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(60, 2, '2011-09-01 10:32:52', '2011-09-01 10:32:52', 'Start:  Outside Philadelphia, PA - Home\nDestination:  Sturgis, MI - <a href=\"http://www.amigocentre.org/\">Amigo Campground</a>\nOdometer:  101,469 (start)    102,137 (end)    668 miles.\nDate: Tuesday, August 30th, 2011\n\nWe\'re going west.  My Dad has retired and has always wanted to see the natural beauty of the western United States. I\'ve finished my PhD and have also wanted to go experience that part of the country.  We also have a good relationship, and enjoy spending time with each other.  For weeks we\'ve been planning this trip, buying supplies, making reservations, preparing the itinerary, and generally looking forward to this trip.  This morning, at 6:15am, it began.\n\nEverything started off great.  We woke up early, said goodbye to Mom, and were on the road.  We made all the lights to the highway, but then, our first issue:  \"Why does the GPS say it has no power? It\'s plugged in.\"  Now, some would think having two GPSs, each with their own power supplies would be over-packing.  However, when one\'s power adapter has apparently broken, you appreciate having that extra adapter you didn\'t think you\'d use.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1172.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-54\" title=\"102_1172\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1172-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nThe driving was smooth all the way across Pennsylvania.  We took I-80 and were able to seeing the green mountains of PA...as some refer to as \"the Kentucky\" region of PA (no disparagement intended).  It\'s funny how you can live near something for so long, but never see it.  In this case, for me, it was Lehigh Valley.  I have lived outside Philadelphia for 18 years, and while I had heard of Lehigh Valley, I had never seen it.  It wasn\'t until I was admiring our drive through a scenic valley, with forested mountains all around, and going through those mountains in the tunnel, that it dawned on me:  \"Oh, so THIS is Lehigh Valley.\" If there\'s a place near you that you\'ve heard of, but haven\'t yet taken the time to visit, please do so.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1129.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-21\" title=\"102_1129\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1129-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1130.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-22\" title=\"102_1130\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1130-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nHaving gone about 3/4 across PA, our full tank of gas used up, it was time to stop to feed the car and ourselves.  The gas station had a nice big rock, and we enjoyed a picnic lunch of bagels and lox (thanks Mom :-))\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_17\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Gas Station Picnic of Bagels and Lox\"]<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1126.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-17\" title=\"102_1126\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1126-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Gas Station Picnic of Bagels and Lox\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMy Dad took the wheel and drove us for the next tank through Pennsylvania, to Ohio, Indiana, and then slightly north to Sturgis, Michigan.  My Dad enjoyed looking across the flatlands of Ohio, but I\'m holding out for driving through the plane states on the way back.  We\'ve decided to aim to get pictures of the state welcome signs we pass, so here they are:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_23\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Welcome to Ohio\"]<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1131.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-23\" title=\"102_1131\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1131-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_27\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Welcome to Indiana\"]<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1135.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-27\" title=\"102_1135\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1135-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_45\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Welcome to &quot;Pure&quot; Michigan\"]<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1154.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-45\" title=\"102_1154\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1154-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWe arrived at the campground earlier than expected and were glad we choose this site.  It is right on a big lake, the plots are large, the bathrooms and showers worked, and the management was friendly.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1149.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-40\" title=\"102_1149\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1149-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1140.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-31\" title=\"102_1140\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1140-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nThis was going to be our first night camping, and so the first goal was to setup our new <a href=\"http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=2000007831\">Coleman 6-person instant tent</a>. We found a nice spot under a tree that was along the lake and not on top of the colonies of ant hills (they were busy and left us alone).  The tent went up as advertised, and a few minutes later, we were set.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1146.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-37\" title=\"102_1146\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1146-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nNext, it was time for dinner.  I enjoy cooking and wanted to try/practice some meals while camping.  That night, it was tuna-melts.  Tuna cans, check.  Pots to use as a mixing bowl, check.  Spices, check.  Stove that lights, check.  Can opener....D\'oh.  Racing the sun going down, I drove the car to the nearest Dollar General and splurged on a $2.50 can opener and was back by 7.  Now, usually tuna melts use a toaster, but we\'re roughing it, so we didn\'t bring one and were left to improvise.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1152.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-43\" title=\"102_1152\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1152-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nI learned early on from my camping trips with Triangle Fraternity to always bring a lot of aluminum foil, since you can always seem to make whatever it is you need.  In this case, a means for heating the tuna and melting the cheese without burning the bread or the cheese.  Some experiments later, I had the an aluminum foil wrapper that did the trick.  I should also note, that the inexpensive <a href=\"http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=2000000260&amp;categoryid=5150\">Coleman camp stove toaster</a> contraption also worked surprisingly well.  I recommend it.\n\nA half hour later, we sat down to dinner. The meal wasn\'t the best, but it was definitely good for the first meal out.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1150.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-41\" title=\"102_1150\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1150-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\nAnd thanks to my Dad who insisted that we somehow fit 35 bottles of water in the car, we had cold water to drink, since there was only a small water fountain and a faucet with non-potable water in our section of the campground.  He also established what will likely be our delegation of duties: my Dad cleaned up after I cooked :-)\n\nIt was just about getting dark around 8, so we decided to call it a night early and went to the tent to sleep.  We were nervous about the cots (<a href=\"http://www.byerofmaine.com/products/emergency-preparedness-products/easy-sleeping-cot.html\">Byer of Maine Easy Cot</a>), thinking they\'d be too narrow, too rigid or loose, or just uncomfortable.  Turned out, they were very comfortable, which is a good thing, since we didn\'t have much room to go anywhere else in the tent ;-)  We rigged a lantern to the top of the tent with an extra pair of shoe laces I brought, and so I did some reading and my Dad setup his portable radio before going to sleep.\n\nWe went to bed relieved that the first day was fun and without serious issues.  All was well.  That is, until we were awakened around 3am.  But more on that, and our trip to Chicago, in the post for Day 2.', 'Day 1:  The Journey Begins', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '14-autosave', '', '', '2011-09-01 10:32:52', '2011-09-01 10:32:52', '', 14, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=60', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(62, 2, '2011-09-01 04:00:02', '2011-09-01 04:00:02', 'Start:  Outside Philadelphia, PA - Home\r\nDestination:  Sturgis, MI - <a href=\"http://www.amigocentre.org/\">Amigo Campground</a>\r\nOdometer:  101,469 (start)    102,137 (end)    668 miles.\r\nDate: Tuesday, August 30th, 2011\r\n\r\nWe\'re going west.  My Dad has retired and has always wanted to see the natural beauty of the western United States. I\'ve finished my PhD and have also wanted to go experience that part of the country.  We also have a good relationship, and enjoy spending time with each other.  For weeks we\'ve been planning this trip, buying supplies, making reservations, preparing the itinerary, and generally looking forward to this trip.  This morning, at 6:15am, it began.\r\n\r\nEverything started off great.  We woke up early, said goodbye to Mom, and were on the road.  We made all the lights to the highway, but then, our first issue:  \"Why does the GPS say it has no power? It\'s plugged in.\"  Now, some would think having two GPSs, each with their own power supplies would be over-packing.  However, when one\'s power adapter has apparently broken, you appreciate having that extra adapter you didn\'t think you\'d use.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1172.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-54\" title=\"102_1172\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1172-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThe driving was smooth all the way across Pennsylvania.  We took I-80 and were able to seeing the green mountains of PA...as some refer to as \"the Kentucky\" region of PA (no disparagement intended).  It\'s funny how you can live near something for so long, but never see it.  In this case, for me, it was Lehigh Valley.  I have lived outside Philadelphia for 18 years, and while I had heard of Lehigh Valley, I had never seen it.  It wasn\'t until I was admiring our drive through a scenic valley, with forested mountains all around, and going through those mountains in the tunnel, that it dawned on me:  \"Oh, so THIS is Lehigh Valley.\" If there\'s a place near you that you\'ve heard of, but haven\'t yet taken the time to visit, please do so.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1129.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-21\" title=\"102_1129\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1129-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1130.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-22\" title=\"102_1130\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1130-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nHaving gone about 3/4 across PA, our full tank of gas used up, it was time to stop to feed the car and ourselves.  The gas station had a nice big rock, and we enjoyed a picnic lunch of bagels and lox (thanks Mom :-)\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_17\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Gas Station Picnic of Bagels and Lox\"]<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1126.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-17\" title=\"102_1126\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1126-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Gas Station Picnic of Bagels and Lox\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nMy Dad took the wheel and drove us for the next tank through Pennsylvania, to Ohio, Indiana, and then slightly north to Sturgis, Michigan.  My Dad enjoyed looking across the flatlands of Ohio, but I\'m holding out for driving through the plane states on the way back.  We\'ve decided to aim to get pictures of the state welcome signs we pass, so here they are:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_23\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Welcome to Ohio\"]<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1131.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-23\" title=\"102_1131\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1131-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_27\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Welcome to Indiana\"]<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1135.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-27\" title=\"102_1135\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1135-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_45\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Welcome to &quot;Pure&quot; Michigan\"]<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1154.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-45\" title=\"102_1154\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1154-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe arrived at the campground earlier than expected and were glad we choose this site.  It is right on a big lake, the plots are large, the bathrooms and showers worked, and the management was friendly.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1149.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-40\" title=\"102_1149\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1149-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1140.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-31\" title=\"102_1140\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1140-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThis was going to be our first night camping, and so the first goal was to setup our new <a href=\"http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=2000007831\">Coleman 6-person instant tent</a>. We found a nice spot under a tree that was along the lake and not on top of the colonies of ant hills (they were busy and left us alone).  The tent went up as advertised, and a few minutes later, we were set.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1146.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-37\" title=\"102_1146\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1146-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nNext, it was time for dinner.  I enjoy cooking and wanted to try/practice some meals while camping.  That night, it was tuna-melts.  Tuna cans, check.  Pots to use as a mixing bowl, check.  Spices, check.  Stove that lights, check.  Can opener....D\'oh.  Racing the sun going down, I drove the car to the nearest Dollar General and splurged on a $2.50 can opener and was back by 7.  Now, usually tuna melts use a toaster, but we\'re roughing it, so we didn\'t bring one and were left to improvise.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1152.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-43\" title=\"102_1152\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1152-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI learned early on from my camping trips with Triangle Fraternity to always bring a lot of aluminum foil, since you can always seem to make whatever it is you need.  In this case, a means for heating the tuna and melting the cheese without burning the bread or the cheese.  Some experiments later, I had the an aluminum foil wrapper that did the trick.  I should also note, that the inexpensive <a href=\"http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=2000000260&amp;categoryid=5150\">Coleman camp stove toaster</a> contraption also worked surprisingly well.  I recommend it.\r\n\r\nA half hour later, we sat down to dinner. The meal wasn\'t the best, but it was definitely good for the first meal out.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1150.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-41\" title=\"102_1150\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/102_1150-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nAnd thanks to my Dad who insisted that we somehow fit 35 bottles of water in the car, we had cold water to drink, since there was only a small water fountain and a faucet with non-potable water in our section of the campground.  He also established what will likely be our delegation of duties, my Dad cleaned up after I cooked :-)\r\n\r\nIt was just about getting dark around 8, so we decided to call it a night early and went to the tent to sleep.  We were nervous about the cots (<a href=\"http://www.byerofmaine.com/products/emergency-preparedness-products/easy-sleeping-cot.html\">Byer of Maine Easy Cot</a>), thinking they\'d be too narrow, too rigid or loose, or just uncomfortable.  Turned out, they were very comfortable, which is a good thing, since we didn\'t have much room to go anywhere else in the tent ;-)  We rigged a lantern to the top of the tent with an extra pair of shoe laces I brought, and so I did some reading and my Dad setup his portable radio before going to sleep.\r\n\r\nWe went to bed relieved that the first day was fun and without serious issues.  All was well.  That is, until we were awakened around 3am.  But more on that, and our trip to Chicago, in the post for Day 2.', 'Day 1:  The Journey Begins', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '14-revision-11', '', '', '2011-09-01 04:00:02', '2011-09-01 04:00:02', '', 14, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=62', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(63, 2, '2011-09-02 00:57:31', '2011-09-02 00:57:31', 'Start:  Sturgis, MI – Amigo Campground\r\nDestination:  Chicago, IL\r\nOdometer:  102,137 (start)    102,387 (end)    250 miles\r\nDate:  August 31st, 2011\r\n\r\nIt was bound to happen:  rain.  The peaceful sound of chirping was replaced by the sound of rain pitter-pattering on the tent.  The review and design indicated it performed well in heavy downpours and wind, but whether we had it setup correctly and whether it would work for us had yet to be established.  