Start time: 0730
Start odometer: 18797
Weather: Mostly sunny with high level clouds, 39 degrees F.
Highlights:
The varied landscape of South Dakota is incredible; prairies, badlands, rolling hills...
Slowed to allow foxes to cross the road
Stopped in the town of Wounded Knee. Visited cemetery on hilltop with memorial to killed Indians. Jerry Elk, a local native, stopped by to describe the scene at the base of the hill as it was during the massacre.
After a quick side trip to Nebraska to see the town of Whiteclay, I drove to the town of Hot Springs, South Dakota. There, I visited The Mammoth Site, a museum and archeological dig. Thousands of years ago, a sinkhole formed in the area which was visited by many animals, some that are now extinct. The sides of the sinkhole were angled so that it trapped many of these animals until they drowned or starved to death. Over time, soil had covered the remains. In the 1960s, a housing project was digging in the area and found a tusk. Fortunately, the developer sold the area of the sinkhole to a group of researchers, and after a test drill, it was determined that bones and tusks were at least sixty-five feet below the surface. After several years of digging in open air, a building was erected over the site, and a museum was included. It was a very interesting tour!
Next visit was to the Wind Cave National Park. Ranger Ari gave a very informative tour. Total miles of caves surveyed is just over one hundred miles!
Headed towards Keystone to position myself for tomorrow. Drove through Custer State Park. Took Route 16A, had some snow falling at the peak of the road. There are several single lane tunnels on the road that are interesting to drive through! This road will be added to my favorite drives list!
Stopped in Keystone, a neat western style town. Very quiet this time of year, but interesting to see. This town is considered the gateway to Mount Rushmore, with lodging and other tourist services.
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Routes traveled today: South Dakota 44 - BIA 2 - BIA 27 - BIA 28 - BIA 27 - US 18 - SD 407 - Nebraska 87 - SD 407 - US 18 - US 385 - SD 16A
Hotel: White House Resort Motel -
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