We began our trip by driving to Rocky Mountain National Park via Bolder from Denver.
On the way, we stopped at the Pioneer Inn in Nederland for lunch.
Turns out Nederland has a frozen dead guy being stored up in the hills
and there is a festival every year in his honor.
Of course, Kathleen had to get the t-shirt!
After lunch, we continued on to Rocky Mountain National Park.
On our way, we passed the Chapel on a Rock.
And this creature on our way to our cabin in Estes Park.
Kathleen at Lily Lake.
We took the ghost tour at The Stanley Hotel, but did not have a paranormal experience.
No way I'm following this sign!
Unfortunately, Trail Ridge Road was still closed due to snow.
It opened on the Friday after we left Colorado.
But we got to see beautiful sights such as this!
Next, we flew from Colorado to Rapid City, South Dakota
for the next part of our journey.
We started at Wind Cave National Park. Wind Cave is the densest cave system
in the world and the sixth longest cave in the world.
Natural entrance to Wind Cave. Wind flows in and out of the cave based
on the difference in barometric pressure between the inside of the cave
and the outside.
Kathleen is looking forward to going down the 300 stairs!
The formations on the top half of this photo are called boxwork, for which the cave is famous.
The formations in the photo above are called cave popcorn.
After visiting Wind Cave, we drove through Custer State Park,
where we ran into this fellow.
And these.
And these.
And these.
Next, we went to Jewel Cave National Monument.
Jewel cave is the second longest cave in the world.
Our tour involved traversing 723 stairs, which again made Kathleen's day!
Some flowstone.
More flowstone.
Cave popcorn.
Next, we headed to Mount Rushmore.
On our way, we went through four single car tunnels such as this.
It's over there!
Next, we were off to Badlands National Park.
A giant sea originally covered this area, leaving sediment behind
when it retreated. Erosion over the years created the formations
within the park and continues today. Eventually, all the formation will be eroded away.
Bighorn Sheep.
Queen of the prairie.
As we were staying in Wall which is just outside Badland National Park,
we had to visit the Wall Drug Store.
Based on the numerous signs on the road going into town,
the Wall Drug Store must own the entire town.
The Wall Drug Store runs an entire block!
Kathleen pretending not to be checking out the lady's cards.
Kathleen seems to be really enjoying herself!
Bill cops a feel!
Next, we visited the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site.
Entrance to the Launch Control Center.
The steel door at the entrance.
Note the thickness of the wall around the Launch Control Center.
At the right is where the key is inserted to launch the missile.
Four keys must be inserted at the same time
to launch a missile, two at this location and two at another location.
Launch silo.
Launch tube.
Falls along Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway on our way to Deadwood.
Beautiful downtown Deadwood, South Dakota.
Next we were off to Medora, North Dakota,
which is the home to the south entrance to Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Welcome to Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