I am glad to report:  it worked.  While we were relieved, it was still 3am, we were now awake, and not inclined to go out in the rain (we need to remember to pack umbrellas in the tent).  Fortunately, around 5am the rain stopped and a much-needed trip to the nearby bathroom was in order.  Nature can be the best alarm clock.\r\n\r\nIn my experience, the annoying part about rain when camping is not so much it getting in the tent, but having to break down the camp site while its raining or after its rained.  Fortunately, the yuppie tent was quick to takedown and stuff in its bag (the bag is intentionally designed to be much bigger than needed so you don’t need to perform a tight roll of the tent like I’ve had to do on most).  While I took a nice hot shower, Dad packed most of the supplies into the car.  By 6:45am, we were on our way.\r\n\r\nNow, when doing a quick takedown, certain details are often overlooked. In my case, there were two.  First, there was the lantern I had placed and forgotten on the roof of the car.  Fortunately, when it fell after driving a few yards along the dirt road out of the site, it was easy to find since the light was still on and it was still dark.  Unfortunately, the dial for adjusting its output had broken off.  Second, there were my keys and cell phone.  This tent, like others, has meshed pockets inside the tent for storing items, but these can be overlooked when taking items out of the tent.  My Dad’s keys were already in the ignition, and so it wasn’t until about 15 minutes out when I went for my phone that it dawned on me that they were now in a wet tent packed away in the trunk.  I was confident that the keys would be OK, but I was not so sure about my phone.\r\n\r\nI kept driving though until about 8am when the sun was out, the air was dryer, and we were hungry for some breakfast.    We pulled into a rest stop and took care of business.  First, we popped up the instant tent on the concrete and I ventured in for my personal items. The keys and phone were both wet, but both were working.  The <a href=\"en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Centro\">Palm Centro</a> lives on.  After shaking the water off the tent and making some breakfast, we were back on the road to Chicago.\r\n\r\nI dare say/hope the drive into Chicago will be the worst driving experience we’ll have on the trip. Interesting factoid:  there’s no Welcome to Illinois sign when crossing over the Chicago river from Gary, IN.  Instead, there’s a small sign on the bridge: Welcome to Chicago, Mayor Emmanuel.  I guess there’s Chicago, and then there’s Illinois. After our driving experience, we might suggest adding the advisory:  Check Your Brakes.  It was quite a change going from 75-80 mph on the highways to stop and go traffic for over an hour to get to our destination around Skokie, IL.  Hopefully once we get past Chicago and into the western states, we won’t have such problems.\r\n\r\nThe goal of today and the visit to Chicago are visiting people we hadn’t seen in a long time.  The first stop was in Rogers Park near Skokie to visit my Dad’s nephew’s family:  Kenny, Chani, and their five kids.  My Dad hadn’t seen them since the funeral of Joyce Goldman, who was Kenny’s Mom, and my Dad’s sister-in-law.  I hadn’t seen them since I was 14 or 15, when they were recently married, living in MA, and I was attending a computer summer camp nearby (yeah, I went to a computer camp for one summer).\r\n\r\nDespite the traffic, we had left early enough that we had time to relax and so we went to the local library to use the internet and work on our first blog post.  Around noon, we headed over to their home for lunch.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1164.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-64\" title=\"102_1164\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1164-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIt was great seeing them again, and, for me, meeting my second-cousins for the first time.  Akiba is into collecting pens and playing the drums, Adina and Danya are twins who brought fun and energy into the house, and Ezra and Zvi were younger kids who were quiet / good listeners.  Kenny and Chani were wonderful hosts who made us feel welcome and made a good impression to their kids for us prior to our visit.  We hope we didn’t disappoint and we’ll see them again soon.  It was also interesting seeing Kenny again and his resemblance to my brother David.   The great thing about family is that despite geographic distances, less than ideal frequency of communication, and various other differences, there’s commonality and closeness that can be found.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1166.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-65\" title=\"102_1166\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1166-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\nMyron (my Dad), Kenny, Chani, and Zvi (back, left to right)\r\nAdina and Akiba (front, left to right)\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1165.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-66\" title=\"102_1165\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1165-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\nReviewing geography and our trip with Adina\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1170.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-67\" title=\"102_1170\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1170-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n(Danya joins the picture and Sammy, a friend of the family, is in the doorway)\r\n\r\nAfter leaving their home, we ventured back onto the highways of Chicago to Naperville, IL to visit George and Lynn.  My Dad was George’s Junior High math teacher back in 1975 and was significant in teaching and mentoring him and a group of other precocious students in a less-than-precocious school.  He and his family have been part of our family ever since.  Aside from seeing and catching up with the two of them (their kids are off at college) and replenishing our supply of ice, part of this trip was the opportunity to see their new home.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1176.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-68\" title=\"102_1176\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1185.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-69\" title=\"102_1185\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1185-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nGeorge has been very successful in his career, and as they have moved with different companies around the country, has been able to live in some very impressive homes.  We got the grand tour.  The house had been designed by a CEO with seven kids.  There is definitely not a want for full bathrooms, large closets, rooms, and what any home should have:  a small basketball court.  In addition to the well-designed structure of the house, Lynn did a great job of designing and furnishing the interior of the home.  Each room had its own style while still fitting into the overall feel of the house.\r\n\r\nAfter the tour, we went with George and Lynn to a nice Italian restaurant, Biaggi’s, where they are regulars and are treated as VIPs.  Dad enjoyed his Veal Ptarmigan and I had a good Chicago-style Mediterranean/vegetarian pizza with anchovies (yes, anchovies on pizza are great, you should try it).  It was fun catching up about work, family, and future life directions.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1179.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-70\" title=\"102_1179\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nAfter talking awhile longer back at the house, it was time to retire to our individual bedrooms.  I got yesterday’s blog post online, and got some sleep in what is scheduled to be our last night in “civilization” for nearly 20 days.\r\n\r\nTomorrow, we head out to Mitchell, SD.', 'Day 2:  Chicago', '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'day-2-chicago', '', '', '2011-09-02 02:10:56', '2011-09-02 02:10:56', '', 0, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=63', 0, 'post', '', 54),
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(71, 2, '2011-09-02 00:54:13', '2011-09-02 00:54:13', 'Start:  Sturgis, MI – Amigo Campground\nDestination:  Chicago, IL\nOdometer:  102,137 (start)    102,387 (end)    250 miles\nDate:  August 31st, 2011\n\nIt was bound to happen:  rain.  The peaceful sound of chirping was replaced by the sound of rain pitter-pattering on the tent.  The review and design indicated it performed well in heavy downpours and wind, but whether we had it setup correctly and whether it would work for us had yet to be established.  I am glad to report:  it worked.  While we were relieved, it was still 3am, we were now awake, and not inclined to go out in the rain (we need to remember to pack umbrellas in the tent).  Fortunately, around 5am the rain stopped and a much-needed trip to the nearby bathroom was in order.  Nature can be the best alarm clock.\n\nIn my experience, the annoying part about rain when camping is not so much it getting in the tent, but having to break down the camp site while its raining or after its rained.  Fortunately, the yuppie tent was quick to takedown and stuff in its bag (the bag is intentionally designed to be much bigger than needed so you don’t need to perform a tight roll of the tent like I’ve had to do on most).  While I took a nice hot shower, Dad packed most of the supplies into the car.  By 6:45am, we were on our way.\n\nNow, when doing a quick takedown, certain details are often overlooked. In my case, there were two.  First, there was the lantern I had placed and forgotten on the roof of the car.  Fortunately, when it fell after driving a few yards along the dirt road out of the site, it was easy to find since the light was still on and it was still dark.  Unfortunately, the dial for adjusting its output had broken off.  Second, there were my keys and cell phone.  This tent, like others, has meshed pockets inside the tent for storing items, but these can be overlooked when taking items out of the tent.  My Dad’s keys were already in the ignition, and so it wasn’t until about 15 minutes out when I went for my phone that it dawned on me that they were now in a wet tent packed away in the trunk.  I was confident that the keys would be OK, but I was not so sure about my phone.\n\nI kept driving though until about 8am when the sun was out, the air was dryer, and we were hungry for some breakfast.    We pulled into a rest stop and took care of business.  First, we popped up the instant tent on the concrete and I ventured in for my personal items. The keys and phone were both wet, but both were working.  The <a href=\"en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Centro\">Palm Centro</a> lives on.  After shaking the water off the tent and making some breakfast, we were back on the road to Chicago.\n\nI dare say/hope the drive into Chicago will be the worst driving experience we’ll have on the trip. Interesting factoid:  there’s no Welcome to Illinois sign when crossing over the Chicago river from Gary, IN.  Instead, there’s a small sign on the bridge: Welcome to Chicago, Mayor Emmanuel.  I guess there’s Chicago, and then there’s Illinois. After our driving experience, we might suggest adding the advisory:  Check Your Brakes.  It was quite a change going from 75-80 mph on the highways to stop and go traffic for over an hour to get to our destination around Skokie, IL.  Hopefully once we get past Chicago and into the western states, we won’t have such problems.\n\nThe goal of today and the visit to Chicago are visiting people we hadn’t seen in a long time.  The first stop was in Rogers Park near Skokie to visit my Dad’s nephew’s family:  Kenny, Chani, and their five kids.  My Dad hadn’t seen them since the funeral of Joyce Goldman, who was Kenny’s Mom, and my Dad’s sister-in-law.  I hadn’t seen them since I was 14 or 15, when they were recently married, living in MA, and I was attending a computer summer camp nearby (yeah, I went to a computer camp for one summer).\n\nDespite the traffic, we had left early enough that we had time to relax and so we went to the local library to use the internet and work on our first blog post.  Around noon, we headed over to their home for lunch.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1164.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-64\" title=\"102_1164\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1164-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nIt was great seeing them again, and, for me, meeting my second-cousins for the first time.  Akiba is into collecting pens and playing the drums, Adina and Danya are twins who brought fun and energy into the house, and Ezra and Zvi were younger kids who were quiet / good listeners.  Kenny and Chani were wonderful hosts who made us feel welcome and made a good impression to their kids for us prior to our visit.  We hope we didn’t disappoint and we’ll see them again soon.  It was also interesting seeing Kenny again and his resemblance to my brother David.   The great thing about family is that despite geographic distances, less than ideal frequency of communication, and various other differences, there’s commonality and closeness that can be found.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1166.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-65\" title=\"102_1166\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1166-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\nMyron (my Dad), Kenny, Chani, and Zvi (back, left to right)\nAdina and Akiba (front, left to right)\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1165.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-66\" title=\"102_1165\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1165-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n(reviewing geography and our trip with Adina)\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1170.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-67\" title=\"102_1170\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1170-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n(Danya joins the picture and Sammy, a friend of the family, is in the doorway)\n\nAfter leaving their home, we ventured back onto the highways of Chicago to Naperville, IL to visit George and Lynn.  My Dad was George’s Junior High math teacher back in 1975 and was significant in teaching and mentoring him and a group of other precocious students in a less-than-precocious school.  He and his family have been part of our family ever since.  Aside from seeing and catching up with the two of them (their kids are off at college) and replenishing our supply of ice, part of this trip was the opportunity to see their new home.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1176.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-68\" title=\"102_1176\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1185.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-69\" title=\"102_1185\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1185-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>George has been very successful in his career, and as they have moved with different companies around the country, has been able to live in some very impressive homes.  We got the grand tour.  The house had been designed by a CEO with seven kids.  There is definitely not a want for full bathrooms, large closets, rooms, and what any home should have:  a small basketball court.  In addition to the well-designed structure of the house, Lynn did a great job of designing and furnishing the interior of the home.  Each room had its own style while still fitting into the overall feel of the house.\n\nAfter the tour, we went with George and Lynn to a nice Italian restaurant, Biaggi’s, where they are regulars and are treated as VIPs.  Dad enjoyed his Veal Ptarmigan and I had a good Chicago-style Mediterranean/vegetarian pizza with anchovies (yes, anchovies on pizza are great, you should try it).  It was fun catching up about work, family, and future life directions.\n\nAfter talking awhile longer back at the house, it was time to retire to our individual bedrooms.  I got yesterday’s blog post online, and got some sleep in what is scheduled to be our last night in “civilization” for nearly 20 days.\n\nTomorrow, we head out to Mitchell, SD.', 'Day 2:  Chicago', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '63-revision', '', '', '2011-09-02 00:54:13', '2011-09-02 00:54:13', '', 63, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=71', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(72, 2, '2011-09-02 00:57:16', '2011-09-02 00:57:16', 'Start:  Sturgis, MI – Amigo Campground\nDestination:  Chicago, IL\nOdometer:  102,137 (start)    102,387 (end)    250 miles\nDate:  August 31st, 2011\n\nIt was bound to happen:  rain.  The peaceful sound of chirping was replaced by the sound of rain pitter-pattering on the tent.  The review and design indicated it performed well in heavy downpours and wind, but whether we had it setup correctly and whether it would work for us had yet to be established.  I am glad to report:  it worked.  While we were relieved, it was still 3am, we were now awake, and not inclined to go out in the rain (we need to remember to pack umbrellas in the tent).  Fortunately, around 5am the rain stopped and a much-needed trip to the nearby bathroom was in order.  Nature can be the best alarm clock.\n\nIn my experience, the annoying part about rain when camping is not so much it getting in the tent, but having to break down the camp site while its raining or after its rained.  Fortunately, the yuppie tent was quick to takedown and stuff in its bag (the bag is intentionally designed to be much bigger than needed so you don’t need to perform a tight roll of the tent like I’ve had to do on most).  While I took a nice hot shower, Dad packed most of the supplies into the car.  By 6:45am, we were on our way.\n\nNow, when doing a quick takedown, certain details are often overlooked. In my case, there were two.  First, there was the lantern I had placed and forgotten on the roof of the car.  Fortunately, when it fell after driving a few yards along the dirt road out of the site, it was easy to find since the light was still on and it was still dark.  Unfortunately, the dial for adjusting its output had broken off.  Second, there were my keys and cell phone.  This tent, like others, has meshed pockets inside the tent for storing items, but these can be overlooked when taking items out of the tent.  