at the amount of sunflower fields that
we passed. For miles upon miles, all you could see were sunflower heads tilted
toward the ground, knowing that picking season is right around the corner.
Although this sight was absolutely stunning, I couldn’t help
but imagine what it was like a month ago when the flowers were bright yellow. It
would simply be breathtaking, I am sure.
But not only didn’t the sunflowers catch our eye. The
massive amounts of rolling fields filled with cattle were amazing.
Being from Ohio, we see cattle quite often. Farms that are
minutes from our house are filled with either beef or dairy cattle.
The rolling hills of South Dakota are absolutely breathtaking.
But this is different. In Ohio, a large local farmer may
have a couple hundred acres to tend. However, here in South Dakota, a typical
farmer will have thousands of acres. Many of which are full of beef cattle.
And let me tell you, as much as we brag in Ohio about the
size of our cattle, they don’t even compare to the free-range cattle here.
Even the calves are big!
South Dakota Small Towns
However, as we continued to make the drive along the back roads we were somewhat shocked at the communities that we drove through. Although we passed through several tiny towns, most of them were pretty much desolate. Homes, schools and businesses that once thrived with activity now sat empty.
However we were able to find a small town with a little life in Timber Lake, SD. We stopped for a quick bite to eat at R Rockin’ Bar and Grill, a family owned restaurant.
Lake Moreau just outside of Forest Lake, South Dakota.
There we learned that the owner and his wife not only ran the restaurant, but he was also a rattlesnake catcher on the side. Because this isn’t a typical side job that we were familiar with, we asked him lots of questions. And boy did we learn a lot!
After a fantastic meal we headed to our final destination of the evening, Little Moreau State Recreation Area.
Little Moreau Recreation Area – Camping Off The Grid
We followed our GPS directions that took us a little south out of Timber Lake. And within 6 blocks of town, we were on a bumpy dirt road.
The view from our teardrop camper at Lake Moreau. We had the entire lake to ourselves.
Although the speed limit read 45 mph, we were lucky to be able
to go 20 mph! We just laughed and decided to enjoy the ride.
After 1 mile of driving, I lost cell phone service and therefore, my GPS. However, I knew that Little Moreau was just a few more miles down the road.
As we entered the park to set up for our first camping night at a state park we both realized that we would be doing so off the grid.
Because we were so isolated we decided to pull out the grill and make some locally raised steaks.
No Cell Service, No Problem
We totally didn’t mind the fact that we didn’t have cell
phone service. In fact, the peace and beauty of the area deserved no interruptions.
The lake is encompassed by rolling hills of landscape that are simply magnificent. We pulled up to a turnaround location and parked our camper so that we could sit outside and enjoy the natural beauty that surrounded us.
We sat and listened to all the sounds among us and talked
about what a wonderful experience that we had in South Dakota.
Camping off the grid for the first time allowed us to slow down even more than we have during our first couple of weeks on our journey across America.
We even shelled our popcorn husks to make some fresh popcorn as a snack while we watched the bright stars appear in the sky.
It was time well spent enjoying the views, making dinner on
our outdoor tabletop grill, and yes, even play a game or two of Yahtzee!
Thank you South Dakota!!
Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary
CURRENT TRIP STATS
Day 13 of 365
States Visited 2 / 50
Stayed In : Timber Lake, South Dakota
Miles Driven : 62
Total Trip Miles To Date : 2380
Total Gallons Used : 176.29
Biking Miles : 3.5
Biking Miles To Date : 55.1
Hiking Miles : 1.75
Hiking Miles To Date : 31.25
On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States
Today was definitely one crazy day on the road, from start to finish!
One of the best parts about travelling the back roads of America is you simply never know when something out of the ordinary might appear or happen.
And today, we were able to experience not one, but four of them.
And whether it is discovering something you never knew existed, coming upon a massive roadside cattle drive, seeing a goat in a restaurant, or weathering a 65 mph storm in your camper – you just take it all in and consider it part of the experience.
And yes, by the way, all of those things above really did happen today!
One Crazy Day On The Road
The Cattle Drive
As we drove up State Route 73 towards the town of Faith, South Dakota, we were fortunate enough to come upon a roadside cattle drive in full progress.
