Thread: Gearing Up For The Badlands and Yellowstone

My wife and I are both officers of the court in various manners. She is a public guardian, conservator, takes many emergency calls etc etc. Heavy caseload. She is covered for the trip but I asked her about peace of mind leaving 35-40 cases, ad litem situations etc while we travel.

She bought a Starlink and now all is well.

Last Thursday was the start to our great western adventure. Today we awoke in a KOA campground near Sioux Falls, SD. When we pulled in last night after a 9 hour drive, didn't unhook the trailer, we did a quick setup and slept. This KOA is in the spirit of the old west stagecoach stops on the trail where weary travellers are greated, given good food and refreshment before continuing on. This KOA "Journey" is very aware of the role they play in caring for their tired guests. The host did all he could to see that I could level the trailer without unhitching my "horse", the Ram 1500 Hemi.

This morning we head out for Custer State Park.

Yesterday we drove the Needles Hwy not too far up the road. The wildlife loop was rather interesting with Buffalo, antelope and prarie dog towns. But it was the Cathedral of Spires and tunnels, switchbacks etc that made the day. Today we'll visit the Presidents.

Yesterday we saw Mt Rushmore. I was not prepared for the stirring in my heart in gratitude for our freedom and the cost to maintain it. We were trying to take a selfie pic with the Presidents behind us us when a stranger came up and offered to take our picture. As we thanked him we exchanged info on where each of us lived. When he heard we were from Michigan he said, "Welcome to the free state of South Dakota".

The drives through mountain passes have been a real thrillride. This vid short is a glimpse of highway 14 through the Bighorn Mts.

https://youtube.com/shorts/gxIm9hAaV...yI-TJx57knT1rr

We had a great time together enjoying the miles and campgrounds and sights. After leaving Custer, SD we headed for Cody, Wy. I had anticipated and prepared for the drive through the Bighorn Mts. The Ram 1500 performed as it was designed to do. I had the trailer brakes set, and used the Hemi with 8sp trans do the work. The trailer was probably 6200# so the steep grades required some oomph and the downgrades was about downshifting and only minimal brake use. There were several downhill grades of 9 and 10% some lasting 10-12mi. If one is not in a hurry, there is no danger of overheat on uphills or cooking your brakes on the downhill. What a thrill.

When we were finally on the "flats" near Cody we got a glimpse of this moose: