Badass Badlands

As of September 30th, I have been living in Oregon for a year. I must say, it has been a very good year. I took a lot of photos along the way to remember the drive out here. In the last blog about the trip I was only as far as Mitchell, SD.

So let's speed things up. I made it to the Badlands. If you ever get a chance to go, I highly recommend it. It is an incredible place. I was only there for a short time but I was impressed.





I took these photos with a disposable camera as the sun was setting.















I found a couple of strangers to take my photo.



I copied this from the official website: Containing the world's richest Oligocene epoch fossil beds, dating 37-28 million years old, the evolutionary stories of mammals such as the horse and rhinoceros arise from the 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires. Bison, bighorn sheep, endangered black-footed ferrets, and swift fox roam one of the largest, protected mixed-grass prairies in the United States.

I wish I had more time to spend there, but I was hell bent on getting to Oregon.

Mitchell, South Dakota

On my drive out to Oregon last year I stopped in Mitchell, South Dakota.  My engine light kept nagging me, so I stopped to get it worked on.

Being stuck, I checked out the local color.



They are very proud of their Corn Palace.  Every year they change the mosaic on the outside of the auditorium.  It is made out of several different kinds of corn.





I loved the dinosaur.



I got my van fixed here.



I played ball with a crippled dog while I waited.  I kid you not.  They called him Lucky.  He was run over by a trailer.



When they were done, one of the mechanics got in my van to back it out of the garage.  The van would not start.  It turned out that the starter solinoid bit the dust right there in the garage. 

Funny... it could have waited to die and gotten me stranded somewhere.  It did it right there in the garage, so I got it fixed right away.  What a strange blessing.

The mechanic knew I came from a place that puts salt on the roads.  He said the solinod practically dissolved into a pile of rust. 

My trip was full of many blessings.

Things I learned in Wisconsin

In the saga of my trip out here, I left you hanging. So let's continue.

I had left Cleveland and Dave the Mechanic. By the way, I took your advice and mailed him a copy of the blog. He was "very touched" (his words). He is doing well and he has a new pit bull. I spoke to him just after Christmas.

I survived the harrowing rush hour trip through Chicago. (at midnight)

I escaped Chicago and made it as far as Wisconsin. I parked in the parking lot of a Walmart and slept like a rock. The next morning I got up and bought some food and a flaming pink plastic bowl to pour my cereal in. I still have the bowl.

I became very intimate with Walmart parking lots. I especially liked the 24 hour Walmarts. I could get up in the middle of the night and use a civilized toilet.

I was nestled safely between RVs and Travel Queens.

I headed out on the road bright and early. I came across this sign at a Wisconsin rest area.

I think it is important to learn something every day.