The “Like a Rock” Day
Up early and off to the Cliff Shelf trail. A unique area of the Badlands where centuries ago a cliff face fell and created a “slump” as they call it, where water drains and vegetation flourishes. Saw mostly rabbits but rumor is that lots of animals use this place. Then a short, very short, walk to a “window” in the wall overlooking a craggy canyon. We then headed west again and showed great restraint in NOT stopping for five cent coffee and a doughnut for the third day. However we did stop at Panera in Rapid City to use the WIFI and get a bit of a charge on the computers. We arrived at the Devil’s Tower National Monument about three after a nice walk in the town of Spearfish where we found an excellent ice cream shop and shared a “mountain huckleberry” as it was not quite lunch. The tower is both unique and more spectacular than I expected. It was hot and the parking lots were nearly full at the VC so we stayed in the wonderful campsite, fixed dinner and did a hike around the base of the tower, about 1.4 miles. Then we set up the camera at a strategic spot off a dirt road and waited for sunset. Again lots of clouds rolled in. We did get one nice reflection but the plan to stay and shoot stars was a no go.
Cadillac’s Most Correct Viewpoint
It worked. I am a near genus. Oh, who are we kidding, a full genus. We went west again. Finally. And we had an excellent ice cream stop. What a day, full of anticipation as we have to be very close to Alaska in Wyoming. I still have not heard much about the rallies I am planning but, Moose are always late, great procrastinators, unlike myself, where promptness and timeliness are among my most outstanding qualities.
Parked near a very strange mountain that set my antlers tingling. Very odd, almost alien like vibe. Not sure I'll sleep well tonight.
view of the Tower from campsite in late afternoon
Last Badlands hike over this kind of trail.