My Dad’s keys were already in the ignition, and so it wasn’t until about 15 minutes out when I went for my phone that it dawned on me that they were now in a wet tent packed away in the trunk.  I was confident that the keys would be OK, but I was not so sure about my phone.\n\nI kept driving though until about 8am when the sun was out, the air was dryer, and we were hungry for some breakfast.    We pulled into a rest stop and took care of business.  First, we popped up the instant tent on the concrete and I ventured in for my personal items. The keys and phone were both wet, but both were working.  The <a href=\"en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Centro\">Palm Centro</a> lives on.  After shaking the water off the tent and making some breakfast, we were back on the road to Chicago.\n\nI dare say/hope the drive into Chicago will be the worst driving experience we’ll have on the trip. Interesting factoid:  there’s no Welcome to Illinois sign when crossing over the Chicago river from Gary, IN.  Instead, there’s a small sign on the bridge: Welcome to Chicago, Mayor Emmanuel.  I guess there’s Chicago, and then there’s Illinois. After our driving experience, we might suggest adding the advisory:  Check Your Brakes.  It was quite a change going from 75-80 mph on the highways to stop and go traffic for over an hour to get to our destination around Skokie, IL.  Hopefully once we get past Chicago and into the western states, we won’t have such problems.\n\nThe goal of today and the visit to Chicago are visiting people we hadn’t seen in a long time.  The first stop was in Rogers Park near Skokie to visit my Dad’s nephew’s family:  Kenny, Chani, and their five kids.  My Dad hadn’t seen them since the funeral of Joyce Goldman, who was Kenny’s Mom, and my Dad’s sister-in-law.  I hadn’t seen them since I was 14 or 15, when they were recently married, living in MA, and I was attending a computer summer camp nearby (yeah, I went to a computer camp for one summer).\n\nDespite the traffic, we had left early enough that we had time to relax and so we went to the local library to use the internet and work on our first blog post.  Around noon, we headed over to their home for lunch.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1164.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-64\" title=\"102_1164\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1164-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nIt was great seeing them again, and, for me, meeting my second-cousins for the first time.  Akiba is into collecting pens and playing the drums, Adina and Danya are twins who brought fun and energy into the house, and Ezra and Zvi were younger kids who were quiet / good listeners.  Kenny and Chani were wonderful hosts who made us feel welcome and made a good impression to their kids for us prior to our visit.  We hope we didn’t disappoint and we’ll see them again soon.  It was also interesting seeing Kenny again and his resemblance to my brother David.   The great thing about family is that despite geographic distances, less than ideal frequency of communication, and various other differences, there’s commonality and closeness that can be found.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1166.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-65\" title=\"102_1166\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1166-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\nMyron (my Dad), Kenny, Chani, and Zvi (back, left to right)\nAdina and Akiba (front, left to right)\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1165.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-66\" title=\"102_1165\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1165-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\nReviewing geography and our trip with Adina\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1170.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-67\" title=\"102_1170\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1170-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n(Danya joins the picture and Sammy, a friend of the family, is in the doorway)\n\nAfter leaving their home, we ventured back onto the highways of Chicago to Naperville, IL to visit George and Lynn.  My Dad was George’s Junior High math teacher back in 1975 and was significant in teaching and mentoring him and a group of other precocious students in a less-than-precocious school.  He and his family have been part of our family ever since.  Aside from seeing and catching up with the two of them (their kids are off at college) and replenishing our supply of ice, part of this trip was the opportunity to see their new home.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1176.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-68\" title=\"102_1176\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1185.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-69\" title=\"102_1185\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1185-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nGeorge has been very successful in his career, and as they have moved with different companies around the country, has been able to live in some very impressive homes.  We got the grand tour.  The house had been designed by a CEO with seven kids.  There is definitely not a want for full bathrooms, large closets, rooms, and what any home should have:  a small basketball court.  In addition to the well-designed structure of the house, Lynn did a great job of designing and furnishing the interior of the home.  Each room had its own style while still fitting into the overall feel of the house.\n\nAfter the tour, we went with George and Lynn to a nice Italian restaurant, Biaggi’s, where they are regulars and are treated as VIPs.  Dad enjoyed his Veal Ptarmigan and I had a good Chicago-style Mediterranean/vegetarian pizza with anchovies (yes, anchovies on pizza are great, you should try it).  It was fun catching up about work, family, and future life directions.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1179.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-70\" title=\"102_1179\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nAfter talking awhile longer back at the house, it was time to retire to our individual bedrooms.  I got yesterday’s blog post online, and got some sleep in what is scheduled to be our last night in “civilization” for nearly 20 days.\n\nTomorrow, we head out to Mitchell, SD.', 'Day 2:  Chicago', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '63-revision-2', '', '', '2011-09-02 00:57:16', '2011-09-02 00:57:16', '', 63, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=72', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
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(73, 2, '2011-09-02 02:12:00', '2011-09-02 02:12:00', 'Start:  Sturgis, MI – Amigo Campground\nDestination:  Chicago, IL\nOdometer:  102,137 (start)    102,387 (end)    250 miles\nDate:  August 31st, 2011\n\nIt was bound to happen:  rain.  The peaceful sound of chirping was replaced by the sound of rain pitter-pattering on the tent.  The review and design indicated it performed well in heavy downpours and wind, but whether we had it setup correctly and whether it would work for us had yet to be established.  I am glad to report:  it worked.  While we were relieved, it was still 3am, we were now awake, and not inclined to go out in the rain (we need to remember to pack umbrellas in the tent).  Fortunately, around 5am the rain stopped and a much-needed trip to the nearby bathroom was in order.  Nature can be the best alarm clock.\n\nIn my experience, the annoying part about rain when camping is not so much it getting in the tent, but having to break down the camp site while its raining or after its rained.  Fortunately, the yuppie tent was quick to takedown and stuff in its bag (the bag is intentionally designed to be much bigger than needed so you don’t need to perform a tight roll of the tent like I’ve had to do on most).  While I took a nice hot shower, Dad packed most of the supplies into the car.  By 6:45am, we were on our way.\n\nNow, when doing a quick takedown, certain details are often overlooked. In my case, there were two.  First, there was the lantern I had placed and forgotten on the roof of the car.  Fortunately, when it fell after driving a few yards along the dirt road out of the site, it was easy to find since the light was still on and it was still dark.  Unfortunately, the dial for adjusting its output had broken off.  Second, there were my keys and cell phone.  This tent, like others, has meshed pockets inside the tent for storing items, but these can be overlooked when taking items out of the tent.  My Dad’s keys were already in the ignition, and so it wasn’t until about 15 minutes out when I went for my phone that it dawned on me that they were now in a wet tent packed away in the trunk.  I was confident that the keys would be OK, but I was not so sure about my phone.\n\nI kept driving though until about 8am when the sun was out, the air was dryer, and we were hungry for some breakfast.    We pulled into a rest stop and took care of business.  First, we popped up the instant tent on the concrete and I ventured in for my personal items. The keys and phone were both wet, but both were working.  The <a href=\"en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Centro\">Palm Centro</a> lives on.  After shaking the water off the tent and making some breakfast, we were back on the road to Chicago.\n\nI dare say/hope the drive into Chicago will be the worst driving experience we’ll have on the trip. Interesting factoid:  there’s no Welcome to Illinois sign when crossing over the Chicago river from Gary, IN.  Instead, there’s a small sign on the bridge: Welcome to Chicago, Mayor Emmanuel.  I guess there’s Chicago, and then there’s Illinois. After our driving experience, we might suggest adding the advisory:  Check Your Brakes.  It was quite a change going from 75-80 mph on the highways to stop and go traffic for over an hour to get to our destination around Skokie, IL.  Hopefully once we get past Chicago and into the western states, we won’t have such problems.\n\nThe goal of today and the visit to Chicago are visiting people we hadn’t seen in a long time.  The first stop was in Rogers Park near Skokie to visit my Dad’s nephew’s family:  Kenny, Chani, and their five kids.  My Dad hadn’t seen them since the funeral of Joyce Goldman, who was Kenny’s Mom, and my Dad’s sister-in-law.  I hadn’t seen them since I was 14 or 15, when they were recently married, living in MA, and I was attending a computer summer camp nearby (yeah, I went to a computer camp for one summer).\n\nDespite the traffic, we had left early enough that we had time to relax and so we went to the local library to use the internet and work on our first blog post.  Around noon, we headed over to their home for lunch.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1164.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-64\" title=\"102_1164\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1164-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nIt was great seeing them again, and, for me, meeting my second-cousins for the first time.  Akiba is into collecting pens and playing the drums, Adina and Danya are twins who brought fun and energy into the house, and Ezra and Zvi were younger kids who were quiet / good listeners.  Kenny and Chani were wonderful hosts who made us feel welcome and made a good impression to their kids for us prior to our visit.  We hope we didn’t disappoint and we’ll see them again soon.  It was also interesting seeing Kenny again and his resemblance to my brother David.   The great thing about family is that despite geographic distances, less than ideal frequency of communication, and various other differences, there’s commonality and closeness that can be found.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1166.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-65\" title=\"102_1166\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1166-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\nMyron (my Dad), Kenny, Chani, and Zvi (back, left to right)\nAdina and Akiba (front, left to right)\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1165.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-66\" title=\"102_1165\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1165-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\nReviewing geography and our trip with Adina\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1170.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-67\" title=\"102_1170\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1170-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n(Danya joins the picture and Sammy, a friend of the family, is in the doorway)\n\nAfter leaving their home, we ventured back onto the highways of Chicago to Naperville, IL to visit George and Lynn.  My Dad was George’s Junior High math teacher back in 1975 and was significant in teaching and mentoring him and a group of other precocious students in a less-than-precocious school.  He and his family have been part of our family ever since.  Aside from seeing and catching up with the two of them (their kids are off at college) and replenishing our supply of ice, part of this trip was the opportunity to see their new home.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1176.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-68\" title=\"102_1176\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1185.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-69\" title=\"102_1185\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1185-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nGeorge has been very successful in his career, and as they have moved with different companies around the country, has been able to live in some very impressive homes.  We got the grand tour.  The house had been designed by a CEO with seven kids.  There is definitely not a want for full bathrooms, large closets, rooms, and what any home should have:  a small basketball court.  In addition to the well-designed structure of the house, Lynn did a great job of designing and furnishing the interior of the home.  Each room had its own style while still fitting into the overall feel of the house.\n\nAfter the tour, we went with George and Lynn to a nice Italian restaurant, Biaggi’s, where they are regulars and are treated as VIPs.  Dad enjoyed his Veal Ptarmigan and I had a good Chicago-style Mediterranean/vegetarian pizza with anchovies (yes, anchovies on pizza are great, you should try it).  It was fun catching up about work, family, and future life directions.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1179.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-70\" title=\"102_1179\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nAfter talking awhile longer back at the house, it was time to retire to our individual bedrooms.  I got yesterday’s blog post online, and got some sleep in what is scheduled to be our last night in “civilization” for nearly 20 days.\n\nTomorrow, we head out to Mitchell, SD.', 'Day 2:  Chicago', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '63-autosave', '', '', '2011-09-02 02:12:00', '2011-09-02 02:12:00', '', 63, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=73', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(74, 2, '2011-09-02 00:57:31', '2011-09-02 00:57:31', 'Start:  Sturgis, MI – Amigo Campground\r\nDestination:  Chicago, IL\r\nOdometer:  102,137 (start)    102,387 (end)    250 miles\r\nDate:  August 31st, 2011\r\n\r\nIt was bound to happen:  rain.  The peaceful sound of chirping was replaced by the sound of rain pitter-pattering on the tent.  The review and design indicated it performed well in heavy downpours and wind, but whether we had it setup correctly and whether it would work for us had yet to be established.  I am glad to report:  it worked.  While we were relieved, it was still 3am, we were now awake, and not inclined to go out in the rain (we need to remember to pack umbrellas in the tent).  Fortunately, around 5am the rain stopped and a much-needed trip to the nearby bathroom was in order.  Nature can be the best alarm clock.\r\n\r\nIn my experience, the annoying part about rain when camping is not so much it getting in the tent, but having to break down the camp site while its raining or after its rained.  Fortunately, the yuppie tent was quick to takedown and stuff in its bag (the bag is intentionally designed to be much bigger than needed so you don’t need to perform a tight roll of the tent like I’ve had to do on most).  While I took a nice hot shower, Dad packed most of the supplies into the car.  By 6:45am, we were on our way.\r\n\r\nNow, when doing a quick takedown, certain details are often overlooked. In my case, there were two.  First, there was the lantern I had placed and forgotten on the roof of the car.  Fortunately, when it fell after driving a few yards along the dirt road out of the site, it was easy to find since the light was still on and it was still dark.  Unfortunately, the dial for adjusting its output had broken off.  Second, there were my keys and cell phone.  This tent, like others, has meshed pockets inside the tent for storing items, but these can be overlooked when taking items out of the tent.  My Dad’s keys were already in the ignition, and so it wasn’t until about 15 minutes out when I went for my phone that it dawned on me that they were now in a wet tent packed away in the trunk.  I was confident that the keys would be OK, but I was not so sure about my phone.\r\n\r\nI kept driving though until about 8am when the sun was out, the air was dryer, and we were hungry for some breakfast.    We pulled into a rest stop and took care of business.  First, we popped up the instant tent on the concrete and I ventured in for my personal items. The keys and phone were both wet, but both were working.  The <a href=\"en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Centro\">Palm Centro</a> lives on.  After shaking the water off the tent and making some breakfast, we were back on the road to Chicago.\r\n\r\nI dare say/hope the drive into Chicago will be the worst driving experience we’ll have on the trip. Interesting factoid:  there’s no Welcome to Illinois sign when crossing over the Chicago river from Gary, IN.  Instead, there’s a small sign on the bridge: Welcome to Chicago, Mayor Emmanuel.  I guess there’s Chicago, and then there’s Illinois. After our driving experience, we might suggest adding the advisory:  Check Your Brakes.  It was quite a change going from 75-80 mph on the highways to stop and go traffic for over an hour to get to our destination around Skokie, IL.  