We crested over one of the many gorgeous rolling hills on the plains, only to find a mass of cattle everywhere.
It was simply amazing to slowly drive by and hear the ranchers yelling out calls to each other and the cattle. And of course, the cattle talking back.
If you haven’t watched the video yet, it is really a sight to see!
The Minuteman Missile
Our day stared out with the opportunity to visit a crazy and scarier part of our country’s history.
Just on the outskirts of the Badlands in South Dakota, sits the Minuteman missile site.
It is certainly a haunting reminder of the cold war era. And even more scary, one of over 1000 such sites that were once scattered throughout the central states!
The missile here (D-09) is about 6 miles east of Wall, South Dakota. And it was live and ready to go for 30 years. It wasn’t until 1991, under a treaty signed with the Soviet Union, they were finally de-activated and removed.
It was surreal to peer down in through the glass and see the unarmed missile.
Today, at this historical site, the 90 ton cover is partially rolled back and covered with glass so visitors can look down inside to view a now unarmed missile on the launch rails.
It is crazy to think these silos dotted the landscape all over the midwest. And that at any time, they could have been deployed to alter our world forever.
The Goat
So now back to the crazy day. As we drove into Faith, S.D., we set up camp for the night in a beautiful little park the city allows passerby’s to use for camping.
We decided to head up to a local restaurant for dinner, and as always, to see if we could meet a few of the local to tell us about their town.
The goat didn’t want to stand still for the photo, but certainly was a friendly soul!
And while doing so, a man and his goat walked into the bar. No, this is not a punch line to a bad joke, it really did happen!
Apparently the owner keeps a goat outside of the restaurant, and he makes regular appearances. And today happened to be one.
And to Erin, Robin, Sarah and all of the others who shared stories and laughed with during our stay – thank you for the hospitality!
The Night Storm
And last but not certainly least, there was the unwelcome overnight storm that rattled through Faith.
It’s never a good sign to be aroused by your Weather Alert Alarm – but that is exactly what happened late last night.
A tree about 40 feet from our camper didn’t fare too well. The storm certainly rocked the camper, but it held up with flying colors!
It was our first encounter with a serious storm. In fact, a few of the large trees in our park were toppled over.
Just a reminder to us to always be on the lookout for what might be coming. And all just a part of the experience and memories!
Here’s to one adventurous and crazy day on the tour. On towards North Dakota we go! Jim and Mary
CURRENT TRIP STATS
Day 12 of 365
States Visited 2 / 50
Stayed In : Faith, South Dakota
Miles Driven : 141
Total Trip Miles To Date : 2273
Total Gallons Used : 168.37
Biking Miles : 14.6
Biking Miles To Date : 51.6
Hiking Miles : 2.5
Hiking Miles To Date : 29.5
About Our Living Simple Tour
On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States
Today was all about driving and hiking in the Badlands National Park of South Dakota.
And to say the least, it did not disappoint!
Neither of us had been to, or really knew much about the Badlands area. In fact, as we sat outside last night talking about heading there today, we both wondered why they were actually called the Badlands.
We figured the answer was quite obvious, but we didn’t want to speculate. But now we know that we were correct in our assumption.
We learned that the Lakota people were the first to call this place “mako sica” or “land bad.” Extreme temperatures, lack of water, and the exposed rugged terrain led to this name.
And today, we got to experience it all!
Our initial view of the Badlands – it reminded us of the Grand Canyon with different terrain.
The Badlands Temperature
When we woke up this morning, it was quite chilly. Both of us put on sweatshirts and pants as we made our morning coffee.
But this hasn’t been unusual for us. We have noticed a significant swing in temperatures throughout our stay in South Dakota.
The days have been warm, and as soon as the sun fades, the temperatures cool off significantly.
And by 10 a.m. today, we ditched the sweatshirts and pants. It was time to put on our hiking shorts and a dry wick t-shirt as the temperature began to sore.
Arriving at the Badlands National Park
We had a short, 15 minute drive from our campground to the entrance of the Badlands National Park
We pulled up to a small booth where a Parks Ranger was there collecting the entry fee.
My favorite picture while hiking in the badlands – a beautiful bison within feet of us.
It was at that time we decided that we would finally purchase our National Parks Membership for the year. After all, we are going to be visiting several of these parks, forests, and monuments along our journey across the states.
