More than one person had told us we hadn’t given Custer State Park enough time and had missed the best parts. So we went back to the Black Hills. Stayed a full week. We’d actually only seen the plains portion, albeit with its fascinating collection of animal life.  Somehow we’d missed the most fascinating part, the wonderful mountains and rock formations. Not to mention viewing Mount Rushmore framed by a road tunnel. The Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road are fascinating. We kept finding excuses to drive them again and again, though a couple of the tunnels are exercises in masochism, mirrors on that massive truck just inches from scraping either side. We revisited Jewel Cave, this time taking the traditional tour, complete with kerosene lanterns. We also took in a play at the Black Hills Theatre, just blocks away from our campsite which was also walking distance from a pretty little lake. Since our campsite was primitive and our generator won’t quite pull the air conditioner, it was very welcome. Lots of activities were offered including a canoeing class (big deal, here’s the canoe, here’s approximately how you paddle, go have fun) and nightly presentations by the park staff. One night it was a 50+ year old Marlin Perkin’s Wild Kingdom (go ask your mother or grandmother) presentation filmed at Custer State Park.

Liz at tunnel. See Mt. Rushmore?

That's right, a truck bed full of antlers.

Yet another breathtaking view (yawn).

Eye of the needle, right along road.

George Washington profile from inside Custer State Park.

Along Needles Highway, naturally.

Liz, neat formation

Panning for gold. Only found tiny garnets.

We finally decided it was time to pick up stakes and get to Yellowstone but with a stopover at Devil’s Tower. Paid a fairly exorbitant fee at the Devil’s Tower KOA but watched “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” with the tower itself in the background. Next night, we drove a mile and camped in a much more reasonable site (6 bucks a night!),in the National Park. Absolutely no amenities like water or power but we’d just taken care of our needs the night before.  Devil’s Tower is absolutely enchanting, but once you’ve seen it and hiked the paths around it, you’ve pretty much done it all.

Dramatic enough for you? Just before a hailstorm.

Just for scale, there's a climber up there.

Somewhere in this picture is what's left of a ladder installed 1895.
I can't find it now either.
Hint: it's made of 3" dia x 24" sections of tree branch pointed at one end and driven into cracks.

Tonight, we’re at yet another exorbitant KOA halfway to Yellowstone. Top up the water, empty the waste tanks, take a shower, and take off early in the morning!