June 9th ~ South Dakota ~
A rainbow of colors at Badlands National Park
Designated a National Monument in 1939, it is a relatively young National Park, getting that status in 1978. Drawing around a million visitors a year, the parks 244,000 acres is home to bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs and black-footed ferrets.
Badlands National Park
The striking geological deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds and there is now a fossil research lab at the Ben Reifel Visitors Center.
“No words of mine can describe these Bad Lands. One set of buttes, with cones and minarets, gives place in the next mile to natural freaks of different variety never dreamed of by mortal man…The painter’s whole palette is on one bluff.” ~ Frederick Remington, American Landscape Painter and Explorer
Big horn sheep on the rocks with babies
Some pictures of mother and son enjoying some special moments together.
Shortly before we left Illinois, we found out that Shirley can still touch her toes. Sooooo, I decided to take a picture of her at each of the National Parks that we stop at doing just that. She is putting me to shame 🙂
Not bad for (almost) 83 years young
A tourist trap, but an iconic one none-the-less. The town of Wall was founded by the Chicago/Northwestern Railroad in 1907, it has a current population of 876. What floored me was the number of people who stop here – an estimated 2 million annual visitors every year – TWICE as many as those who visit Badlands National Park!!!
Wall Drug
A little known fact is that Wall Drug has over 300 original oil paintings in the Western art Gallery Dining Rooms. This acquisition represents one of the best private collections of original Western and Illustration Art in the country.
A tiny glimpse of the art in the dining room
GRATITUDE MOMENT: Today I am grateful for Shirley’s willingness to try things that are new or may be uncomfortable for her. Being a “flatlander” from Illinois, mountain roads with sharp curves and sudden drop offs can be intimidating. She is doing a great job of going with the flow and I am very proud of her.
A Note From Abroad 
Your mother-in-law is amazing. I am so impressed. I love badlands. We had some on our ranch in Alberta, Canada.
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She can touch her toes easier than I can. I did not realize there was similar terrain in Alberta.
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If you’re ever up/over that way there’s a wonderful badlands place called ‘Dinosaur Provincial Park’. … the most amazing thing to me was that we were pootling along in ‘flatlandia’ ie the Prairies, when suddenly we drove up to this colossal gash in the earth. Driving down into it was truly a surreal experience. 😀
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I just looked up some pictures from there and it looks amazing! I would love to see it in person.
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Where did you end up camping?
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Tim found a small place called “Wolf Camp Campground”. Great location for a three night stay to see this area. Beautiful scenery, but the facility is lacking. Does not seem to have any onsite management. Cafe is closed. Restrooms outdated and needing attention. We had a group of bikers next to us that were loud and drinking heavily which made it challenging to sleep. We are the only RV here with a few tent campers and two cabins. Only small RVs would fit.
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Western art tends to take you back to a time we can only imagine. Neat. The buttes remind me of the Bookcliffs that line Hwy 70 in Colorado. They too, house many fossils and dinosaur bones.
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The art collection was actually quite impressive and I doubt that many people even noticed it. Many pieces are museum quality. That section of Hwy 70 is beautiful.
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Sad. I love the work of Russell. But there are so many great Western artists.
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Nice photos!
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Thank you
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thank you for sharing your wonderful journey! your mother-in-law is amazing. great photos! 🙂
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We agree that she is pretty amazing! 😊
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I love this post!! The best part though may be the toe touching pictures! When I travel I have pictures taken of me with a sign that says “Mom and dad. I’m fine.” Lol. They love getting the pictures and it’s a fun tradition! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this park. I’ll be visiting in September (with my sign in hand) and appreciate your thoughts. Safe travels!!
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We are having fun taking the toe touching photos. Love your sign with the message for your mom and dad. Guessing that makes them feel better as well as giving them a smile.
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My parents hate when I travel, especially when I’m alone so it’s a fun way to reassure them that I’m ok and to show them what I’m doing. Looks like you are having an amazing trip! Thanks again for sharing your adventures!
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Appreciate the share ❤️
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I love Shirley touching her toes! Reminds me of my grandmother who also could do that well into her 90’s. Tell Shirley to keep doing it every day!
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As long as we keep stopping at National Parks, she plans on keeping it up.
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Keep stopping! Balance and flexibility are important things for keeping her young!
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I agree 👍
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It looks beautiful there!
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It is!
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Looks amazing and may now be on the bucket list lol
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Good! It deserves a place on any travel lovers list. 👍
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Thanks for the great post. 83 and can still touch her toes. She gives us hope. Badlands looks like a great place. One more for my “list”.
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I hope you are working on getting a few items scratched off that list 😁
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That’s the fun part!
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Slowly. That work thing gets in the way sometime. 🙂
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