Road Trip! Badlands National Park is calling me

 If there was a shorter, straighter way through Nebraska to South Dakota, I never found it. What I experienced was a dog-legged journey through cut fields just beginnng to sprout, views of silos and the fleeting back-ends of pronghorn. 

Roadside gas stations were overflowing with people paying CASH for bits and bobs... slowly.  I was being transported back in time to when life was simpler. The universe reminded me that this was literally what I had been asking for!

Along the way, I came upon 'Car-Henge' quite randomly and surprisingly. I stopped of course. It's weird, wonderful and definitely falls under the category of art installation. My final thought was not "why?" as my initial thought had been; It was "why not?!"

There is still the occasional (giant by any standards) Trump 2024 sign around. I do wonder if there had been more and if the recent political climate has changed things for some in middle Nebraska. 

As I drive, Neil Young and his harmonica is belting out ".. because I'm still in love with you I want to see you on dance again. Because Im still in love with you on this harvest moon". I kind of wish there was a harvest moon now. Nonetheless, I am singing along with great joy and enthusiasm in my atrocious voice. Life is good. I crossed into South Dakota just before 4 PM. There were beautiful cumulous clouds, the ground was now green and rolling, trees sprout here unlike most of the Nebraska leg - which was also beautiful in its own way. However, I have to believe that someone in SD was in charge of where to draw the state line and Nebraska paid the price!

Through White Clay I drove. Turns out there was a Pow Wow going on there this weekend! Super fun energy abounds and it appeared to be an amazing gathering place, making me a little sad to pass through so quickly. BIA 27 (Bureau of Indian Affairs, Rd 27) took me closer and closer.

Through Buffalo Gap National Grasslands where the earth was bursting with wildflowers and bison. 

Reaching Badlands National Park just around 7pm. Timed perfect for late afternoon color at Yellow Mounds and a sunset picnic dinner at Pinnacles Overlook.

Tonight I found my spot boon-docking just outside the entrance of the Park with a couple of dozen other vehicles. We are perched on a dirt road, looking over the Badlands. Cows and with newborn calves graze idly nearby.  I have all of 6 hours before the alarm will wake me! Night, night!