Day Five:
This day started as we drove through and took more pictures of the Badlands. We wanted to spend more time here, but as we looked around we realized there really wasn’t that much hiking or exploring to do there. So we moved on to Rapid City.
On our drive we stopped at Wall, SD. Here is the famous Wall Drug Store. This little drug store turned into a little mini-mall, after it was saved from bankruptcy during the Great Depression. The original owners offered free ice water to travelers that were weary from going through the prairie. We didn’t get any water, but they did have five cent coffee available! Not a bad cup either.
From there we drove on and hit Rapid City. We didn’t hit anything this day, but drove on to see Mt. Rushmore. That is quite an amazing monument! The little museum underneath it was really well done too. We learned about the sculptor and the methods he used to carve the faces in the wall. And if anyone wonders the face on the mountain are Washington, Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt and Lincoln. (we were trying to remember on the way there)
After we left the monument we headed into the Black Hills National Forest. I think this was the prettiest place we’ve seen so far. The hills are beautiful and there are amazing rock formations. We went to Custer State Park to camp. We were all ready with supplies to cook out and make s’mores and everything…and then came the rain! As we were working on building the fire, it started sprinkling. We put all the supplies, except the tent into the car before it started raining harder. Once it really started coming down we got in the car. The lightning was crazy and the thunder was loud and it started hailing! I was really starting to freak out. It blew over fairly quickly, so we checked out the tent. Amazingly it stayed dry! We crawled in to sleep and Josh was knocked out. A few hours later I heard the thunder start up again. The rain isn’t too much of a problem, but the lightning is not safe! So we spent a very uncomfortable night in the car. We survived though. The tent is wet, but we’ll let it air dry at our next spot.

Day Six (part 1):
After our stormy night, we woke up, and got free pancakes at the lodge! Yay! That made up for the lack of sleep. All part of the journey.  On our way out of Custer State Park we went though the Needles. That is a really amazing layout of rocks in the mountains here. God’s creation just blows my mind. And there’s more to come! I can’t believe how blessed we are to take this trip!
Right now we are at a Starbucks in Rapid City. (wi-fi is hard to find around here!) We have some plans for the rest of the day, but I’ll reveal that on our next post. I’m not sure when we will be able to connect again. Hopefully when we get to Cody, WY. Until then, thank you for your prayers! The adventures continue!