Day 3 - Caves, wild life and ticks

Today we planned to hike Custer State Park and the weather was perfect.  A bit breezy but once in the trees, it was comfortable.  Our first trail had a difficulty rating of moderate, 1.5 miles and took us about 90 minutes.  It felt good to be outdoors, in the trees, in the sun and hiking up a mountain.  Not sure if Dave felt the same.  He has this thing about hiking up.  That trail finished we head off to another we had seen on Sunday and it looked level.  It was level until the first switch back. 

Marvelous views of a valley and the mountains in the distance.   We didn't hike all the way to the valley floor.  Back in the jeep we head to Wind Cave which is south of Custer State Park.  On the way we passed the prairie dog town.  They are so cute and I took about a 100 pictures.  I have them barking, running, stretching, standing up, lying down and eating.  travel trailer.  

 

We continued to Wind Cave and we went on the guided tour given by a nice young ranger named Lucas.  The original opening is 16 inches in diameter.  In the late 1800’s, people climbed in to the cave through that small hole and went on candle light tours.  We fortunately were able to enter through a much larger entrance.  The cave received its name because of the wind that blows either out or in through the original opening depending on the barometric pressure.  The cave was awesome, cool, dark and it has some features not found in many other caves.  We were about 200 feet underground.  Fortunately, they have a lovely elevator that whisks us quickly to the surface. 

We return to Custer State Park on our way back and it was later in the day and it was fabulous.  The buffaloes were next to the road, we saw mule deer, lots of white tail deer, more turkeys and antelope.  We were almost out of the park when we came across a huge buffalo herd, near the road with lots of calves.  150 pictures later we continue on our way back to the hotel.  We were both very hungry and planned another trip to Subway.  However, the buffalo were everywhere.  We saw them at the campgrounds, in front of the lodge and in a picnic area.  If you plan on camping in Custer State Park I recommend a cabin or a travel trailer.

At one of the stops to take even more pictures, the back of my neck hurt and I found a tick.  This after talking to rangers and hearing about Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and that ticks in the area are known to carry it.  All the way home and in Subway I can’t stop itching and feeling my scalp. 

A long hot shower made me feel much better and I didn’t find any more ticks.  The spot on my neck looks like a mosquito bite.  I call Affinity Health, describe my dilemma and they contacted the doctor on call.  He calls me back and after a discussion that included information I found on the CDC website, he promises to call in a prescription for antibiotics to a drug store in Custer.  Dilemma solved, potential crisis averted.  If I do start to develop symptoms I can start the drugs right away. 

Tomorrow we are going to meet Dave’s friend Maggie and after they do some target shooting, we are going to visit a geological museum in Rapid City.  

Custer State Park

After checking in we were going to walk around Custer, checking out the shops and restaurants but it began to sprinkle.   We decided to visit Custer State Park and get a weekly permit, information on the trails and drive around a bit to familiarize ourselves with the park.  Well, as soon as we entered, we met up with a herd of white tail deer.  As we drove deeper into the park, the road winds up and down, through forest areas, rocky cliffs and open prairie areas.  As we come upon the prairie area I noticed a great deal of buffalo dung.  Piles and piles and piles. 

 

However, not one buffalo in sight.  We continued driving, through the park and we encountered more buffalo dung, yet not one buffalo.  We then saw turkeys, prong horn antelopes, even a herd of wild burros, still not one buffalo.  Given the amount of buffalo dung, there had to be a huge herd somewhere.  Dave mentioned that the dung could be old.  I asked him to check out a few to see if they were fresh.  Dave said no – really, he has no sense of adventure.  I took pictures of the dung thinking it would be my only evidence of buffalo existence in Custer State Park.  See Exhibit A.

Finally, after miles of driving, we see two male buffaloes in the distance.  We stayed in the car and took several pictures.  See Exhibit B. 

 

We continued to follow the loop through the park.  There are several dirt roads that are open to the public and on our next visit we are taking Frankie to the back country.  Need to see what this jeep can do.  We encounter more deer, more antelope and some mountain goats.  Then at the top of a hill we come upon a large buffalo herd.  Finally an explanation for the plethora of buffalo dung. 

 

Hundreds of pictures later, we continued our tour of the park and returned to Custer where we stopped at the local Subway.  FYI – the chopped salads are huge.  Back at the Rocket Motel, we are planning for the rest of the week.  I should have taken two weeks off.  One week of hiking is not enough. 

Custer

We made it to Wall South Dakota last night.  I found a $53 room at the Super 8 and it was much more comfortable than spending a night sleeping in the jeep at a wayside.  We visited Wall Drug and I now have more lovely magnets for my collection.  I will need to purchase another refrigerator if I continue to travel.  I also purchased some chocolate caramel fudge which was fabulous.  We also picked up a bumper sticker for Frankie.  That is what we call Dave’s Toyota FJ jeep.

He called it Frank James (FJ – get it) but the jeep seems more like a Frankie to me.  They give away the bumper stickers which is why you see so many on vehicles.  We were soon back on I90 which has a speed limit of 75 and on our way to Custer.  It was windy and just outside of Wall we saw a semi-truck flipped upside down.  Hopefully no one was seriously injured but a lot of emergency vehicles were racing down I90 to the accident scene.   At Rapid City, we left the Interstate and the terrain change from flat to curvy, hilly and lots of trees.   I can’t wait to get out on the trails.  Didn’t see any buffalo, just some goats but we should see some in Custer State Park. 

We are staying at the Rocket Motel and it has a lovely retro theme and the owners are extremely nice.  We are heading out to check out downtown Custer.  It is a little cloudy and the temps are dropping which will make it perfect hiking weather.  Did I mention I can’t wait to get out onto the trails?  Not sure what we are doing tomorrow.  Hopefully Custer State Park and the elusive buffalo. 

Countdown Begins

I can't believe that it has been over a year since my last vacation.  That must never happen again!  In less than 24 hours I will be on the road heading to Custer, South Dakota.  I have spent the last week trying to pack but given the schizophrenic weather patterns that we have been subjected to of late, I have everything from a down parka and snow pants to shorts in my suitcase.  I am ready for anything.  I also have the necessary road trip snacks purchased and I have yet to open them.  They do call to me in the night.  Damn M&M's!  I am looking forward to a week of communing with nature, stalking the elusive bison and elk and avoiding rattlesnakes and mountain lions.  The hotel has WiFi so I plan on blogging all week.  Later Gators.