City Park
Luray, Kansas
November 10, 2022
What the heck am I doing?
I am headed North. I know that in South Dakota the lows will be single digits (before taking into account the wind chill) and the high might be as high as 32 degrees. I know in Wall, South Dakota there is a winter weather advisory today.
But I persist. Because I want to go to Wall Drug, the Black Hills and Mout Rushmore (I gotta find out why it is named that). I kinda sorta have the clothes to deal with the cold -- as much as one can.
This area of Kansas is remote and lonely. Along State Route 18. There are micro towns with nothing more that a convenience store serving as a restaurant, gas station, hardware store and grocery store. I've seen more 18 wheels transporting cattle or grain than I have cars and pickups. Yesterday the winds blew steadily above 20 mph; last night the wind kept blowing just as hard. Reminded me of sleeping at Guadeloupe National Park.
Today's destination - North Platte, Nebraska.
While you are in the Mount Rushmore/Badlands area I recommend:
1) Custer State Park. I spent 8 days there in September. Wonderful. Absolutely watch the large screen movie in the visitor's center and drive the wildlife loop at least once. There are campground spaces, a lodge, and cabins for rent in the park. Custer has the size and appeal of a National Park. Game Lodge was the summer White House of President Coolidge. We always camp at the Game Lodge campground when we are visiting Custer. Check the park website for available lodging and camping. We use Custer as our base when visiting the region.
2) Mt. Rushmore - Definitely a must see. See it during the day and i…