We're sure to be enjoying this location, thanks in part to having the electricity to run our A/C when needed. It's perfect timing for me to grab a little rest and relaxation (R&R) after not feeling 100% for the last day or so. We've got a full week at this campground, so there's no rush to get out there and complete the sightseeing destinations we have planned for this stop.
In between the town of Custer, SD and the Entrance Gate of the state park we saw this handsome fellow on the side of the road.
it's because he was created by the same local artists, the Dahl Brothers.
I think we've luckily scored the very best campsite available here in the Game Lodge Campground of Custer State Park.
Someone before us took the time to create a very shallow rock dam behind this site, and the constantly moving water in the little creek provides us with a very pleasant "babbling" sound 24-hours a day.
THURSDAY - Today, the last day of August, we're going to take a down day and just chill out.
That doesn't mean Tricia didn't get up at 5:15AM and get ready to take her morning walk however.
She rarely fails to see wildlife during these morning walks, it's the best time of day to see them out and about. The other chance during the day to see wildlife is of course around sunset.
After breakfast Tricia took ROVER into town and did some grocery shopping, while I did the whole R&R thing we talked about doing today.
On the return trip from the grocery store, around 11:00AM, she spotted more wildlife from behind the wheel of the truck.
FRIDAY - After taking a day off yesterday we awoke today, ate breakfast, packed a picnic lunch and headed out on the road.
Just 6-miles from the entrance to our campground is the South Entrance to the Needles Highway.
Completed in 1922 the 14-mile long highway snakes it's way through the needlelike granite formations of Custer State Park. It's filled with blind curves, numerous 180° switchbacks and three very narrow and low tunnels that make it difficult, if not impossible, for many RVers to travel the length of the road.
THE NEEDLES HIGHWAY
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Go and watch Video #1 below NOW!
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but that's the second tunnel up there.
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Go and watch Video #2 below NOW!
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we saw this flock of Bighorn Sheep outside of the cabins area of our campground.
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That fact is probably what earned her the honor of wearing the tracking collar.
Go and watch Video #3 below NOW!
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SATURDAY - When I awoke this morning the first thing I did was check all the text messages that had been arriving on my phone for the last 10-minutes.
Among the numerous messages from my bank, informing me my bills were being paid (it is the 1st of the month after all), there was one from a very close friend (you know who you are and BTW thank you).
It wasn't a happy message, in fact it was terribly sad and informed me that my favorite musician had passed away during the night at the age of 76.
Jimmy Buffett was born on Christmas Day in 1946 and passed away in the evening yesterday on September 1st. Anyone who knows me can tell you who my favorite musical artist is, for that reason I can't use it as a security question for access to any of my online accounts.
The photo on the left is the way I prefer to remember him. Middle-aged, in the prime of his career, barefoot on the beach with his guitar slung over his shoulder, looking back before making that metaphorical final walk out into the depths of the ocean in search of new audiences to entertain.
SUNDAY - We listened to the Margaritaville Channel on satellite radio for most of yesterday, listening to all the heartfelt phone-in dedications from fans and stories about Jimmy's life and career. It's now time to get out and enjoy life once again, because you never know when your time is up.
One final observation about Jimmy, during the 6+ hours (7am-1:30pm) I listened to the radio yesterday I didn't once hear the same song played twice. Most of the songs played were his lesser known songs, quiet retrospective ballads which never get much airplay, but include many of my personal favorites.
Just an amazing tribute to Jimmy's extensive musical catalog of songs over his 50+ years of writing, performing, recording and producing music.
It wasn't until just after lunchtime that we climbed into ROVER to explore the park's 30-mile long Wildlife Loop Road.
THE WILDLIFE LOOP ROAD
Most bison give birth in late APR or MAY. That one looks like a JULY or AUGUST baby!
TUESDAY - This morning we decided to try out the $16 Breakfast Buffet over at the State Game Lodge.
It was about what I expected for a $16 buffet, but so far nothing has matched the breakfast buffet we enjoyed at Zion National Park.
Today we have plans to explore the 17-mile long Iron Mountain Road in the northeast corner of Custer State Park.
Today we have a heavy overcast and very smoky skies, but we spent all day yesterday (Labor Day) on the campsite and just need to get out and do something.
One thing this sign on the left doesn't mention is how when you travel north on Iron Mountain Road, two of the three tunnels were designed to perfectly frame the faces on Mount Rushmore as you exit them.
Sadly you won't see any pictures like that from us today, we could barely tell there was a mountain there, let alone any presidential faces.
IRON MOUNTAIN ROAD
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The entire northern half of the road is outside the protections of the state park boundary.
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