Into the Badlands

We drove north from Rosebud, South Dakota and picked up Route 44 west. We would rejoin US 20 in a couple days. 44 ran straight and true. Sometimes, as the above photo attests, the road stretches as far as the eye can see. It led us straight into The Badlands.

These photos show some of the Badlands but none of them show the true scale and depth of the formations there.

We drove the loop around the park and I managed to get some video as we drove.

We departed the Badlands just as the OSU vs Miami game was starting. We listened on Sirius radio as we drove west to Rapid City. We walked into a sports bar in the old town region and instantly met Jimmy, a transplant from Ohio. He insisted the barkeeper switch the TV to our game. Jimmy remembers every OSU football player in the school's history. He even recalls names and games of many of the big high schools.

Jimmy is a fast talker whose gestures are kind of like Beetle Juice but he sells massages, tours, and whatever you might be in the market to buy. At no charge he directed us to see Custer State Park among other local sites. His advice was right on the mark. He hopes to visit us in Marathon, Florida this winter.