As we were looking at the Ranger through the driver’s side window, we saw her gently smile, and said that we had a welcoming committee there for us.
Being a pretty isolated area, I wasn’t sure what she meant. However, I turned to look outside the passenger window and was nearly face to face with a large bison.
I quickly grabbed my cell phone to take a picture. By the time that I was able to pull up my camera, he was about 10 feet away from the car door.
He looked so majestic, yet so gentle. Although I know they are wild animals, it was almost as though you could reach out your hand and ruffle the fur on his head.
Of course, I didn’t do that, but the imaginary thought crossed my mind!
Driving and Hiking In The Badlands
As we drove off, the excitement of what we had already witnessed had us both on high alert.
We wondered what else we would encounter on our journey, both driving and hiking in the Badlands.
Thousands of prairie dogs fill the landscape on the rim the the Badlands.
Within minutes of our drive there were both rock formations and prairies that surrounded us.
I think we stopped about 10 times in the first mile to take scenic pictures.
After getting over the shock of the beauty of the formations among us, we began to settle into our drive to view the scenery.
However, that didn’t last long. Within minutes, we were among thousands of prairie dogs. The majority of them were propped upright outside of their holes.
Now that we knew what were looking for, we could see prairie dog holes for miles.
Then as we drove a little further down the path, we could see ahead of us a bunch of cars pulled over.
If you look closely, you can see Big Horn Sheep on the rock formations in the distance.
Doing what most tourists do, we parked along the road as well to see what the fuss was all about.
In the distance you could see Bighorn Sheep perched on the peaks of the rocks throughout the landscape. At first they were difficult to see, but as soon as your eyes got adjusted to what you were looking for, you could see dozens of them.
And when they stood up and showed their horns, they were absolutely beautiful.
Hiking The Badlands
Once we got about half way through the scenic byway around the Badlands, we finally arrived to our parking destination.
The beautiful colors of the Badland’s Rock Formations.
We both researched hiking in the Badlands and we decided that the Castle Trail would be best for us.
Castle Trail
With the path extending for 10 miles, it is the longest trail for hiking in the Badlands. Although it is fairly level, it is still rated a moderate hiking trail due to the length of the trail and the various terrain that is situated in the wide open sun.
However, we both knew that this trail would take awhile so we prepared by having lots of water and a few snacks in our hiking backpack.
Unfortunately, the sunscreen and hats did not make the trip with us for hiking in the Badlands.
But we were on a mission, so we started on the path that began with wide open spaces along the top of the rock formations.
We were initially on a wide sandstone path, but it quickly became a narrow 12 inch walking path.
There are many options of trails to hike in the Badlands.
As we were walking the prairies brush was leaning towards the center of the path. We had to walk in single file with quite a distance between us to prevent the brush from swatting the person behind.
Although this terrain lasted for only bout 1/4 of the path, it seemed like much longer.
Then we came across a rocky area that allowed us to walk side by side.
However, this hike wasn’t as easy as it seemed. There were large crevices that we had to jump over to remain on the path.
It was a little easier for Jim, who is 6’4″ tall with a large leg span, but it took me a while to find the perfect spot to jump over.
In the end, we both made it without incident. Well, that was until a little creature decided to cross our path.
The Rattlesnake
Although there are warnings posted at each entrance while hiking the Badlands that there are rattlesnakes in the area, you never imagine that you will run into one if you remain on the path.
Well that thought changed today. We had been cautiously looking through the grassy prairie areas as we were hiking in the Badlands for snakes that could be hiding in the brush.
But that shouldn’t have been our only focus. About half way through our hike, we both paused at the same time.
Our first encounter with a rattlesnake.
You see, we were in a very isolated area. During the whole trail, we had only seen 6 people along the way.
And we didn’t expect to see any movement on the ground in a wide open space.
But that is where we were wrong. As we were admiring the beauty around us, there was a movement across the ground that caught our eye.
Once we took our eyes off of the views of the landscape, we noticed there was a rattlesnake just a few feet away from us.
We both quickly stopped in our tracks and slowly backed up. Reaching for my phone with my eyes glued on the ground, I captured a photo of him as he moved onward.
That is when we were reminded that we were a guest here, not only to the National Forest Staff, but to the residents of the Badlands as well.
