Our spot in this pretty state park. Here's the view looking out:
and the view down the road:
It also has a really wonderful bike path that winds through meadows and big trees and leads to a bridge on one end and a playground on the other. And at only $13/night (plus a fee for the car, which varies), it's a damn good deal. Maybe our best deal on a state park so far.
Wednesday, July 27
We have just a day here, because we want to hurry and get to Rapid City before the weekend starts. This weekend is the start of the Sturgis bike rally, unfortunately for us. We're just interested in seeing the sights and my old college friend Heide, but the place will probably be packed with bikers too.
We headed over to the falls, and boy are they pretty:
So is the park alongside them. Here is Katie enjoying the shade:
And the rock is so polished and hard. Here's the info on it:
Here's Katie enjoying the view near one of the falls:
There are ruins from an old mill and an old electric generating plant, and you can ramble among the ruins or eat at a cafe built into the old generating plant. We did both, then wandered around town, where I found a really good bead store, and a neat old book store, and then this, the most wonderful variety store:
They have an old soda fountain in back, a small (but wonderful) bookstore area, with a great Travel section and a really great New Arrivals section. They had books by Edward Gorey next to hip new zine compilations. I wanted to buy a few books, but Katie kept wanting expensive toys (they had loads of those too) and we couldn't say no to her and yes to me, I figured, so it was no to all. They also had gifty stuff and stationary other stuff too, great selections in all areas. I want them to relocate to wherever we live.
Thursday, July 28
We have 350 miles to go today. We average about 50 miles/hour including stops, so we're leaving early (7:30am). It's a long straight haul, and hopefully a pretty one.