We are home again and tomorrow I will be back to work. Here is a photo of the “Badlands” of southwestern South Dakota. It is stark and barren and beautiful. We love to take the leisurely drive through this area. Lots of hiking here if it’s not too hot and if one watches out for rattlesnakes! There are mountain goats and prairie dogs in abundance.
And I LOVE to take photos of pretty skies.
We drove to Custer State Park and stayed at the State Game Lodge for a few days.
It has quite a history…but my favorite part is the free-roaming buffalo!
Nearly two hundred head of buffalo crossed the front lawn of the lodge the very first day we were there. It was pretty exciting!
I was enamoured by the number of calves that were in the group. I managed to catch this one with my little point and shoot camera.
I could sit and watch them (from afar) all day long. They are such magnificent creatures. And to think that one time many years ago, there were hundreds of thousands of these creatures roaming across the USA. Here in Custer State Park they keep the population at about 1500 head per year. Of course this was only the start of our trip.
We took another tour and a long hike at the Mount Rushmore Monument which is in the Black Hills of South Dakota as well. Carved in the side of a mountain are four of our Presidents, Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln. It took 16 years to complete this task!
We have been to all of these sites many times before, but we never tire of touring our USA. I hope all of my friends who live far away will enjoy seeing these famous USA sites. I’ll show a few more in my next post.
For now I will say that it was one of the most relaxing trips we have taken and while I can’t say that I am happy to be home (work, doctors, etc.), we have returned refreshed and ready to face whatever each day brings.
Til next time….Averyclaire
Averyclaire 
Jane
Sep 08, 2009 @ 02:12:58
Just what you both needed. I remember seeing pictures of buffalo in a book when I was a child, I loved their “knitted” brows
Nicole DAVET
Sep 08, 2009 @ 02:48:54
Splendid !!!
To day morning, I was with you …Thank you for your pictures !
And it’s so good to read those lines..It’s sure, you enjoyed it , and I hope that coming days will be good.Nicole
colour du jour
Sep 09, 2009 @ 00:27:31
a good trip. I am glad for you.
Doris
Sep 10, 2009 @ 06:21:30
beautiful hotos, the paire dogs looks so cute. Oh the Mount Rushmore Monument !! i see this one in a lot of Movies (funny , catastrophic, misterius movies).
is hard back to home and the routine, but is necessary. i hope that coming days will be good.
maggy
Oct 07, 2009 @ 14:21:12
hi
next time you go I will be in your luggages
Carinemarie
Oct 22, 2009 @ 16:35:04
Very, very beautiful pictures.
So I can “spend” a few days in the States.
I hope you enjoy this trip and rest a bit, you and William.
Love and prayers, always.
Carinemarie
Marva
Dec 31, 2009 @ 12:59:23
Aren’t the buffalo just fabulous?! We took the kids up to South Dakota a few years ago and hit all the tourist places and even did some cave-ing. That was a blast!