jackalope tales

it's been an amazing couple of days. completely checked out of electricity and communication. we just arrived in bozeman, MT and are enjoy a nice organic coffee and smoothie at the bozeman food co-op.

since we left the blog we've crossed a few state lines, mountain ranges and time zones. so from when we last wrote... we headed into the badlands which felt like a smaller version of the canyonlands. interesting, very touristy. stopped for lunch at the famous wall drug. dave had hot beef for lunch. we managed to spend no more than 30 minutes and got the hell out.

headed to mt. rushmore amongst the millions of harley riders headed to their mecca (sturgis). drove thru some tight tunnels (one lane, one car) along the needles highway to sylvan lake, SD to set up camp and let the dogs run free. dave has done most of the driving (surprise) and made it through several steep grade, rock falling, windy roads at a quick pace. hiked around sylvan lake, the dogs went swimming and enjoyed being outside. bean, pepper,onion mash burrito for dinner-delicious!

8.3
our first night in the tent (the rei taj held up) we endured a heavy rain fall with all of us packed in hoping for the best. the morning came (not soon enough) and it kept on raining. so we went for hike and it finally stopped raining... we hiked up a trail to devil's tower in custer state park in the black hills. steep 1.5 miles up to a beautiful view of cloud. we were pretty high up so once you got to the top you were surrounded by a mist of clouds reminiscent of Ireland. it was very peaceful, perfect meditation spot.

we hiked back down meeting several folks from all over the US. we were both happily surprised by the geography and people in SD - not what we were expecting.

from there we headed to crazy horse in the hopes it would be a little more complete than the last time we had both seen it (about 20 years ago). felt like not much had been done but a lot more tourist attractions had been added. it was, in a way sad, felt like the original mission of the artist had somehow been downgraded by the tourism...

long beautiful drive ahead through wyoming into the bighorn mountain range where buffalo jerky was easily obtained by a man in a wheelchair on the side of a mountain. we climbed about 4000 ft in elevation amongst gorgeous peaks and pines at the pass and then down a 10% grade to the valley which brought us to Cody, WY. We ran into some guy from Midland, MI who sold us Moose Drool (good shit). Somehow knows Dad but I think it's b/c he put him in jail.

We prayed for a campsite as we drove through an amazing campsite and landed one at Buffalo Bill SP right before a major thunderstorm came through. Lighting almost struck us, I swear. By this time Dave reports he should have changed his underwear (it's been over 4 days at this point). The storm was beautiful once I calmed down enough to enjoy it. It was so close that if you looked at it would be blind for a few minutes... once it cleared and we finished our dinner in the car we crashed.

8.4
tend to wake up around 5a here in the mountains so we were on the road by about 7a. we were only 20 or so miles from Yellowstone so headed into the park with the thought of driving the top loop. not more than 5 minutes of entering the park we were stuck in traffic - yellowstone in the summer. at least there is a lot to see. the contrasts in yellowstone are really the most amazing thing - the devastation from the 1988 fire is still evident yet there is new growth of evergreens; the tall peaks contrast with the bubbling marshmallow-like thermal pools juxtaposed with the geysers. it's amazing, if you haven't been you should go just maybe go in september or june. most of the traffic stops were due to bison herds - hundreds of them (some we thought may charge the car especially with Ogi barking at them in the back). We saw the grand canyon and falls of yellowstone river which were beautiful with the contrasts of color. Then rushed out of the park and tourists through Gardiner, MT to arrive upon a drunk guy who flipped his car. Paramedics were there instantly and didn't need our help. Despite Sarah's protest for a hot shower we opted for Daley Lake, a small lake nestled under Emigrant peak in the "paradise valley". Low and behold paradise valley consistent of us, swimmer's itch, and hoosiers. We actually met some really great people who love the simpler life. Ted (60-something and stricken with a brain tumor ), Barbara (57) , and button (dog) just bought an RV and drove up from Livingston to camp. Great people. Our night turned out to be great despite Tuks 4am vomiting in the tent.

8.5 (today)
Pancake and sausage breakfast courtesy of the neighbors. Tuk stopped shitting his brains out and we are currently at the Food Co-op in Bozeman recharging batteries and in desperate need of a bath not consisting of wet wipes. I left my underwear in Yellowstone for the bears to feast on. We'll stock up here and head north to somewhere with a shower hopefully in the Lolo mountains just south of glacier.

XOXOX