Hopefully once we get past Chicago and into the western states, we won’t have such problems.\r\n\r\nThe goal of today and the visit to Chicago are visiting people we hadn’t seen in a long time.  The first stop was in Rogers Park near Skokie to visit my Dad’s nephew’s family:  Kenny, Chani, and their five kids.  My Dad hadn’t seen them since the funeral of Joyce Goldman, who was Kenny’s Mom, and my Dad’s sister-in-law.  I hadn’t seen them since I was 14 or 15, when they were recently married, living in MA, and I was attending a computer summer camp nearby (yeah, I went to a computer camp for one summer).\r\n\r\nDespite the traffic, we had left early enough that we had time to relax and so we went to the local library to use the internet and work on our first blog post.  Around noon, we headed over to their home for lunch.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1164.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-64\" title=\"102_1164\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1164-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIt was great seeing them again, and, for me, meeting my second-cousins for the first time.  Akiba is into collecting pens and playing the drums, Adina and Danya are twins who brought fun and energy into the house, and Ezra and Zvi were younger kids who were quiet / good listeners.  Kenny and Chani were wonderful hosts who made us feel welcome and made a good impression to their kids for us prior to our visit.  We hope we didn’t disappoint and we’ll see them again soon.  It was also interesting seeing Kenny again and his resemblance to my brother David.   The great thing about family is that despite geographic distances, less than ideal frequency of communication, and various other differences, there’s commonality and closeness that can be found.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1166.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-65\" title=\"102_1166\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1166-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\nMyron (my Dad), Kenny, Chani, and Zvi (back, left to right)\r\nAdina and Akiba (front, left to right)\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1165.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-66\" title=\"102_1165\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1165-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\nReviewing geography and our trip with Adina\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1170.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-67\" title=\"102_1170\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1170-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n(Danya joins the picture and Sammy, a friend of the family, is in the doorway)\r\n\r\nAfter leaving their home, we ventured back onto the highways of Chicago to Naperville, IL to visit George and Lynn.  My Dad was George’s Junior High math teacher back in 1975 and was significant in teaching and mentoring him and a group of other precocious students in a less-than-precocious school.  He and his family have been part of our family ever since.  Aside from seeing and catching up with the two of them (their kids are off at college) and replenishing our supply of ice, part of this trip was the opportunity to see their new home.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1176.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-68\" title=\"102_1176\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1185.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-69\" title=\"102_1185\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1185-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nGeorge has been very successful in his career, and as they have moved with different companies around the country, has been able to live in some very impressive homes.  We got the grand tour.  The house had been designed by a CEO with seven kids.  There is definitely not a want for full bathrooms, large closets, rooms, and what any home should have:  a small basketball court.  In addition to the well-designed structure of the house, Lynn did a great job of designing and furnishing the interior of the home.  Each room had its own style while still fitting into the overall feel of the house.\r\n\r\nAfter the tour, we went with George and Lynn to a nice Italian restaurant, Biaggi’s, where they are regulars and are treated as VIPs.  Dad enjoyed his Veal Ptarmigan and I had a good Chicago-style Mediterranean/vegetarian pizza with anchovies (yes, anchovies on pizza are great, you should try it).  It was fun catching up about work, family, and future life directions.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1179.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-70\" title=\"102_1179\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nAfter talking awhile longer back at the house, it was time to retire to our individual bedrooms.  I got yesterday’s blog post online, and got some sleep in what is scheduled to be our last night in “civilization” for nearly 20 days.\r\n\r\nTomorrow, we head out to Mitchell, SD.', 'Day 2:  Chicago', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '63-revision-3', '', '', '2011-09-02 00:57:31', '2011-09-02 00:57:31', '', 63, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=74', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(76, 2, '2011-09-05 01:46:56', '2011-09-05 01:46:56', 'Start:  Naperville, IL\nDestination:  Mitchell, SD\nOdometer: 102,387 (start) - 103,062 (end) 675 miles\nDate:  September 1st, 2011\n\nThe road to the west, for us, will go through South Dakota.  We left Chicago around 6am, after a good night sleep and sharing goodbyes with George and Lynn.   Dad had the first driving shift, and it was going to be a long drive:  roughly 10.5 hours.\n\nFortunately, the time flew by for Dad, who found it a pleasure to cruise along (at 80mph) with little traffic and take in the scenery.  Wisconsin will be remembered for rock formations that seemed to jut out of nowhere (anyone familiar with these?), having a lot of interesting scenes blocked by trees, an exit that cost us time, but had some interesting structures associated with the businesses along the strip, and being passed several times by a speeding house.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTWO OTHER PICTURES\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe crossed into Minnesota through a bridge over the Mississippi River. I must admit to be surprised that the Mississippi River went that far north.  I’m glad it did, because it was a magnificent scene to behold. It is a very big and powerful river.  Minnesota was so welcoming, that they had two Welcome to Minnesota signs.  Another unique thing about Minnesota was the preponderance of wind farms amongst food farms.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDriving the width of Minnesota was perhaps the longest distance of the trip, but it also went by quickly.  I took driving duty after having lunch less than half way through Minnesota.  The time flew by, thanks to limited traffic and an engaging discussion of religion and politics.  Before we knew it, we arrived in South Dakota.  In fact, we almost didn’t see the sign and had to turn back to get the picture.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA short time later, we arrived in Mitchell, SD.  Before we went to the campground, we decided to fill up the gas tank for tomorrow.  Fortunately, there was a Sinclair gas station, all of which apparently have a dinosaur of some form at their stations, right in front of the campgrounds.  I, of course, had to get a picture with one wearing my tourist hat.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI also learned an interesting difference about gas in SD at this station.  As far as I’ve ever seen, regular 87 octane is the cheapest, followed by 89 plus, and 91 premium.  No so in SD.  Apparently, “regular plus” has 10% ethanol (not that different from other states), but there is such an ethanol subsidy that it can be 10 cents/gal cheaper.  Unfortunately, I didn’t realize this until after I filled up with regular, my Dad noticed the seeming price discrepancy on the receipt, and I enquired of the station cashier.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHaving had enough fun at the Sinclair gas station, we drove a few hundred feet to Rondee’s campground (ADD LINK).  If you are ever in or near Mitchell, SD, you should stay at Rondee’s campground.  The management was friendly, the campsites, showers, and bathrooms were very clean, the free wireless internet was very fast, and there is a great indoor water park. That’s right, for $5, you have access to a great water slide, a big pool, and a hot tub…at a campground.  After the long day of driving, I had a blast at their water park.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wish I could say the same about dinner that night.  My Dad likes hot dogs, and we had a pack of Hebrew Nationals that we had in the cooler since we left and planned to make that night.  Now, I’m not a hot dog person and don’t think I’ve ever cooked them, but all it basically requires is boiling water (we didn’t have firewood or a fire pit that night for cooking them over the fire, which is how I had originally expected to do it).  I don’t know whether it was the propane stove, the inexpensive and new skillet for cooking meat, or the incredibly strong and constant winds, but after around an hour, the water had yet to boil (no, we were not in high altitudes as far as we know).  Still intent on making hot dogs, I tried a different approach.  I dumped the water, added some oil, and basically tried to fry them.  This seemed to work.  My Dad did tried a bite, and while the outside was cooked, it was unclear if the inside was heated enough.  Added to the fact that they had been in the cooler, not a refrigerator for some time, we erred on the side of caution and admitted defeat.  For dinner that night, we had Bush’s vegetarian baked beans (which did get hot on the stove) and some tuna fish and cracker snack packets my Dad had brought along.  Fortunately, neither of us was particularly hungry that night.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy the time we finished dinner, it was dark.  I made good use of the cell phone reception and internet that would likely not be available for the next couple days, while my dad cleaned and prepared for bed.  It was about 10 when we went to bed, unaware that our tent was to be tested once again.', 'Day 3:  A cold winds a blowing', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '75-revision', '', '', '2011-09-05 01:46:56', '2011-09-05 01:46:56', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=76', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(77, 2, '2011-09-05 01:52:22', '2011-09-05 01:52:22', 'Start:  Naperville, IL\nDestination:  Mitchell, SD\nOdometer: 102,387 (start) - 103,062 (end) 675 miles\nDate:  September 1st, 2011\n\nThe road to the west, for us, will go through South Dakota.  We left Chicago around 6am, after a good night sleep and sharing goodbyes with George and Lynn.   Dad had the first driving shift, and it was going to be a long drive:  roughly 10.5 hours.\n\nFortunately, the time flew by for Dad, who found it a pleasure to cruise along (at 80mph) with little traffic and take in the scenery.  Wisconsin will be remembered for rock formations that seemed to jut out of nowhere (anyone familiar with these?), having a lot of interesting scenes blocked by trees, an exit that cost us time, but had some interesting structures associated with the businesses along the strip, and being passed several times by a speeding house.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTWO OTHER PICTURES\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe crossed into Minnesota through a bridge over the Mississippi River. I must admit to be surprised that the Mississippi River went that far north.  I’m glad it did, because it was a magnificent scene to behold. It is a very big and powerful river.  Minnesota was so welcoming, that they had two Welcome to Minnesota signs.  Another unique thing about Minnesota was the preponderance of wind farms amongst food farms.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDriving the width of Minnesota was perhaps the longest distance of the trip, but it also went by quickly.  I took driving duty after having lunch less than half way through Minnesota.  The time flew by, thanks to limited traffic and an engaging discussion of religion and politics.  Before we knew it, we arrived in South Dakota.  In fact, we almost didn’t see the sign and had to turn back to get the picture.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA short time later, we arrived in Mitchell, SD.  Before we went to the campground, we decided to fill up the gas tank for tomorrow.  Fortunately, there was a Sinclair gas station (all of which apparently have a dinosaur of some form at their stations), right in front of the campgrounds.  I, of course, had to get a picture with one wearing my tourist hat.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI also learned an interesting difference about gas in SD at this station.  As far as I’ve ever seen, regular 87 octane is the cheapest, followed by 89 plus, and 91 premium.  No so in SD.  Apparently, “regular plus” has 10% ethanol (not that different from other states), but there is such an ethanol subsidy that it can be 10 cents/gal cheaper.  Unfortunately, I didn’t realize this until after I filled up with regular, my Dad noticed the seeming price discrepancy on the receipt, and I enquired of the station cashier.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHaving had enough fun at the Sinclair gas station, we drove a few hundred feet to Rondee’s campground (ADD LINK).  If you are ever in or near Mitchell, SD, you should stay at Rondee’s campground.  The management was friendly, the campsites, showers, and bathrooms were very clean, the free wireless internet was very fast, and there is a great indoor water park. That’s right, for $5, you have access to a great water slide, a big pool, and a hot tub…at a campground.  After the long day of driving, I had a blast at their water park.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wish I could say the same about dinner that night.  My Dad likes hot dogs, and we had a pack of Hebrew Nationals that we had in the cooler since we left Philadelphia, and planned to make that night.  Now, I’m not a hot dog person and don’t think I’ve ever cooked them, but all it basically requires is boiling water (we didn’t have firewood or a fire pit that night for cooking them over the fire, which is how I had originally expected to do it).  I don’t know whether it was the propane stove, the inexpensive and new skillet for cooking meat, or the incredibly strong and constant winds, but after around an hour, the water had yet to boil (no, we were not in high altitudes as far as we know).  Still intent on making hot dogs, I tried a different approach.  I dumped the water, added some oil, and basically tried to fry them.  This seemed to work.  My Dad tried a bite, and while the outside was cooked, it was unclear if the inside was cooked enough.  Added to the fact that they had been in the cooler, not a refrigerator, for some time, we erred on the side of caution and admitted defeat.  For dinner that night, we had Bush’s vegetarian baked beans (which did get hot on the stove) and some tuna fish and cracker snack packets my Dad had brought along.  Fortunately, neither of us was particularly hungry that night.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy the time we finished dinner, it was dark.  I made good use of the cell phone reception and internet that would likely not be available for the next couple days, while my Dad cleaned dishes and prepared for bed.  It was about 10 when we went to bed, unaware that our tent was to be tested once again.', 'Day 3:  A cold winds a blowing', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '75-revision-2', '', '', '2011-09-05 01:52:22', '2011-09-05 01:52:22', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=77', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(79, 2, '2011-09-05 02:38:34', '2011-09-05 02:38:34', '', '102_1187', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '102_1187', '', '', '2011-09-05 02:38:34', '2011-09-05 02:38:34', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1187.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(78, 2, '2011-09-05 01:53:46', '2011-09-05 01:53:46', 'Start:  Naperville, IL\r\nDestination:  Mitchell, SD\r\nOdometer: 102,387 (start) - 103,062 (end) 675 miles\r\nDate:  September 1st, 2011\r\n\r\nThe road to the west, for us, will go through South Dakota.  We left Chicago around 6am, after a good night sleep and sharing goodbyes with George and Lynn.   Dad had the first driving shift, and it was going to be a long drive:  roughly 10.5 hours.\r\n\r\nFortunately, the time flew by for Dad, who found it a pleasure to cruise along (at 80mph) with little traffic and take in the scenery.  Wisconsin will be remembered for rock formations that seemed to jut out of nowhere (anyone familiar with these?), having a lot of interesting scenes blocked by trees, an exit that cost us time, but had some interesting structures associated with the businesses along the strip, and being passed several times by a speeding house.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTWO OTHER PICTURES\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe crossed into Minnesota through a bridge over the Mississippi River. I must admit to be surprised that the Mississippi River went that far north.  I’m glad it did, because it was a magnificent scene to behold. It is a very big and powerful river.  Minnesota was so welcoming, that they had two Welcome to Minnesota signs.  Another unique thing about Minnesota was the preponderance of wind farms amongst food farms.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDriving the width of Minnesota was perhaps the longest distance of the trip, but it also went by quickly.  I took driving duty after having lunch less than half way through Minnesota.  The time flew by, thanks to limited traffic and an engaging discussion of religion and politics.  Before we knew it, we arrived in South Dakota.  In fact, we almost didn’t see the sign and had to turn back to get the picture.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA short time later, we arrived in Mitchell, SD.  Before we went to the campground, we decided to fill up the gas tank for tomorrow.  Fortunately, there was a Sinclair gas station (all of which apparently have a dinosaur of some form at their stations), right in front of the campgrounds.  