We were lucky to get cabin reservations at Badlands (and Yellowstone!) on Labor Day weekend, and we camped in the national parks; the night skies gave us the clearest milky way ever, and mule deer welcomed us in as we arrived with the late dusk glow. We were on another planet at Cedar Pass lodge.
Looking out over this harsh-looking landscape we never imagined seeing much wildlife, but it was a wonderland of life – from cliff-climbing chipmunks, hares, and prairie dogs to bighorn sheep to buffalo.
Don’t miss checking out this humorous video entitled “Honey, Start the Car” as Michelle tries to get Kule to move the car in the path of an oncoming herd of buffalo. The park ranger warned us that buffalo are known to charge cars, but Kule was having a moment of deep connection with this sacred animal. This visit was truly a gift. I can understand why the life of the Lakota-Sioux revolved around the bison.
The colors, waves, ledges, and hoodoos (animated shapes) of the Badlands are God’s art. Vistas abound with hay bales and grazing cattle.
An excursion from Badlands to Mt. Rushmore presented a 5th celebrated figure on this national monument (see photo below). We enjoyed the beauty of the Black Hills national forest beyond the touristy faux-ghost town of Keystone, with one-lane tunnels through the mountains.
Leaving Badlands, we discovered a magical place called Spearfish canyon. The town’s hip health food store owner loved living there; the winters are cold but the sun is warm and she would prefer living there than cloudy Seattle. Something to consider!
Over the border into Wyoming we visited Devil’s Tower. It really should be called Angel’s Tower; the energy here is so peaceful and the vibration so high. This is sacred land to the native tribes here – the Crow and the Sioux.
A full day’s drive to Yellowstone, with beauty surrounding us continually…….
I love the Badlands. Even though they are somewhat desolate and wild, there is a deep, connective sense about them. Continued safe journeys and self findings :)
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