I have to say, today was an amazing day with lots of memorable sights!
Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary
CURRENT TRIP STATS
Day 11 of 365
States Visited 2 / 50
Stayed In : Wall, South Dakota
Miles Driven : 87
Total Trip Miles To Date : 2132
Total Gallons Used : 157.93
Biking Miles : 0
Biking Miles To Date : 37
Hiking Miles : 11.0
Hiking Miles To Date : 27.0
On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States
We finally can say we have been to Wall Drug Store!
We have set up camp for a few days in Wall, South Dakota. Yes, the now-famous city of Wall that is home to Wall Drugs.
And if you have ever been along I-90 in South Dakota, you know that it is nearly impossible not to see a sign for the store every 20 feet or so!
Of course we had to visit Wall Drug Store – Mary’s parents came through here some 50 years ago!
The Story of Wall Drug Store
The story of Wall Drugs is actually pretty amazing. Ted Hustead purchased the little drug store back in 1931.
And then, with a little marketing genius, turned it into a massive attraction that nearly everybody in the world now knows about.
His big marketing idea of the day? To offer passerby’s free ice water. And then, to promote it all with big bright billboards all along the highway.
It may sound a bit crazy, but it worked!
Wall Drug Store now takes up the entire block of downtown Wall, South Dakota.
And today, that little Wall Drug store occupies the entire main street area.
During the height of tourist season, 30,000 to 40,000 visitors each day stroll through the store that is filled with every kind of item imaginable. When you consider the town’s population is around 700, that is pretty amazing.
Wall Drugs even now boasts one of the finest art collections around! So yes, of course we had to stroll through the town and take it all in!
Biking In The Badlands
One of our goals on the trip is to bike at least 25 miles, and hike at least 10 miles in all 50 states. See : Staying Fit While Traveling
And today was the day to get some of our South Dakota biking in at the edge of the Badlands.
Every few weeks, our plan is to find a more remote area to camp for a longer 3 day stay.
Biking at the edge of the Badlands. It felt so good to get out on the bikes today for a nice 10 mile trek.
For one, it gives us the opportunity to really enjoy an area. But more importantly, a chance to settle in and catch up for a few days on writing in between all of the hiking and biking.
And this is one of those times and one of those weeks!
In fact, this is the first day on the entire trip that our mileage stat at the bottom of the article will read “0” in the daily column.
It is a good rest for the Chevy, and for the T@B 400 camper. Both have traveled over 2000 miles already on the first week and a half of the journey.
Our time in the Black Hills and the Badlands has been filled with a lot of great sights and sounds
This area is filled with it’s own unique beauty of rolling rock formations and long stretches of open fields. It felt great to get out and ride through it all.
Tomorrow – we head deeper into the Badlands for a big hike!
We both still have to pinch ourselves that we are getting the chance to experience all of this. Wouldn’t trade this for anything! Jim and Mary
Current Trip Stats
Day 10 of 365
States Visited 2 / 50
Stayed In : Wall, South Dakota
Miles Driven : 0
Total Trip Miles To Date : 2045
Total Gallons Used : 151.48
Biking Miles : 10
Biking Miles To Date : 37
Hiking Miles : 2.0
Hiking Miles To Date : 16.0
About Our Living Simple Tour
On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States
Today’s adventures took us back in time via a Steam Engine Train Ride through the beautiful area of the Black Hills National Forest in western South Dakota.
We got an up close view of how a steam engine operates. And we also learned how each series of train whistles indicates different messages from the train conductor to the engineer.
But the most impressive part of the train ride from Hill City to Keystone, was the history and scenery among us.
The History of the Steam Engine Train Ride
You may be wondering if this steam train ride was solely generated from the tourism industry of Mt. Rushmore.
Although it does allow those that are visiting the Black Hills National Forest region to get within 3 miles of the famous Mt. Rushmore sculpture, the train served a more important purpose when it was first established in 1879.
One of the refurbished rail cars at the Black Hills Scenic Railway.
The Black Hills mining boom hit in 1874. Gold was discovered in the area and the area become a popular site for several mining companies.
Then in 1879, the first steam engines were brought in by bull teams. And by the mid 1880’s there were several mining companies that had built single track railroads through the Black Hills area.
