Estes Colorado To Murdo South Dakota

We left Estes Park Colorado on Tuesday morning & headed to Hill City South Dakota.

Beautiful Green Forrests

To Dry open spaces

The landscape changed rather quickly


From This
To This!















As we were approaching Hill City a big storm was brewing:

We wondered if we would get to the Motel in time?

But it seemed to blow away so after checking in we decided to go downtown to have a look, It was full of little shops & there were tourists everywhere - definitely peak holiday season!

Main St Hill City South Dakota

There was some unusual art in the street as well:

Mule

Horse 

Old Miner

We had dinner in a lovely restaurant called The Alpine Inn,
It poured rain while we were there - lucky for us it only lasted about 10 minutes!
On the way back to the car we spotted this sign at a Hairdressers:

Rather catchy don't you think?

We had booked Hill City for 2 nights, so the next morning we went to checkout Custer State Forrest:

Stockade Lake 

Gravel road to find the Buffalo

Buffalo Herd

We also seen some Pronghorn - they have unusual markings:

We stopped to have a picnic lunch & Dave spotted these birds:

Red -naped Sapsucker

Western Tanager

Rock Wren - We think?

Not sure what this critter is?

After lunch we headed off to Bear Country USA.
It is near Rapid City, we went there last year and really enjoyed it so as we were so close we went again.

Elk

Raindeer

Mountain Goat

Cougar

& of Course the Bears:

It was over 100 degrees - they were hot!

It was very busy as well

Grizzly

Black Bear

Just roaming around the cars!

This Corvette broke down in the middle of the park!

Then it was off to the nursery as it was so hot a lot of them where in their dens:

Racoon

Fox

Lynx

Wolf Pups

Baby Bears

then it was time to head back to Hill City. 

The Hire car's warning light came on that we needed a service - so the next day we went into Rapid City to get that done & then headed off towards Murdo South Dakota.

On the way we called into Wall Drug - boy was that worth the stop! A lovely little town full of gift shops.

Very busy little town

There must have been some kind of Corvette Rally on as we would have seen nearly 100! Here are a few:

They were everywhere!

Just after we left Wall Drug, we passed the huge grass fire, Looks like it may have started near the road but both sides of the traffic were flowing freely by the time we went past.

We then stopped at 1880 Town, a very interesting little tourist Place that is set back in time. Just like it was in 1880:

A beautiful Church

Old Saddles

Buggys

Wells & Fargo Buggy

A Camel

A Herd of Longhorn

Well worth the visit

After our full day we spent the night in Murdo South Dakota, the next day we stayed at North Platte Nebraska. Then are heading back to Denver to see Jas, Jo & the kids.

Cheers Everyone,

Dave & Shell