Day 7: Jackson, WY, to Custer, South Dakota

Comfort Inn

Custer (Crazy Horse), SD

Raining. I’m very glad yesterday was our only day in the Tetons, not today. We can see snow on the upper peaks. Dark clouds can make cool pictures, but it takes sunshine AND dark clouds to work. None of that this morning. As we came over the continental divide the raindrops on our windshield made the kind of splat that says they weren't liquid whne they left the cloud.

A few miles out on US 26, when we could still see the mountains looming behind us, we came upon police cars, lights flashing. A wrecker was pulling a dead bison from the ditch. Just ahead was a black SUV with the front bashed in. Steve pointed out that it was the same area where we saw a police car pull someone over yesterday, presumably for speeding. Although it’s hard to imagine not seeing something as large as a bison in the road, in the gray of morning rain it is just possible.

Yesterday’s scenic route south was pleasant, but not exciting. Today’s end of the same route—east on US 26—was spectacular, driving through a canyon with rugged hills all around. Theoretically the scenic part ended in Dubois (still don’t know how the locals pronounce it), but the land around and beyond was stark, carved cliffs with layers of yellow, gray and red stone. Rain and no scenic pullouts mean no pictures.

The weather cleared mid-morning and we had sunshine for our amble across grasslands. We chose to go north and take in the bit of Black Hills north of I-90. We had never seen Devil’s Tower although Steve’s sister Patty had raved about it. It rises out of the grassland and rolling hills, visible for miles.

 We didn’t go into the monument grounds. No time for the walk around the base. Have to go back. It really does look like a huge tree stump.

The land just beyond on 24 was worth seeing, but after that our route was nothing special, just a connection to the beauty of Spearfish Canyon, which we didn’t have time for since it was getting late. Our hotel reservation was way to the south in Custer. We drove as long as it was light and then stopped for supper just north of Hill city in a place with lots of cars—Horse Creek Inn. Melt-in-your-mouth prime rib in a golden-panelled hill-country atmosphere. Just what you would hope for in a restaurant here, as Mom said. She and I split an prime rib and added a salad. Perfect. 

Tomorrow it is off to explore the Black Hills scenic drives. We have been here before so there is no pressure to see it all and no hurry to get out in the morning.

Thank you, Lord…

for safe driving in the rain.

for layers of rock colors.

for grasslands.

for lots of antelope sightings.

for a fabulous dinner.