This was the only way that they could haul cargo and people up the steep embankments to the mining camps.
And today, you can enjoy a scenic steam train ride from Hill City to/from Keystone South Dakota. Although, these are the not the exact same tracks, the same path has been used since the 1890’s.
The Railway Scenery
As we waited to board the train, we got an up close look at the steam engine that would pull us from Hill City to Keystone.
An inside view of our Caboose ride.
We learned that the engine is powered by recycled motor oil and water. And the conductor that was controlling the steam engine train even dressed the part by wearing the traditional striped bibs and hat.
As the boarding bell rang, we headed to the Caboose rail car. As walked up the steps, we were both impressed with the condition of the rail cars.
Each one had been restored to show the beauty and functionality of passenger rail cars of the years past.
Then we found our seats and prepared to enjoy the ride through the Black Hills.
The Ride
A granite mountain only found in the Black Hills.
The hills were filled with pine trees that seemed to last for miles upon miles.
And throughout the landscape there were several rock formations that we passed along the way. Some of which were blasted through for the railroad to be built many years ago.
But then we got a close view of a beautiful mountain of untouched Harney Peak granite. This is the same type of granite that Mt. Rushmore was carved from.
This rock formation can only be found in the Black Hills of South Dakota and it is over 2 billion years old. It was simply breathtaking to see this spectacular granite formation among the massive Ponderosa pine trees that scattered the landscape.
A view from our seat on the steam engine train.
As we continued with our steam engine train ride we noticed that there were several old mines that still had the frame to the entrance intact.
Of course, they are no longer active, but just the sheer fact that over 100 years ago this serene area was full of mining companies was simply amazing.
The Rest of the Day
After we returned to Hill City, we decided to head to the Crazy Horse Monument, which was only about 13 miles away.
Unfortunately, a storm cloud began to move towards us on our short drive there.
Then just as we pulled into the parking log, it began to sprinkle. We quickly jumped out of our vehicle and headed towards the entrance to the museum.
Crazy Horse Monument
The closest view that we could get to Crazy Horse due to the lightning that moved in.
However, as walked across the parking lot, in the far distance, you could see the side profile of the Crazy Horse sculpture.
The granite rock formation was much larger than I had envisioned and I realized I knew very little about the history of this sculpture.
I learned that in 1948 this specific granite mountain was chosen to be the location to memorialize the Lakota Indian warrior Crazy Horse.
Several Lakota leaders proclaimed that the mountain carving “would let the white people know that the Indian people had great leaders, too.”
As we drove out of the Black Hills we were greeted by a beautiful rainbow.
Therefore, a young sculptor named Korzak Ziolkowski who helped carve out Mt. Rushmore, was asked to lead the process. He began the work by designing and carving out the first chunks of granite.
Although he has since passed away, his family continues to oversee this massive project.
However the carving of the Crazy Horse Monument is independently funded. Therefore, the admission fee to the area helps not only fund the carving, but also helps to run the museum and even the Indian University of North America.
However to get a closer look you must take a bus ride (for a small fee) to the base of the mountain. But unfortunately, due to lightning in the area, the bus tours were suspended at the time that we were there.
Although we didn’t get a chance to get a closer look at Crazy Horse, an informational movie and a self-guided tour of the museum gave us a better understanding of the history behind this amazing sculpture.
Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary
Current Trip Stats
Day 9 of 365
States Visited 2 / 50
Stayed In : Hill City, South Dakota
Miles Driven : 107
Total Trip Miles To Date : 2045
Total Gallons Used : 151.48
Biking Miles : 0
Biking Miles To Date : 27
Hiking Miles : 5.0
Hiking Miles To Date : 14.0
On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States
Do we start with hiking around Mount Rushmore, taking in the beauty of the Black Hills, visiting the Black Hills National Cemetery, or driving up I-90 to see the iconic city of Sturgis?
Today was just simply one of those days that seemed to good to be true!
Looking back now as the sun is slowly setting on the day, it is hard to believe just how much we were able to take in during our first full day of South Dakota.
And just like, one of our bucket list items to see appeared out of nowhere.
A Visit To Sturgis
We started off in the late morning with a short 30 minute drive up I-90 to take in Sturgis. Although neither Mary or I own a motorcycle, we wanted to visit the town that has become such an iconic part of American motorcycle history.