I, of course, had to get a picture with one wearing my tourist hat.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI also learned an interesting difference about gas in SD at this station.  As far as I’ve ever seen, regular 87 octane is the cheapest, followed by 89 plus, and 91 premium.  No so in SD.  Apparently, “regular plus” has 10% ethanol (not that different from other states), but there is such an ethanol subsidy that it can be 10 cents/gal cheaper.  Unfortunately, I didn’t realize this until after I filled up with regular, my Dad noticed the seeming price discrepancy on the receipt, and I enquired of the station cashier.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHaving had enough fun at the Sinclair gas station, we drove a few hundred feet to Rondee’s campground (ADD LINK).  If you are ever in or near Mitchell, SD, you should stay at Rondee’s campground.  The management was friendly, the campsites, showers, and bathrooms were very clean, the free wireless internet was very fast, and there is a great indoor water park. That’s right, for $5, you have access to a great water slide, a big pool, and a hot tub…at a campground.  After the long day of driving, I had a blast at their water park.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI wish I could say the same about dinner that night.  My Dad likes hot dogs, and we had a pack of Hebrew Nationals that we had in the cooler since we left Philadelphia, and planned to make that night.  Now, I’m not a hot dog person and don’t think I’ve ever cooked them, but all it basically requires is boiling water (we didn’t have firewood or a fire pit that night for cooking them over the fire, which is how I had originally expected to do it).  I don’t know whether it was the propane stove, the inexpensive and new skillet for cooking meat, or the incredibly strong and constant winds, but after around an hour, the water had yet to boil (no, we were not in high altitudes as far as we know).  Still intent on making hot dogs, I tried a different approach.  I dumped the water, added some oil, and basically tried to fry them.  This seemed to work.  My Dad tried a bite, and while the outside was cooked, it was unclear if the inside was cooked enough.  Added to the fact that they had been in the cooler, not a refrigerator, for some time, we erred on the side of caution and admitted defeat.  For dinner that night, we had Bush’s vegetarian baked beans (which did get hot on the stove) and some tuna fish and cracker snack packets my Dad had brought along.  Fortunately, neither of us was particularly hungry that night.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBy the time we finished dinner, it was dark.  I made good use of the cell phone reception and internet that would likely not be available for the next couple days, while my Dad cleaned dishes and prepared for bed.  It was about 10 when we went to bed, unaware that our tent was to be tested once again.', 'Day 3:  The trouble with ', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '75-revision-3', '', '', '2011-09-05 01:53:46', '2011-09-05 01:53:46', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=78', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(80, 2, '2011-09-05 02:41:10', '2011-09-05 02:41:10', '', '102_1194', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '102_1194', '', '', '2011-09-05 02:41:10', '2011-09-05 02:41:10', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1194.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(81, 2, '2011-09-05 02:42:07', '2011-09-05 02:42:07', '', '102_1190', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '102_1190', '', '', '2011-09-05 02:42:07', '2011-09-05 02:42:07', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1190.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(82, 2, '2011-09-05 02:42:38', '2011-09-05 02:42:38', '', '102_1191', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '102_1191', '', '', '2011-09-05 02:42:38', '2011-09-05 02:42:38', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1191.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(83, 2, '2011-09-05 02:43:50', '2011-09-05 02:43:50', '', '102_1211', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '102_1211', '', '', '2011-09-05 02:43:50', '2011-09-05 02:43:50', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1211.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(84, 2, '2011-09-05 02:44:22', '2011-09-05 02:44:22', '', '102_1212', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '102_1212', '', '', '2011-09-05 02:44:22', '2011-09-05 02:44:22', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1212.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(85, 2, '2011-09-05 02:48:30', '2011-09-05 02:48:30', '', '102_1212', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '102_1212-2', '', '', '2011-09-05 02:48:30', '2011-09-05 02:48:30', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_12121.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(86, 2, '2011-09-05 02:43:02', '2011-09-05 02:43:02', 'Start:  Naperville, IL\nDestination:  Mitchell, SD\nOdometer: 102,387 (start) - 103,062 (end) 675 miles\nDate:  September 1st, 2011\n\nThe road to the west, for us, will go through South Dakota.  We left Chicago around 6am, after a good night sleep and sharing goodbyes with George and Lynn.   Dad had the first driving shift of what was going to be a long driving day:  roughly 10.5 hours.\n\nFortunately, the time flew by for Dad, who found it a pleasure to cruise along (at 80mph) with little traffic and take in the scenery.  Wisconsin will be remembered for rock formations that seemed to jut out of nowhere (anyone familiar with these?), having a lot of interesting scenes blocked by trees, an exit that cost us time, but had some interesting structures associated with the businesses along the strip, and being passed several times by a speeding house.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1187.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-79\" title=\"102_1187\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1187-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1194.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-80\" title=\"102_1194\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1194-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1190.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-81\" title=\"102_1190\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1190-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1191.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-82\" title=\"102_1191\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1191-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe crossed into Minnesota through a bridge over the Mississippi River. I must admit to be surprised that the Mississippi River went that far north.  I’m glad it did, because it was a magnificent scene to behold. It is a very big and powerful river.  Minnesota was so welcoming, that they had two Welcome to Minnesota signs.  Another unique thing about Minnesota was the preponderance of wind farms amongst food farms.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDriving the width of Minnesota was perhaps the longest distance of the trip, but it also went by quickly.  I took driving duty after having lunch less than half way through Minnesota.  The time flew by, thanks to limited traffic and an engaging discussion of religion and politics.  Before we knew it, we arrived in South Dakota.  In fact, we almost didn’t see the sign and had to turn back to get the picture.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA short time later, we arrived in Mitchell, SD.  Before we went to the campground, we decided to fill up the gas tank for tomorrow.  Fortunately, there was a Sinclair gas station (all of which apparently have a dinosaur of some form at their stations), right in front of the campgrounds.  I, of course, had to get a picture with one wearing my tourist hat.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI also learned an interesting difference about gas in SD at this station.  As far as I’ve ever seen, regular 87 octane is the cheapest, followed by 89 plus, and 91 premium.  No so in SD.  Apparently, “regular plus” has 10% ethanol (not that different from other states), but there is such an ethanol subsidy that it can be 10 cents/gal cheaper.  Unfortunately, I didn’t realize this until after I filled up with regular, my Dad noticed the seeming price discrepancy on the receipt, and I enquired of the station cashier.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHaving had enough fun at the Sinclair gas station, we drove a few hundred feet to Rondee’s campground (ADD LINK).  If you are ever in or near Mitchell, SD, you should stay at Rondee’s campground.  The management was friendly, the campsites, showers, and bathrooms were very clean, the free wireless internet was very fast, and there is a great indoor water park. That’s right, for $5, you have access to a great water slide, a big pool, and a hot tub…at a campground.  After the long day of driving, I had a blast at their water park.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wish I could say the same about dinner that night.  My Dad likes hot dogs, and we had a pack of Hebrew Nationals that we had in the cooler since we left Philadelphia, and planned to make that night.  Now, I’m not a hot dog person and don’t think I’ve ever cooked them, but all it basically requires is boiling water (we didn’t have firewood or a fire pit that night for cooking them over the fire, which is how I had originally expected to do it).  I don’t know whether it was the propane stove, the inexpensive and new skillet for cooking meat, or the incredibly strong and constant winds, but after around an hour, the water had yet to boil (no, we were not in high altitudes as far as we know).  Still intent on making hot dogs, I tried a different approach.  I dumped the water, added some oil, and basically tried to fry them.  This seemed to work.  My Dad tried a bite, and while the outside was cooked, it was unclear if the inside was cooked enough.  Added to the fact that they had been in the cooler, not a refrigerator, for some time, we erred on the side of caution and admitted defeat.  For dinner that night, we had Bush’s vegetarian baked beans (which did get hot on the stove) and some tuna fish and cracker snack packets my Dad had brought along.  Fortunately, neither of us was particularly hungry that night.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy the time we finished dinner, it was dark.  I made good use of the cell phone reception and internet that would likely not be available for the next couple days, while my Dad cleaned dishes and prepared for bed.  It was about 10 when we went to bed, unaware that our tent was to be tested once again.', 'Day 3:  Heading West to South Dakota', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '75-revision-4', '', '', '2011-09-05 02:43:02', '2011-09-05 02:43:02', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=86', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(87, 2, '2011-09-05 02:49:32', '2011-09-05 02:49:32', '', '102_1210', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '102_1210', '', '', '2011-09-05 02:49:32', '2011-09-05 02:49:32', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1210.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(88, 2, '2011-09-05 02:50:40', '2011-09-05 02:50:40', '', '102_1229', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '102_1229', '', '', '2011-09-05 02:50:40', '2011-09-05 02:50:40', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1229.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0);
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(89, 2, '2011-09-05 02:50:03', '2011-09-05 02:50:03', 'Start:  Naperville, IL\nDestination:  Mitchell, SD\nOdometer: 102,387 (start) - 103,062 (end) 675 miles\nDate:  September 1st, 2011\n\nThe road to the west, for us, will go through South Dakota.  We left Chicago around 6am, after a good night sleep and sharing goodbyes with George and Lynn.   Dad had the first driving shift of what was going to be a long driving day:  roughly 10.5 hours.\n\nFortunately, the time flew by for Dad, who found it a pleasure to cruise along (at 80mph) with little traffic and take in the scenery.  Wisconsin will be remembered for rock formations that seemed to jut out of nowhere (anyone familiar with these?), having a lot of interesting scenes blocked by trees, an exit that cost us time, but had some interesting structures associated with the businesses along the strip, and being passed several times by a speeding house.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1187.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-79\" title=\"102_1187\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1187-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1194.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-80\" title=\"102_1194\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1194-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1190.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-81\" title=\"102_1190\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1190-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1191.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-82\" title=\"102_1191\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1191-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe crossed into Minnesota through a bridge over the Mississippi River. I must admit to be surprised that the Mississippi River went that far north.  I’m glad it did, because it was a magnificent scene to behold. It is a very big and powerful river.  Minnesota was so welcoming, that they had two Welcome to Minnesota signs.  Another unique thing about Minnesota was the preponderance of wind farms amongst food farms.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1211.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-83\" title=\"102_1211\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1211-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_12121.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-85\" title=\"102_1212\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_12121-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1210.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-87\" title=\"102_1210\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1210-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDriving the width of Minnesota was perhaps the longest distance of the trip, but it also went by quickly.  I took driving duty after having lunch less than half way through Minnesota.  The time flew by, thanks to limited traffic and an engaging discussion of religion and politics.  Before we knew it, we arrived in South Dakota.  In fact, we almost didn’t see the sign and had to turn back to get the picture.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA short time later, we arrived in Mitchell, SD.  Before we went to the campground, we decided to fill up the gas tank for tomorrow.  Fortunately, there was a Sinclair gas station (all of which apparently have a dinosaur of some form at their stations), right in front of the campgrounds.  I, of course, had to get a picture with one wearing my tourist hat.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI also learned an interesting difference about gas in SD at this station.  As far as I’ve ever seen, regular 87 octane is the cheapest, followed by 89 plus, and 91 premium.  No so in SD.  Apparently, “regular plus” has 10% ethanol (not that different from other states), but there is such an ethanol subsidy that it can be 10 cents/gal cheaper.  Unfortunately, I didn’t realize this until after I filled up with regular, my Dad noticed the seeming price discrepancy on the receipt, and I enquired of the station cashier.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHaving had enough fun at the Sinclair gas station, we drove a few hundred feet to Rondee’s campground (ADD LINK).  If you are ever in or near Mitchell, SD, you should stay at Rondee’s campground.  The management was friendly, the campsites, showers, and bathrooms were very clean, the free wireless internet was very fast, and there is a great indoor water park. That’s right, for $5, you have access to a great water slide, a big pool, and a hot tub…at a campground.  After the long day of driving, I had a blast at their water park.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wish I could say the same about dinner that night.  My Dad likes hot dogs, and we had a pack of Hebrew Nationals that we had in the cooler since we left Philadelphia, and planned to make that night.  Now, I’m not a hot dog person and don’t think I’ve ever cooked them, but all it basically requires is boiling water (we didn’t have firewood or a fire pit that night for cooking them over the fire, which is how I had originally expected to do it).  I don’t know whether it was the propane stove, the inexpensive and new skillet for cooking meat, or the incredibly strong and constant winds, but after around an hour, the water had yet to boil (no, we were not in high altitudes as far as we know).  Still intent on making hot dogs, I tried a different approach.  I dumped the water, added some oil, and basically tried to fry them.  This seemed to work.  My Dad tried a bite, and while the outside was cooked, it was unclear if the inside was cooked enough.  Added to the fact that they had been in the cooler, not a refrigerator, for some time, we erred on the side of caution and admitted defeat.  For dinner that night, we had Bush’s vegetarian baked beans (which did get hot on the stove) and some tuna fish and cracker snack packets my Dad had brought along.  Fortunately, neither of us was particularly hungry that night.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy the time we finished dinner, it was dark.  I made good use of the cell phone reception and internet that would likely not be available for the next couple days, while my Dad cleaned dishes and prepared for bed.  It was about 10 when we went to bed, unaware that our tent was to be tested once again.', 'Day 3:  Heading West to South Dakota', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '75-revision-5', '', '', '2011-09-05 02:50:03', '2011-09-05 02:50:03', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=89', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(90, 2, '2011-09-05 02:52:06', '2011-09-05 02:52:06', 'Start:  Naperville, IL\nDestination:  Mitchell, SD\nOdometer: 102,387 (start) - 103,062 (end) 675 miles\nDate:  September 1st, 2011\n\nThe road to the west, for us, will go through South Dakota.  We left Chicago around 6am, after a good night sleep and sharing goodbyes with George and Lynn.   