Badlands and Wall

Aug. 27

We had driven on I 90 across the entire state of South Dakota before arriving in Rapid City. Along most of that route we saw signs much like South of the Border signs in North and South Carolina: every few miles there loomed a gigantic billboard advertising the wonders to be found at that el cheapo, glitzy tourist attraction sitting on the N Carolina/S Carolina border. And yes, I've stopped there. In South Dakota the signs that went on mile after mile advertised "Wall" and "Wall Drug" with tantalizing pictures of ice cream,"homemade pies" and all kinds of souvenirs; the biggest lure of all... "As seen on the Today Show!" According to our reckoning, we could drive east on I90 to Wall, then back through the Badlands and, if we had any daylight left, east again to visit an intriguing 1880's town.

On arriving in Wall we found that the town and gigantic "drug store" were pretty much what we had expected. The streets were packed with camera toting tourists (oops, that included us, I guess!), souvenir and gift shops, Black Hills gold jewelry stores and restaurants and bars as well as one enormous, very out of place dinosaur. We wandered in and out of shops, purchased an excellent guide to the Black Hills area and finally settled on a bar for a late breakfast or early lunch. Apparently  a stop at Wall Drug 

is mandatory when visiting the area, so now we could check it off our list.
 We returned to I90 and set out for the Badlands Loop which was part of a national park and would, according to our new guide, afford us the best views of the Badlands. We were looking forward to this drive as we had briefly glimpsed the Badlands on the way to Rapid City. We wondered at the time why this area was so named. Having watched too many westerns growing up, I felt sure it was called  "The Badlands" because the bad guys...train and bank robbers and such...hid out there from the sheriff after committing their dastardly deeds. Not exactly. According to my sources the Lakota Indians were the first to call it their version of bad land because of the lack of water and vegetation and the harsh

Big, bad Buddi in the Badlands

conditions they found there. Later on French fur trappers agreed with the name and the "Badlands" name stuck. Whatever you call it a drive through the Badlands might be compared to driving on the moon; there is an ethereal feel to the panorama, and while desolate and harsh it is also extraordinarily beautiful, the shadows on the rock faces shifting as you round each corner. Ordinarily we chatter a lot when driving...but I noticed we were exceptionally quiet, lost this otherworldly landscape.

As we left the Badlands Loop we decided there was indeed time to visit the 1880's Town. It actually turned out to be further away then we thought and was closing as we arrived. Meanwhile, on the way back to our campground we saw signs for an early west museum that included an outdoor exhibit with a sod house and artifacts from that period. It was about to close as well, but we got information from the ranger on duty and got to see some fat, sassy cute-as-could-be prairie dogs.

The Lakota people were the first to call this place “mako sica” or “land bad.” Extreme temperatures, lack of water, and the exposed rugged terrain led to this name. French-Canadian fur trappers also called it “les mauvais terres pour traverse,” or “bad lands to travel through.” - See more at: http://blackhillstravelblog.com/how-did-the-badlands-get-their-name/#sthash.hM6PtBO3.dpuf

The Lakota people were the first to call this place “mako sica” or “land bad.” Extreme temperatures, lack of water, and the exposed rugged terrain led to this name. French-Canadian fur trappers also called it “les mauvais terres pour traverse,” or “bad lands to travel through.” - See more at: http://blackhillstravelblog.com/how-did-the-badlands-get-their-name/#sthash.hM6PtBO3.dpuf

The Lakota people were the first to call this place “mako sica” or “land bad.” Extreme temperatures, lack of water, and the exposed rugged terrain led to this name. French-Canadian fur trappers also called it “les mauvais terres pour traverse,” or “bad lands to travel through.” - See more at: http://blackhillstravelblog.com/how-did-the-badlands-get-their-name/#sthash.hM6PtBO3.dpuf

The Lakota people were the first to call this place “mako sica” or “land bad.” Extreme temperatures, lack of water, and the exposed rugged terrain led to this name. French-Canadian fur trappers also called it “les mauvais terres pour traverse,” or “bad lands to travel through.” - See more at: http://blackhillstravelblog.com/how-did-the-badlands-get-their-name/#sthash.hM6PtBO3.dpu

The Lakota people were the first to call this place “mako sica” or “land bad.” Extreme temperatures, lack of water, and the exposed rugged terrain led to this name. French-Canadian fur trappers also called it “les mauvais terres pour traverse,” or “bad lands to travel through.” - See more at: http://blackhillstravelblogsthash.8uhEJnyd.dpuf

The Lakota people were the first to call this place “mako sica” or “land bad.” Extreme temperatures, lack of water, and the exposed rugged terrain led to this name. French-Canadian fur trappers also called it “les mauvais terres pour traverse,” or “bad lands to travel through.” - See more at: http://blackhillstravelblog.com/how-did-the-badlands-get-their-name/#sthash.8uhEJnyd.dpuf

The Lakota