With a population of just over 6,000 residents, Sturgis comes to life each August with a massive motorcycle rally. Over the course of 10 days, 500,000+ bikers fill the town’s streets to well beyond full capacity.
The Iron Horse In Sturgis where we stopped for lunch. The downtown is deserted this time of year, but not in August.
One of the many incredible sculptures at Full Throttle Saloon in Sturgis.
From the stories we heard today from the locals, it can get pretty crazy during those 10 days! Probably best these two small-town farmers visited in the off-season. 🙂
Just outside of Sturgis, we were able to take time to walk through Black Hills National Cemetery.
With the backdrop of the hills off in the distance, it is a peaceful and serene final resting place for so many of our nation’s veterans.
Black Hills National Cemetery, located just outside of Sturgis, South Dakota.
The Black Hills & Mount Rushmore
Next it was on to the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore!
Seeing and hiking Mount Rushmore was something we have been looking forward to for so long. And it certainly didn’t disappoint!
The photos hardly do it justice at all. It is simply breathtaking to drive through the mountains and see the beauty of the pine forests that seem to rise forever into the sky.
And then suddenly, after a long, steep and winding drive – there it was, Mount Rushmore!
While standing there, you simply can’t help but wonder how it was ever carved out of the side of the mountain.
Although you can view Mount Rushmore from the main viewing platform, hiking up the 1/2 mile trail to a couple of perfectly placed observation points is the best way to take it all in.
With over 700 total steps up and back on the hike, it is certainly a workout. But so well worth it for the views
Perhaps a little flushed after the 700+ steps on the hike, we had to of course get a selfie in front of Mount Rushmore.
There was just something so incredibly peaceful and moving walking through the massive pine trees and rock formations. And then to look up and see Jefferson, Washington, Roosevelt and Lincoln – what a sight!
It was early evening by the time we arrived at the Naked Winery, our Harvest Host campsite for the night. I know, great name right? It’s about how they make the wine of course, not the dress attire :).
And if the day hadn’t been good enough to that point, we sat down with 3 other Harvest Host traveling couples who were staying the night as well.
The folks at Naked Winery were just awesome to all of us. We had an incredible meal, with great conversation, and a wonderful South Dakota wine.
We haven’t had a bad day yet on this trip. But I can certainly say that today was one of the best of the best!
But there is always tomorrow to try to top it.
And when tomorrow includes a 2 hour round trip Steam Engine ride through the Black Hills – topping is always a possibility! Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary.
You can see all of our days here on the blog tab : Days of the Trip
Current Trip Stats Through 9/16/2019
Day 8 of 365
States Visited 2 / 50
Stayed In : Hill City, South Dakota
Miles Driven : 113
Total Trip Miles To Date : 1938
Total Gallons Used : 143.55
Biking Miles : 0
Biking Miles To Date : 27
Hiking Miles : 4.5
Hiking Miles To Date : 9.0
About Our Living Simple Tour
On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States
As we headed out of Nebraska towards South Dakota, we never imagined that we would end up at a Roadside Rodeo.
But before we get into the details of the roadside rodeo, let me explain how we ended up there, and how we almost didn’t!
A Morning Bike Ride
As many of you know, one of our goals is to bike 25 miles in every state. See: Biking Across America
Therefore, this morning we knew that we would need to head out on our bikes to get in the extra miles that we needed.
We were lucky enough to be staying at a campground in Scotts Bluff that had a bike trail access less than 50 feet from our campsite.
Taking in one last bike ride in Nebraska next to the North Platte river.
So we unloaded the bikes and got pedaling!
We biked along the North Platte River with beautiful scenes of water, trees, and of course the Scotts Bluff National Monument in the background.
And we learned even more about the history and development of the land through historical markers placed along the way.
On The Road To South Dakota – We Almost Didn’t Make It!
After a morning of biking, we packed up our little NuCamp camper and headed north.
A quick stop at the grocery store and we were off! We had about a half a tank of gas so we decided we had enough until we made it to the next town.
There are acres upon acres of fields filled with sunflowers, but no sign of civilization for miles.
However, that is when the problem arose. There were NO towns!! And I mean literally, there were absolutely no signs of modern day civilization for miles upon miles.
The gas tank got lower and lower and we began to worry. So with just about 60 miles left on our gas tank gauge we decided to turn off the air conditioner.
Yes, it was 93 degrees outside, and it became very warm in the truck. However, we knew that it would be even more uncomfortable for us if we had to walk several miles to find a farmer that could help us with an empty gas tank.
I attempted to look on my cell phone for the nearest gas station and the only response I received was ‘none found’.
Then we passed our first street sign indicating that a town was 47 miles down the road.
This is what our fuel gauge looked like when we finally found a gas station.
WOW – we were going to cut it close, but we were hopeful that we could make it there.
With just about 6 miles left in our gas tank, we pulled into the town of Crawford, ND and filled up.
And you can bet that we were happy to roll up the windows and turn the air conditioning back on!
Surprise Roadside Rodeo Stop
As we headed into South Dakota we were amazed at the beauty of the terrain.
Lots of rolling hills, plateaus and pine trees filled the landscape. We even got to see herds of Bison in the fields as we drove by.
The beauty of South Dakota’s terrain is stunning!
But sometimes the absolute best stops are the ones that you don’t expect!
And that is exactly what happened today. We were about an hour outside of our destination when we came across a roadside rodeo.
Immediately we both knew that we had to stop and take in the action of a real rodeo.
We pulled in the bumpy lot that was filled with trucks and horse trailers. There were cowboys and cowgirls everywhere.
Some that were standing along the cattle fence watching the action, and others that were on their horses preparing for their upcoming event.
A true roadside rodeo experience
We even asked one of them if we could take their picture by our camper.
We strolled through the area watching the action and were amazed that even the kids as young as 5 years old participating in the events.
After talking with the Oelrichs, SD locals we learned that this roadside rodeo was founded in 1885.
The event is named the Last Round Up Rodeo and we were so glad that we were able to witness and be part of such a historical tradition.
And it was then that both of us realized that you never know where your travels will take you!
Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary
Current Trip Stats
Day 7 of 365
States Visited 2 / 50
Stayed In : Rapid City, South Dakota
Miles Driven : 192
Total Trip Miles To Date : 1825
Total Gallons Used : 135.19
Biking Miles : 9
Biking Miles To Date : 27
Hiking Miles : 0
Hiking Miles To Date : 4.5
On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States
Day 6 was an eye-opening one for sure hiking Scotts Bluff! We discovered a part of Nebraska that quite honestly, we never knew existed!
We hiked a total of 4 1/2 miles up and around the bluff, and also visited and walked around Chimney Rock as well.
These magnificent bluffs and rock formations seem to jut right out of the flat Nebraska landscape. And all of it caught us totally by surprise.
Who knew this existed in Nebraska! Simply beautiful views all around as we hiked up Scotts Bluff trail.
In fact, up until yesterday, if someone showed me the photo we took below and asked me where it was, Nebraska would have been one of my last guesses.
But then again, this is what our trip is all about. Discovering the country as we never knew it. Finding hidden gems like this and learning about their history. One thing is for sure, it will never get old.
To experience the country first hand is more than we could ever learn from any textbook.
Hiking Scotts Bluff
Scotts Bluff was named after Hiram Scott. Scott was a fur trader who was deserted by his group in 1828 and died at the base of the bluffs that now bear his name.
The view out over the Nebraska landscape. The rock formations seem to simply jut right up and out of the land.
Scotts Bluff sits along the beautiful North Platte River. A river we have crossed now driving countless times as we head across Nebraska.
The bluffs were a big part of the Oregon Trail, California Trail, and even part of the Pony Express as well.
In fact, in just the mid-1800’s alone, over 350,000 homesteaders seeking a new life out west traveled by this landmark.
Today,Scott’s Bluff is a national monument run by the National Parks Service. And they do an incredible job of keeping the history and the surroundings in tact for so many of us to enjoy.
The hike up the bluff was actually pretty steep. And was a bit demanding on an unusually warm 90 degree day for Nebraska here in mid-September. I guess we will be getting in shape faster than we thought!
A stop for a little selfie on the way up. The real reason…we needed a break from the heat!
The 1.6 mile trek up the rock formation included a stroll through a tunnel that led to a beautiful view of the city of Gering below.