Dad had the first driving shift of what was going to be a long driving day:  roughly 10.5 hours.\n\nFortunately, the time flew by for Dad, who found it a pleasure to cruise along (at 80mph) with little traffic and take in the scenery.  Wisconsin will be remembered for rock formations that seemed to jut out of nowhere (anyone familiar with these?), having a lot of interesting scenes blocked by trees, an exit that cost us time, but had some interesting structures associated with the businesses along the strip, and being passed several times by a speeding house.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1187.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-79\" title=\"102_1187\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1187-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1194.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-80\" title=\"102_1194\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1194-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1190.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-81\" title=\"102_1190\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1190-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1191.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-82\" title=\"102_1191\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1191-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe crossed into Minnesota through a bridge over the Mississippi River. I must admit to be surprised that the Mississippi River went that far north.  I’m glad it did, because it was a magnificent scene to behold. It is a very big and powerful river.  Minnesota was so welcoming, that they had two Welcome to Minnesota signs.  Another unique thing about Minnesota was the preponderance of wind farms amongst food farms.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1210.jpg\"><img title=\"102_1210\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1210-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1211.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-83\" title=\"102_1211\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1211-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_12121.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-85\" title=\"102_1212\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_12121-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1229.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-88\" title=\"102_1229\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1229-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nDriving the width of Minnesota was perhaps the longest distance of the trip, but it also went by quickly.  I took driving duty after having lunch less than half way through Minnesota.  The time flew by, thanks to limited traffic and an engaging discussion of religion and politics.  Before we knew it, we arrived in South Dakota.  In fact, we almost didn’t see the sign and had to turn back to get the picture.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA short time later, we arrived in Mitchell, SD.  Before we went to the campground, we decided to fill up the gas tank for tomorrow.  Fortunately, there was a Sinclair gas station (all of which apparently have a dinosaur of some form at their stations), right in front of the campgrounds.  I, of course, had to get a picture with one wearing my tourist hat.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI also learned an interesting difference about gas in SD at this station.  As far as I’ve ever seen, regular 87 octane is the cheapest, followed by 89 plus, and 91 premium.  No so in SD.  Apparently, “regular plus” has 10% ethanol (not that different from other states), but there is such an ethanol subsidy that it can be 10 cents/gal cheaper.  Unfortunately, I didn’t realize this until after I filled up with regular, my Dad noticed the seeming price discrepancy on the receipt, and I enquired of the station cashier.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHaving had enough fun at the Sinclair gas station, we drove a few hundred feet to Rondee’s campground (ADD LINK).  If you are ever in or near Mitchell, SD, you should stay at Rondee’s campground.  The management was friendly, the campsites, showers, and bathrooms were very clean, the free wireless internet was very fast, and there is a great indoor water park. That’s right, for $5, you have access to a great water slide, a big pool, and a hot tub…at a campground.  After the long day of driving, I had a blast at their water park.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wish I could say the same about dinner that night.  My Dad likes hot dogs, and we had a pack of Hebrew Nationals that we had in the cooler since we left Philadelphia, and planned to make that night.  Now, I’m not a hot dog person and don’t think I’ve ever cooked them, but all it basically requires is boiling water (we didn’t have firewood or a fire pit that night for cooking them over the fire, which is how I had originally expected to do it).  I don’t know whether it was the propane stove, the inexpensive and new skillet for cooking meat, or the incredibly strong and constant winds, but after around an hour, the water had yet to boil (no, we were not in high altitudes as far as we know).  Still intent on making hot dogs, I tried a different approach.  I dumped the water, added some oil, and basically tried to fry them.  This seemed to work.  My Dad tried a bite, and while the outside was cooked, it was unclear if the inside was cooked enough.  Added to the fact that they had been in the cooler, not a refrigerator, for some time, we erred on the side of caution and admitted defeat.  For dinner that night, we had Bush’s vegetarian baked beans (which did get hot on the stove) and some tuna fish and cracker snack packets my Dad had brought along.  Fortunately, neither of us was particularly hungry that night.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy the time we finished dinner, it was dark.  I made good use of the cell phone reception and internet that would likely not be available for the next couple days, while my Dad cleaned dishes and prepared for bed.  It was about 10 when we went to bed, unaware that our tent was to be tested once again.', 'Day 3:  Heading West to South Dakota', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '75-revision-6', '', '', '2011-09-05 02:52:06', '2011-09-05 02:52:06', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=90', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(91, 2, '2011-09-05 03:12:43', '2011-09-05 03:12:43', '', '102_1233', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '102_1233', '', '', '2011-09-05 03:12:43', '2011-09-05 03:12:43', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1233.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(92, 2, '2011-09-05 03:14:03', '2011-09-05 03:14:03', '', '102_1238', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '102_1238', '', '', '2011-09-05 03:14:03', '2011-09-05 03:14:03', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1238.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(93, 2, '2011-09-05 03:15:04', '2011-09-05 03:15:04', '', '102_1235', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '102_1235', '', '', '2011-09-05 03:15:04', '2011-09-05 03:15:04', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1235.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(94, 2, '2011-09-05 03:16:40', '2011-09-05 03:16:40', '', '102_1241', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '102_1241', '', '', '2011-09-05 03:16:40', '2011-09-05 03:16:40', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1241.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(95, 2, '2011-09-05 03:17:54', '2011-09-05 03:17:54', '', '102_1234', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '102_1234', '', '', '2011-09-05 03:17:54', '2011-09-05 03:17:54', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1234.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(96, 2, '2011-09-05 03:15:44', '2011-09-05 03:15:44', 'Start:  Naperville, IL\nDestination:  Mitchell, SD\nOdometer: 102,387 (start) - 103,062 (end) 675 miles\nDate:  September 1st, 2011\n\nThe road to the west, for us, will go through South Dakota.  We left Chicago around 6am, after a good night sleep and sharing goodbyes with George and Lynn.   Dad had the first driving shift of what was going to be a long driving day:  roughly 10.5 hours.\n\nFortunately, the time flew by for Dad, who found it a pleasure to cruise along (at 80mph) with little traffic and take in the scenery.  Wisconsin will be remembered for rock formations that seemed to jut out of nowhere (anyone familiar with these?), having a lot of interesting scenes blocked by trees, an exit that cost us time, but had some interesting structures associated with the businesses along the strip, and being passed several times by a speeding house.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1187.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-79\" title=\"102_1187\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1187-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1194.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-80\" title=\"102_1194\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1194-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1190.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-81\" title=\"102_1190\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1190-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1191.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-82\" title=\"102_1191\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1191-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe crossed into Minnesota through a bridge over the Mississippi River. I must admit to be surprised that the Mississippi River went that far north.  I’m glad it did, because it was a magnificent scene to behold. It is a very big and powerful river.  Minnesota was so welcoming, that they had two Welcome to Minnesota signs.  Another unique thing about Minnesota was the preponderance of wind farms amongst food farms.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1210.jpg\"><img title=\"102_1210\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1210-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1211.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-83\" title=\"102_1211\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1211-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_12121.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-85\" title=\"102_1212\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_12121-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1229.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-88\" title=\"102_1229\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1229-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nDriving the width of Minnesota was perhaps the longest distance of the trip, but it also went by quickly.  I took driving duty after having lunch less than half way through Minnesota.  The time flew by, thanks to limited traffic and an engaging discussion of religion and politics.  Before we knew it, we arrived in South Dakota.  In fact, we almost didn’t see the sign and had to turn back to get the picture.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1233.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-91\" title=\"102_1233\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1233-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nA short time later, we arrived in Mitchell, SD.  Before we went to the campground, we decided to fill up the gas tank for tomorrow.  Fortunately, there was a Sinclair gas station (all of which apparently have a dinosaur of some form at their stations), right in front of the campgrounds.  I, of course, had to get a picture with one wearing my tourist hat.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1238.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-92\" title=\"102_1238\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1238-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe also learned an interesting difference about gas in SD at this station.  As far as I’ve ever seen, regular 87 octane is the cheapest, followed by 89 plus, and 91 premium.  No so in SD.  Apparently, “regular plus” has 10% ethanol (not that different from other states), but there is such an ethanol subsidy that it can be 10 cents/gal cheaper.  Unfortunately, I didn’t realize this until after I filled up with regular, my Dad noticed the seeming price discrepancy on the receipt, and I enquired of the station cashier.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1235.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-93\" title=\"102_1235\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1235-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\nHaving had enough fun at the Sinclair gas station, we drove a few hundred feet to Rondee’s campground (ADD LINK).  If you are ever in or near Mitchell, SD, you should stay at Rondee’s campground.  The management was friendly, the campsites, showers, and bathrooms were very clean, the free wireless internet was very fast, and there is a great indoor water park. That’s right, for $5, you have access to a great water slide, a big pool, and a hot tub…at a campground.  After the long day of driving, I had a blast at their water park.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI wish I could say the same about dinner that night.  My Dad likes hot dogs, and we had a pack of Hebrew Nationals that we had in the cooler since we left Philadelphia, and planned to make that night.  Now, I’m not a hot dog person and don’t think I’ve ever cooked them, but all it basically requires is boiling water (we didn’t have firewood or a fire pit that night for cooking them over the fire, which is how I had originally expected to do it).  I don’t know whether it was the propane stove, the inexpensive and new skillet for cooking meat, or the incredibly strong and constant winds, but after around an hour, the water had yet to boil (no, we were not in high altitudes as far as we know).  Still intent on making hot dogs, I tried a different approach.  I dumped the water, added some oil, and basically tried to fry them.  This seemed to work.  My Dad tried a bite, and while the outside was cooked, it was unclear if the inside was cooked enough.  Added to the fact that they had been in the cooler, not a refrigerator, for some time, we erred on the side of caution and admitted defeat.  For dinner that night, we had Bush’s vegetarian baked beans (which did get hot on the stove) and some tuna fish and cracker snack packets my Dad had brought along.  Fortunately, neither of us was particularly hungry that night.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy the time we finished dinner, it was dark.  I made good use of the cell phone reception and internet that would likely not be available for the next couple days, while my Dad cleaned dishes and prepared for bed.  It was about 10 when we went to bed, unaware that our tent was to be tested once again.', 'Day 3:  Heading West to South Dakota', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '75-revision-7', '', '', '2011-09-05 03:15:44', '2011-09-05 03:15:44', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=96', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(97, 2, '2011-09-05 03:18:41', '2011-09-05 03:18:41', 'Start:  Naperville, IL\r\nDestination:  Mitchell, SD - <a href=\"http://www.rondeescampground.com/\">Rondee\'s Campground</a>\r\nOdometer: 102,387 (start) - 103,062 (end) 675 miles\r\nDate:  September 1st, 2011\r\n\r\nThe road to the west, for us, will go through South Dakota.  We left Chicago around 6am, after a good night sleep and sharing goodbyes with George and Lynn.   Dad had the first driving shift of what was going to be a long driving day:  roughly 10.5 hours.\r\n\r\nFortunately, the time flew by for Dad, who found it a pleasure to cruise along (at 80mph) with little traffic and take in the scenery.  Wisconsin will be remembered for rock formations that seemed to jut out of nowhere (anyone familiar with these?), having a lot of interesting scenes blocked by trees, an exit that cost us time, but had some interesting structures associated with the businesses along the strip, and being passed several times by a speeding house.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1187.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-79\" title=\"102_1187\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1187-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1194.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-80\" title=\"102_1194\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1194-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1190.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-81\" title=\"102_1190\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1190-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1191.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-82\" title=\"102_1191\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1191-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe crossed into Minnesota through a bridge over the Mississippi River. I must admit to be surprised that the Mississippi River went that far north.  I’m glad it did, because it was a magnificent scene to behold. It is a very big and powerful river.  Minnesota was so welcoming, that they had two Welcome to Minnesota signs.  Another unique thing about Minnesota was the preponderance of wind farms amongst food farms.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1210.jpg\"><img title=\"102_1210\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1210-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1211.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-83\" title=\"102_1211\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1211-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_12121.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-85\" title=\"102_1212\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_12121-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1229.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-88\" title=\"102_1229\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1229-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nDriving the width of Minnesota was perhaps the longest distance of the trip, but it also went by quickly.  I took driving duty after having lunch less than half way through Minnesota.  The time flew by, thanks to limited traffic and an engaging discussion of religion and politics.  Before we knew it, we arrived in South Dakota.  