We left the beautiful Pacific Northwest earlier this month heading to Grand Design Service Center in Elkhart, Indiana (Again!) This makes the 4th time in 4 years! Finally getting the body work done on The Beast after our blowout last October near Tuscon, AZ. Don’t get me started on lack of service centers in the RV world and the unending lack of supplies! 😤
I mapped out the trip so we could accomplish 2 goals. 1st, stay in Wyoming and Nebraska so we can fill in our 50 states map, and 2nd, spend time on the edge of the Badlands, again!
Sheridan, Wyoming
I totally fell in love with this charming town! The cowboy vibe is real here! 🤠 It was the perfect place to celebrate me! Enjoyed a fabulous birthday dinner at the Wyoming Rib and Chop House followed by retail therapy the next day. Downtown Sheridan is loaded with cute boutiques, coffee houses, and antique shops. I only made it down one side of Main Street! My favorite stop was a boutique called Crazy Woman. The owner was a hoot and, yes, I went home with a Crazy Woman T! 🤩😍 John got caught up on work and a much needed rest after two days of driving!
Home for our 2 days was the Sheridan County Rodeo and Fairgrounds. Loved watching the horses that are corralled here.
There’s so much to go, see, do in the Sheridan area…the scenic Bighorn Mountains, outlaw hideouts, craft distilleries, and another side of the street to shop! We’ll definitely be back when we can spend more time.
Badlands of South Dakota, near Wall, SD
We spent some time here in the fall of 2020. It’s an awesome spot to unwind and appreciate the beauty of a rugged land. Fellow RVers be prepared to boondock and watch the wind! It can get pretty wicked up here! The October Sky shared all the right colors, along with amazing sunsets and moonrises! It’s absolutely breathtaking here!
Drove the Badlands National Park loop. It’s about a 39 mile loop, with lots of places to pull off and explore and watch wildlife. I’m in awe of the power of natural forces that shaped this rugged land. The Native Americans call it Mako Siko or Bad Land and the 1st European explorers called it ….. The geological history shows in the different colors of the layers.
Did some short hikes this visit. It’s pretty cool to wander through the Badlands away from the crowds. It is a desolate experience. And, yes, I kept my eyes open for rattlers.
Spending time on the Wall of the Badlands, makes the trip to Grand Design Service Center bearable! We kinda like it here! 🙂
Dignity of Earth and Sky
I saw this statue when we passed through here in 2020. I made sure to add it to our must see list this time! Located on a bluff by the Missouri River near Chamberlain, SD. The I-90 exit also has a rest stop and a Lewis and Clark museum, which had already closed for the season.
Dignity stands 50 feet tall and was designed by sculptor Dale Lamphere. “Dignity represents the courage, perseverance and wisdom of the Lakota and Dakota culture in South Dakota,” Lamphere said. “My hope is that the sculpture might serve as a symbol of respect and promise for the future.”
I found her gaze mesmerizing and was happy to sit in her quiet grace as John took a quick cat nap in the truck!
West Yankton, Nebraska
This stop was all about filling an empty spot on our map! Our home for 2 days was a gorgeous, lake side site at Cottonwood Corps of Engineers campground. I was looking forward to hiking along the banks of the Lake Yankton and enjoying the fall colors. But fate had a different plan for me. In my hurry to set up, I twisted and bent wrong and my lower back did NOT like that! 🥴🥺 I spent the next few days alternating between my heating pad and a bag of frozen peas! 🙃 Getting old is not for the weak! 🤪 The view from the window was pretty! 😁
A stopover in Iowa to catch up on laundry, then on to Indiana. Stayed at the old service center campground and got the Beast ready for her 6:30 am appointment at the new service center about 20 minutes away. It was an early morning for me!
