Gold Camp Cabins Custer

... the most unique scenic byways we have travelled on.

Because of the recent storms, which dropped quite a bit of snow at the higher elevations, we were not able to complete the Norbeck Byway - it's a loop road. We were able to do short portions of either end of it. Because this byway skirts Custer State Park we decided to take ...

... the difference in the pictures since this friend was actually a part of the round up.

We've also included a link to the state park and this annual event. It is definately something everyone should plan on attending at least once - it is truly a unique experience.

http://www.sdgfp.inf o/Parks/Regions/Custer/round.htm

On this day, we packed up camp and headed to the Black Hills. We went through Wind Cave National Park where we sighted our first buffalo, Tatanka. We couldn't believe our eyes. We had gotten used to seeing cows. This particular one was big and fluffy in the head. We could barely see his eyes. His horns came out of his head, shiny and curvy. He wasn't doing anything but standing there like a statue. He was ...

... we saw lots of pictures and articles about the Wounded Knee II, the American Indian Movement (AIM) and the conflict in the Reservation at that time, and the standoff against the FBI. It was inspiring and reminded us of our more activist days. We overheard elderly ladies speaking in their language, probably reliving those days. We left with a deep sense of experiencing history.

After leaving Pine RIdge, we only got as far as the Angostura State ...

Well we finally made it and only had to make one turnaround. We are settled in our site which are very spacious. Campers are not sitting on top of each other. There are a lot of tenters and bikers staying here. I guess when you have as many bikers that show up for Sturgis every year they have to stay somewhere since they can't or don't want to stay with the other 200,000+ in one small town of Sturgis.

We ...

... toward the badlands but didn't go a long way it was mostly just big canyons. I can see why the outlaws went here no one would ever find you. Stopped on the roadside and bought a necklace from Indian couple. I knew it wasn't made in Japan I saw her making it. (but the beads were most likely from some other country :) ) After that we ...

... states, one from Saskatchewan, Manitoba as well-two from Ontario.The girls booked a 1:30 horseback riding trek for today at Blue Bell Lodge in Custer Park. It was a 15 mile drive from our park that of course, took 30 minutes! If you are a person who gets car sick you will need to have Gravol handy if you travel in this area! It's a bit like a roller coaster every where you go. They went on a 2 hr guided tour. Erin's horse was ...

... I also finally found a cute, black, wide brim hat. Not quite a cowboy hat, but there's still time. Next stop, back into Custer State Park and head to Lake Sylvan for some sun and swimming time. Walking to our swimming spot took a lot longer than we had originally planned. The short walk turned into an hour climbing hike up the surrounding hills-in flip-flops carrying our towels, blankets, and other supplies ...

... end up in the Custer State Park. The road is still very zigzagy but the elevation changes are minor....but this is never ending. About 50 miles later we are back at the camper. This "alternate" route looked much shorter on the map...it was only 20 miles to Mt. Rushmore. We get to bed early as the final drive home starts tomorrow morning. But a good night's sleep was not to be...motorcycles arriving at all hours then starting up even earlier than my usual early morning wake-ups.

... to bring this vision into the west. Thus they sent invitations to different tribes and shamans in the world and then in the year 2004 they announced the first conference of indigenous grandmothers and waited in New York for the actual arrive of the wise women, without knowing how many would actually arrive. So the alliance of 13 grandmothers came to be formed there. They represent a global alliance of prayer, education, and healing of mother earth and all their ...