In fact, we almost didn’t see the sign and had to turn back to get the picture.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1233.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-91\" title=\"102_1233\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1233-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nAnd we could not miss the bullhead sculpture by the side of the road.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1234.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-95\" title=\"102_1234\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1234-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nA short time later, we arrived in Mitchell, SD.  Before we went to the campground, we decided to fill up the gas tank for tomorrow.  Fortunately, there was a Sinclair gas station (all of which apparently have a dinosaur of some form at their stations), right in front of the campgrounds.  I, of course, had to get a picture with one wearing my tourist hat.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1238.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-92\" title=\"102_1238\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1238-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe also learned an interesting difference about gas in SD at this station.  As far as I’ve ever seen, regular 87 octane is the cheapest, followed by 89 plus, and 91 premium.  No so in SD.  Apparently, “regular plus” has 10% ethanol (not that different from other states), but there is such an ethanol subsidy that it can be 10 cents/gal cheaper.  Unfortunately, I didn’t realize this until after I filled up with regular, my Dad noticed the seeming price discrepancy on the receipt, and I enquired of the station cashier.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1235.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-93\" title=\"102_1235\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1235-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nHaving had enough fun at the Sinclair gas station, we drove a few hundred feet to <a href=\"http://www.rondeescampground.com/\">Rondee’s campground</a>.  If you are ever in or near Mitchell, SD, you should stay at Rondee’s campground.  The management was friendly, the campsites, showers, and bathrooms were very clean, the free wireless internet was very fast, and there is a great indoor water park. That’s right, for $5, you have access to a great water slide, a big pool, and a hot tub…at a campground.  After the long day of driving, I had a blast at their water park.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1241.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-94\" title=\"102_1241\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1241-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI wish I could say the same about dinner that night.  My Dad likes hot dogs, and we had a pack of Hebrew Nationals that we had in the cooler since we left Philadelphia, and planned to make that night.  Now, I’m not a hot dog person and don’t think I’ve ever cooked them, but all it basically requires is boiling water (we didn’t have firewood or a fire pit that night for cooking them over the fire, which is how I had originally expected to do it).  I don’t know whether it was the propane stove, the inexpensive and new skillet for cooking meat, or the incredibly strong and constant winds, but after around an hour, the water had yet to boil (no, we were not in high altitudes as far as we know).  Still intent on making hot dogs, I tried a different approach.  I dumped the water, added some oil, and basically tried to fry them.  This seemed to work.  My Dad tried a bite, and while the outside was cooked, it was unclear if the inside was cooked enough.  Added to the fact that they had been in the cooler, not a refrigerator, for some time, we erred on the side of caution and admitted defeat.  For dinner that night, we had Bush’s vegetarian baked beans (which did get hot on the stove) and some tuna fish and cracker snack packets my Dad had brought along.  Fortunately, neither of us was particularly hungry that night.\r\n\r\nBy the time we finished dinner, it was dark.  I made good use of the cell phone reception and internet that would likely not be available for the next couple days, while my Dad cleaned dishes and prepared for bed.  It was about 10 when we went to bed, unaware that our tent was to be tested once again.', 'Day 3:  Heading West to South Dakota', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '75-revision-8', '', '', '2011-09-05 03:18:41', '2011-09-05 03:18:41', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=97', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(98, 2, '2011-09-05 03:19:52', '2011-09-05 03:19:52', '', '102_1189', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '102_1189', '', '', '2011-09-05 03:19:52', '2011-09-05 03:19:52', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1189.jpg', 0, 'attachment', 'image/jpeg', 0),
(99, 2, '2011-09-05 03:18:46', '2011-09-05 03:18:46', 'Start:  Naperville, IL\r\nDestination:  Mitchell, SD - <a href=\"http://www.rondeescampground.com/\">Rondee\'s Campground</a>\r\nOdometer: 102,387 (start) - 103,062 (end) 675 miles\r\nDate:  September 1st, 2011\r\n\r\nThe road to the west, for us, will go through South Dakota.  We left Chicago around 6am, after a good night sleep and sharing goodbyes with George and Lynn.   Dad had the first driving shift of what was going to be a long driving day:  roughly 10.5 hours.\r\n\r\nFortunately, the time flew by for Dad, who found it a pleasure to cruise along (at 80mph) with little traffic and take in the scenery.  Wisconsin will be remembered for rock formations that seemed to jut out of nowhere (anyone familiar with these?), having a lot of interesting scenes blocked by trees, an exit that cost us time, but had some interesting structures associated with the businesses along the strip, and being passed several times by a speeding house.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1187.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-79\" title=\"102_1187\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1187-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1194.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-80\" title=\"102_1194\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1194-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1190.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-81\" title=\"102_1190\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1190-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1191.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-82\" title=\"102_1191\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1191-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe crossed into Minnesota through a bridge over the Mississippi River. I must admit to be surprised that the Mississippi River went that far north.  I’m glad it did, because it was a magnificent scene to behold. It is a very big and powerful river.  Minnesota was so welcoming, that they had two Welcome to Minnesota signs.  Another unique thing about Minnesota was the preponderance of wind farms amongst food farms.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1210.jpg\"><img title=\"102_1210\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1210-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1211.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-83\" title=\"102_1211\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1211-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_12121.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-85\" title=\"102_1212\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_12121-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1229.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-88\" title=\"102_1229\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1229-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nDriving the width of Minnesota was perhaps the longest distance of the trip, but it also went by quickly.  I took driving duty after having lunch less than half way through Minnesota.  The time flew by, thanks to limited traffic and an engaging discussion of religion and politics.  Before we knew it, we arrived in South Dakota.  In fact, we almost didn’t see the sign and had to turn back to get the picture.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1233.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-91\" title=\"102_1233\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1233-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nAnd we could not miss the bullhead sculpture by the side of the road.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1234.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-95\" title=\"102_1234\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1234-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nA short time later, we arrived in Mitchell, SD.  Before we went to the campground, we decided to fill up the gas tank for tomorrow.  Fortunately, there was a Sinclair gas station (all of which apparently have a dinosaur of some form at their stations), right in front of the campgrounds.  I, of course, had to get a picture with one wearing my tourist hat.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1238.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-92\" title=\"102_1238\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1238-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe also learned an interesting difference about gas in SD at this station.  As far as I’ve ever seen, regular 87 octane is the cheapest, followed by 89 plus, and 91 premium.  No so in SD.  Apparently, “regular plus” has 10% ethanol (not that different from other states), but there is such an ethanol subsidy that it can be 10 cents/gal cheaper.  Unfortunately, I didn’t realize this until after I filled up with regular, my Dad noticed the seeming price discrepancy on the receipt, and I enquired of the station cashier.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1235.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-93\" title=\"102_1235\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1235-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nHaving had enough fun at the Sinclair gas station, we drove a few hundred feet to <a href=\"http://www.rondeescampground.com/\">Rondee’s campground</a>.  If you are ever in or near Mitchell, SD, you should stay at Rondee’s campground.  The management was friendly, the campsites, showers, and bathrooms were very clean, the free wireless internet was very fast, and there is a great indoor water park. That’s right, for $5, you have access to a great water slide, a big pool, and a hot tub…at a campground.  After the long day of driving, I had a blast at their water park.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1241.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-94\" title=\"102_1241\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1241-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI wish I could say the same about dinner that night.  My Dad likes hot dogs, and we had a pack of Hebrew Nationals that we had in the cooler since we left Philadelphia, and planned to make that night.  Now, I’m not a hot dog person and don’t think I’ve ever cooked them, but all it basically requires is boiling water (we didn’t have firewood or a fire pit that night for cooking them over the fire, which is how I had originally expected to do it).  I don’t know whether it was the propane stove, the inexpensive and new skillet for cooking meat, or the incredibly strong and constant winds, but after around an hour, the water had yet to boil (no, we were not in high altitudes as far as we know).  Still intent on making hot dogs, I tried a different approach.  I dumped the water, added some oil, and basically tried to fry them.  This seemed to work.  My Dad tried a bite, and while the outside was cooked, it was unclear if the inside was cooked enough.  Added to the fact that they had been in the cooler, not a refrigerator, for some time, we erred on the side of caution and admitted defeat.  For dinner that night, we had Bush’s vegetarian baked beans (which did get hot on the stove) and some tuna fish and cracker snack packets my Dad had brought along.  Fortunately, neither of us was particularly hungry that night.\r\n\r\nBy the time we finished dinner, it was dark.  I made good use of the cell phone reception and internet that would likely not be available for the next couple days, while my Dad cleaned dishes and prepared for bed.  It was about 10 when we went to bed, unaware that our tent was to be tested once again.', 'Day 3:  Heading West to South Dakota', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '75-revision-9', '', '', '2011-09-05 03:18:46', '2011-09-05 03:18:46', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=99', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
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(100, 2, '2011-09-05 03:41:08', '2011-09-05 03:41:08', 'Start:  Naperville, IL\nDestination:  Mitchell, SD - <a href=\"http://www.rondeescampground.com/\">Rondee\'s Campground</a>\nOdometer: 102,387 (start) - 103,062 (end) 675 miles\nDate:  September 1st, 2011\n\nThe road to the west, for us, will go through South Dakota.  We left Chicago around 6am, after a good night sleep and sharing goodbyes with George and Lynn.   Dad had the first driving shift of what was going to be a long driving day:  roughly 10.5 hours.\n\nFortunately, the time flew by for Dad, who found it a pleasure to cruise along (at 80mph) with little traffic and take in the scenery.  Wisconsin will be remembered for rock formations that seemed to jut out of nowhere (anyone familiar with these?), having a lot of interesting scenes blocked by trees, an exit that cost us time, but had some interesting structures associated with the businesses along the strip, and being passed several times by a speeding house.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1187.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-79\" title=\"102_1187\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1187-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1194.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-80\" title=\"102_1194\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1194-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1190.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-81\" title=\"102_1190\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1190-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1191.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-82\" title=\"102_1191\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1191-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1189.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-98\" title=\"102_1189\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1189-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe crossed into Minnesota through a bridge over the Mississippi River. I must admit to be surprised that the Mississippi River went that far north.  I’m glad it did, because it was a magnificent scene to behold. It is a very big and powerful river.  Minnesota was so welcoming, that they had two Welcome to Minnesota signs.  Another unique thing about Minnesota was the preponderance of wind farms amongst food farms.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1210.jpg\"><img title=\"102_1210\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1210-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1211.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-83\" title=\"102_1211\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1211-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_12121.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-85\" title=\"102_1212\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_12121-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1229.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-88\" title=\"102_1229\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1229-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nDriving the width of Minnesota was perhaps the longest distance of the trip, but it also went by quickly.  I took driving duty after having lunch less than half way through Minnesota.  The time flew by, thanks to limited traffic and an engaging discussion of religion and politics.  Before we knew it, we arrived in South Dakota.  In fact, we almost didn’t see the sign and had to turn back to get the picture.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1233.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-91\" title=\"102_1233\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1233-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nAnd we could not miss the bullhead sculpture by the side of the road.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1234.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-95\" title=\"102_1234\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1234-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nA short time later, we arrived in Mitchell, SD.  Before we went to the campground, we decided to fill up the gas tank for tomorrow.  Fortunately, there was a Sinclair gas station (all of which apparently have a dinosaur of some form at their stations), right in front of the campgrounds.  I, of course, had to get a picture with one wearing my tourist hat.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1238.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-92\" title=\"102_1238\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1238-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe also learned an interesting difference about gas in SD at this station.  As far as I’ve ever seen, regular 87 octane is the cheapest, followed by 89 plus, and 91 premium.  No so in SD.  Apparently, “regular plus” has 10% ethanol (not that different from other states), but there is such an ethanol subsidy that it can be 10 cents/gal cheaper.  Unfortunately, I didn’t realize this until after I filled up with regular, my Dad noticed the seeming price discrepancy on the receipt, and I enquired of the station cashier.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1235.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-93\" title=\"102_1235\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1235-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\nHaving had enough fun at the Sinclair gas station, we drove a few hundred feet to <a href=\"http://www.rondeescampground.com/\">Rondee’s campground</a>.  If you are ever in or near Mitchell, SD, you should stay at Rondee’s campground.  