Once on top of the bluff, you can actually see all 5 of the famous rock formations that dot the Nebraska landscape. It is actually pretty amazing when you consider some, like the Chimney Rock formation, are nearly 20 miles off in the horizon.
A Little Guest On The Trail…
We did, as you can see below, have a little guest greet us on the way up. Not sure what type of snake he or she was, but nonetheless, it did startle us a bit when we first saw it.
After a long day of hiking, biking and trekking around the area, we finished off the night with a campfire and a “home-cooked” meal grilling outside of our camper at the local campground.
As the clear skies dropped the temperature into the low 50’s, it was a perfect night for us to sit around the fire, relax, and enjoy the beauty of Nebraska.
Life in our Nucamp Teardrop camper has honestly and truly been amazing so far. I think the only regret we have is not taking this trip sooner.
After a bit more biking and hiking tomorrow, it will be on to South Dakota!
CURRENT TRIP STATS THROUGH 9/14
Day 6 of 365
States Visited 1 / 50
Stayed In : Scotts Bluff, Nebraska
Miles Driven : 40
Total Trip Miles To Date : 1633
Total Gallons Used : 120
Biking Miles : 10
Biking Miles To Date : 18
Hiking Miles : 4.5
Hiking Miles To Date : 4.5
About Our Living Simple Tour
On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States
Today we had the pleasure of not only visiting, but spending the night at the largest rail yard in the world.
As we arrived in North Platte, Nebraska we immediately knew that we were about to witness history.
During our travel along route 30, we got an up close view of dozens of large trains traveling both east and west bound.
Some of the trains hauled cars that were filled with coal. And others had stacked cars that lasted for miles.
As we pulled into the Golden Spike Tower parking lot we were amazed at both the sights and sounds before us.
Hundreds, if not thousands of rail cars filled the area. There were so many different train tracks that I wondered how they kept them all straight.
So we went inside the tower to get a closer look. And, of course, to learn a little more about the history behind the largest rail yard.
Bailey Yard – The Largest Rail Yard in the World
Bailey Yard is part of the Union Pacific railroad. And the Union Pacific is the largest railroad in the United States. Not to mention one of the largest transport companies in the world.
Bailey Yard – the largest rail yard in the world.
So that makes Bailey Yard the largest rail yard not only in the United States, but in the world!
The massive yard covers 2,850 acres, reaching a total length of eight miles and it is named in honor of former Union Pacific President Edd H. Bailey.
The rail yard handles about 15,000 rail cars each day. About 150 trains pass through the area in a 24 hour period.
It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and even has a repair and service center on site. They replace 10,000 wheels annually and work on over 8,500 locomotives per month to keep operations moving as quick as possible.
It was a truly impressive site. But it also made us appreciate the transportation process of the products that we purchase.
The Rest of The Day
After our visit to the largest rail yard in the world, we headed north and west to the city of Scotts Bluff, Nebraska.
As we traveled along highway 26, we began to notice that the terrain had completely changed. No longer were we in the flat lands filled with acres upon acres of cornfields.
On our way, we stopped for a quick lunch at Front Street Cafe, a recreation of an old Western town.
We were increasing in altitude and in the short distance we viewed sandy bluffs around us. It was absolutely stunning.
We stopped for a quick lunch at Front Street Cafe, a recreation of an old Western town.
After we got settled into our overnight campground accommodations, we decided to experience the festivities at a local high school football game.
Gering High School Football stadium
Our boys played football since they were 5 years old, and we attended probably over 100 high school football games.
So we thought it would be interesting to see what high school football is like in the great state of Nebraska.
Therefore, we headed to Gering High School where they were the hosts of tonight’s football game.
The excitement that surrounded the stands of the students and parents in anticipation of the first kickoff was very familiar to us.
The football players are getting warmed up for the game.
However, this time we got to sit back, relax, and just enjoy the game. No worries of who would win or lose. And even more importantly no concern of doing dirty, smelly football laundry at the end of the night!
Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary
CURRENT TRIP STATS
Day 5 of 365
States Visited 1 / 50
Stayed In : North Platte, Nebraska
Miles Driven : 203
Total Trip Miles To Date : 1593
Total Gallons Used : 118
Biking Miles : 0
Biking Miles To Date : 8
On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. Check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States