The management was friendly, the campsites, showers, and bathrooms were very clean, the free wireless internet was very fast, and there is a great indoor water park. That’s right, for $5, you have access to a great water slide, a big pool, and a hot tub…at a campground.  After the long day of driving, I had a blast at their water park.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1241.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-94\" title=\"102_1241\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1241-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nI wish I could say the same about dinner that night.  My Dad likes hot dogs, and we had a pack of Hebrew Nationals that we had in the cooler since we left Philadelphia, and planned to make that night.  Now, I’m not a hot dog person and don’t think I’ve ever cooked them, but all it basically requires is boiling water (we didn’t have firewood or a fire pit that night for cooking them over the fire, which is how I had originally expected to do it).  I don’t know whether it was the propane stove, the inexpensive and new skillet for cooking meat, or the incredibly strong and constant winds, but after around an hour, the water had yet to boil (no, we were not in high altitudes as far as we know).  Still intent on making hot dogs, I tried a different approach.  I dumped the water, added some oil, and basically tried to fry them.  This seemed to work.  My Dad tried a bite, and while the outside was cooked, it was unclear if the inside was cooked enough.  Added to the fact that they had been in the cooler, not a refrigerator, for some time, we erred on the side of caution and admitted defeat.  For dinner that night, we had Bush’s vegetarian baked beans (which did get hot on the stove) and some tuna fish and cracker snack packets my Dad had brought along.  Fortunately, neither of us was particularly hungry that night.\n\nBy the time we finished dinner, it was dark.  I made good use of the cell phone reception and internet that would likely not be available for the next couple days, while my Dad cleaned dishes and prepared for bed.  It was about 10 when we went to bed, unaware that our tent was to be tested once again.', 'Day 3:  Heading West to South Dakota', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '75-autosave', '', '', '2011-09-05 03:41:08', '2011-09-05 03:41:08', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=100', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(101, 2, '2011-09-06 01:01:10', '2011-09-06 01:01:10', 'Start: Mitchell, SD\r\nDestination:  Badlands National Park, Interior, SD\r\nOdometer: 103,062 (start) - 103,400 (end) 338 miles\r\nDate:  Friday, September 2nd - Saturday, September 3rd,  2011\r\n\r\nSouth Dakota….where the wind comes sweeping down the planes.  As mentioned yesterday, the wind was quite strong while trying to cook dinner, but it was not enough to raise our concern.  This changed around midnight that evening.  The Coleman tent is rather broad and will easily catch wind like a sail, even with the windows opened part way to let air through.  This fact, mixed in with incredibly strong and constant winds, leads to quite a stress test of the tent.  The wind huffed, and it puffed, but while the walls of the tent flapped strongly and noisily in and out, the tent stood strong. (I tried getting pictures of the young, nearby trees bending in the wind but it was too dark.)  We were not going back to sleep, but hoped we would at least be able to lay down in an upright tent.  Finally, it happened: one of the corners of the tent came in on my Dad during a particularly strong wind.  Now, if this were a traditional tent, the likely reality would be that the tent pole had broken and we’d be in quite a predicament.  The instant tent however has elbow joints that go in and out.  The wind buckled that joint into the tent, but we were also able to push the joint back into place, without even having to leave the tent.  With a little help from its occupants during that incident, the tent was able to stand strong for the entire night.  The wind finally waned and we went back to sleep.\r\n\r\nThen the morning rains arrived around 3am.  As before, the tent did not leak, but the noise of the rain hitting the tent made the rain sound much worse and woke us up.  I somehow fell back into a deep sleep, because the next thing I knew, it was around 5:30am, Dad waslideshows loading the car and I needed to get up so we could take down the tent.\r\n\r\nI have camped many times before, but I had never experienced winds like that.  As such, I am a skeptic regarding the need for the guy-wires of the tent.  More often than not, they are a tripping hazard and are rarely needed.  My Dad however strongly encouraged we follow all the setup requirements of the tent.  I’m glad he did.  Not only did the tent not blow away, but all of the stakes were still firmly in place.  I was sure at least some of them would have been pulled out by the winds.  I still believe those wires are a hazard, but they should not be neglected if you’re in an area capable of having strong winds.\r\n\r\nBy 6am, we had packed up the wet tent and were on the road heading to the Badlands, but on an empty stomach.  I took the wheel, and after surviving a turn into the oncoming traffic lane of a major road, we were on the highway that we would be taking straight across the state for around 200 miles.\r\n\r\nMy Dad would have just driven to the destination without breakfast, but I appreciate a meal in the morning, particularly after a minimal dinner the night before.  Fortunately, there was a rest stop early on where we could eat.  (I’m coming to have a greater appreciation for the need/value of those rest stops I’d ignore back home.)  I made peanut butter and honey sandwiches, and my Dad finished his cinnamon-raison bagels.  No longer hungry, we ventured on to what was our first, real tourist destination of the trip:  the Badlands of South Dakota.\r\n\r\nThe drive through South Dakota was a smooth drive, with corn and sunflower farms on the side, and signs for misc. Badlands attractions, particularly Wall Drug.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-103\" title=\"102_1264\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-104\" title=\"102_1261\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-105\" title=\"102_1269\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\r\n\r\nMy Dad and I share a great attraction for Prairie Dogs.  They are just so cute and adorable.  So, you can imagine our excitement when just before arriving at the Badlands, we saw there was a prairie dog ranch that seemed more enamored with them than we are.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-106\" title=\"102_1271\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nFor free, you can walk right up to the prairie dogs, who have little to no fear of people.  For 50 cents, you can buy a bag of peanuts and feed them (so they’ll stay by you and not snub their nose at your lack of an offering).  Try petting and getting this personal to a group of prairie dogs at the zoo.  We spent a fun thirty minutes playing with them, checking out their burrows, hearing their squeaks, and seeing their diversity (e.g. apparently there are white prairie dogs).\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-107\" title=\"102_1303\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-108\" title=\"102_1311\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe then headed for the Cedar Pass Campground at Badlands National Park to get settled in for our two day stay at the Badlands.  The sites and proximity of the sites to the bathrooms and water were nice, but the views the campground afforded were even better.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-110\" title=\"102_1318\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-111\" title=\"102_1322\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe had gotten a test of the Badlands hen we entered the park, and were definitely wowed.  We wasted little time before getting back in the car to drive the scenic, roughly 50-mile Loop Road through the outer “wall” of the Badlands.\r\n\r\nWe had both heard of the Badlands, but honestly had little idea what they were. As we learned, the Badlands are the product of erosion over the past 500,000 years.  Millions of years ago, it was the floor of a warm, shallow sea, then it was a grassy flood plane, and now it’s grassland surrounded by a 50-mile “wall” of rock formations shaped by the immense rains and winds of the area.  It was an incredibly difficult area to travel, hence its name “bad lands”, but thanks to modern roads, is now easily driven through and is an incredibly beautiful landscape.  <a href=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/107638235733347757198/Badlands?authuser=0&amp;feat=directlink#slideshow/5648684398686263538\" target=\"_blank\">This slideshow</a> will not do them justice.\r\n\r\n(I recommend viewing the slideshow with the above link, but for a quick skim of the pictures, this embedded slideshow will work)\r\n\r\n<object width=\"600\" height=\"400\" classid=\"clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000\" codebase=\"http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0\"><param name=\"src\" value=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf\" /><param name=\"flashvars\" value=\"host=picasaweb.google.com&amp;noautoplay=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;feat=flashalbum&amp;RGB=0x000000&amp;feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F107638235733347757198%2Falbumid%2F5648684325457534673%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US\" /><param name=\"pluginspage\" value=\"http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer\" /><embed width=\"600\" height=\"400\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" src=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf\" flashvars=\"host=picasaweb.google.com&amp;noautoplay=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;feat=flashalbum&amp;RGB=0x000000&amp;feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F107638235733347757198%2Falbumid%2F5648684325457534673%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US\" pluginspage=\"http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer\" /></object>\r\n\r\nAt the end of the loop, we found ourselves in Wall, a town of some 800 people and home to the famous Wall Drug, where we decided to stop for lunch.  Wall Drug is definitely a tourist destination, and they know it.  While the ice water may be free and the coffee 5 cents, the food and wares are a bit more expensive.  The service was good (we got two free donuts because our order was delayed), but don’t stop at the Wall Cafe if you’re looking for a cheap or particular delicious lunch.  Dad thought he could find a nice western-style shirt, but to no avail.  After touring the various Wall stores, we got some ice cream and some ice, and headed back to the car.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-112\" title=\"102_1455\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-113\" title=\"102_1439\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114\" title=\"102_1441\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThe drive back from Wall took us on a dirt road through the southern part of the park, which is mostly grassland.  Since they were windy, dirt roads, we were going slow; however, if you’re a giant tractor trailer, going 80+ and blowing dust on everyone is apparently OK.  They claim there are buffalo there, but all we saw were horses and cattle.  This leg of the drive did not leave that great an impression.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-115\" title=\"102_1474\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe arrived back to the campsite around 4 and each took some time to ourselves until dinner.  For dinner, I made veggie burgers, which even Dad thought were good.  We made Kiddish for the start of Shabbat, enjoyed our meal and conversation, and retired early.  It was windy that night (the candles were blown out pretty quick), but nothing compared to our previous experience in Mitchell, SD.  That was, until about midnight.\r\n\r\nShortly before midnight, the tent began to shake, the walls were blowing in and out, and we thought the tent wouldn’t make it.  As we later learned, there were 60mph winds that night.  After the wind, there was a few minutes calm...a clam that turned out to be the oft referenced calm before the storm.  What was a cloudless night had become a dark cloud that filled the sky.  That giant cloud also had an amazing lightning storm going on within it, producing bursts of orange and purple.  Picture a hollywood movie depiction of what the clouds might look like during the apocalypse, and you might have a good idea of what we saw outside our tent window.   Next thing we knew, the tent was being bombarded with what sounded like a heavy rain and powerful winds.  We were both trying to support the tent from the inside, and had to push back into place tent elbows when they buckled under the pressure.  We thought we were going to make it, but then we felt some water spraying in from the top of the tent, hitting us, the sleeping bags, and the cots, so we decided it was time to abandon ship and ride out the storm in the car.\r\n\r\nAs we exited the tent, I became aware that what was hitting the tent was not just rain, but also 1/4” size hail, enough to form a nice pile at the entrance of the tent.  Dad took some items to the car, and I raced to the bathroom (hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go).  In the bathroom, I found Steven, another refugee who had also abandoned his tent.  By the time we were done talking about our storm experiences in the bathroom and heading back, the worst of the storm was over.  In the end, the storm lasted about 30 minutes, but felt like forever.\r\n\r\nRealizing our sleeping stuff would be wet, we tried to catch some sleep in the car.  Dad managed longer than I did.  After a few hours, I went back to the tent and made use of Dad’s relatively dry sleeping area. Dad got up around 4:40 and prepared for the day.  I left the tent around 5:30, running to the bathroom, and tripping over the guy wire.  By 6:15, daybreak had finally arrived and we were able to better assess our situation and conduct a forensic investigation of the tent.\r\n\r\nThe conclusion of the investigation was that an open flap that covered the mesh air vent at the top of the tent had been left propped/held open instead of velcro-ed shut.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1722.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-127\" title=\"102_1722\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1722-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1723.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-128\" title=\"102_1723\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1723-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIt was unclear whether we had propped it up earlier or whether the wind had forced it up, but either way, it provided a clear entry point for the downpour and our prompt exit from the tent.  The investigation also showed that everyone’s tent succumbed to the storm, from the expensive REI tents to the basic dome tents, everyone either made due with a wet tent or went to their car.\r\n\r\nWhen the morning sun arrived, the clouds were gone and we were able to enjoy breakfast and leave the wet camping equipment out to dry, which they did in a couple hours.  Dad dried out the floor of the tent with paper towels and by 9am, I went back to sleep in the dry tent, while my dad did some reading.\r\n\r\nIf the storm had to happen, it happened on the best day, since Saturday/Shabbat are our rest days and so we didn’t need to break camp or be anywhere in particular.  This said, we wanted to do the three nearby hiking trails around the grounds, so we headed over there after I woke up, around noon.\r\n\r\nThe first trail was about half a mile and allowed for walking on top of and amongst the rock formations.  The second was a quarter mile walk along a boardwalk that led to a view of a large canyon formed by the erosion process.  The third was about a mile and half and was the most difficult of the three.  Most notably, it involved climbing up and down a 30-40 rung ladder, at least 100’ tall, bolted to the side of a rock formation, and walking along a path with loose stones and a few feet from a cavernous drop.  We both were surprised that the park service allows hikes like these.  The end of this trail led to an amazing panorama of a huge swath of the Badlands, both prairie and rock.  We took the advice of other hikers and went to an unmarked path near the end that led to another awe-inspiring view of the terrain.  We were definitely glad we went on these hikes.\r\n\r\nWe returned to the campsite around 4 to have lunch.  I made peanut butter and honey (and cheese on mine) sandwiches.  My Dad hadn’t had honey on his peanut butter before, but enjoyed it.  Exhausted, we both went back to the tent and had a Shabbat nap.  There was still plenty of daylight when we woke up, so we journeyed over to the visitor center to see their exhibits about the park and check out the Indian teepees. We returned to the camp site and again took some time to ourselves.  I did some reading and went back to bed until sundown, and Dad relaxed for awhile and also re-organized the car.\r\n\r\nFor dinner, we decided to try out the instant-meals we had purchased.  One simply required adding boiled water, and the second required using a pouch that used a chemical reaction to create an oven-like effect.  Both were types of vegetarian lasagna.  The heat pouch ended up being the quickest and easiest to make, and was also the least expensive and most delicious.  However, the boiled water one encouraged me to create a new aluminum foil contraption:  a protective wall to keep out the wind and contain the heat of the flame.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-116\" title=\"102_1490\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI’m glad to report that it worked great and we were able to finally boil water.  As for the meal it was going help create:  the parts that got cooked were good; however, I must not have mixed it throughly enough because there were pieces of pasta and seasoning that were still dry and crunch.  I think/hope I’ll be able to do better when I make the pad thai meal from this manufacturer.\r\n\r\nA full stomach and the lack of a full night’s sleep from the night before hit us and we both sacked out in the tent.  We hoped that the weather report of neither rain nor wind would hold true.  We were getting up early tomorrow to see Mt. Rushmore and arrive at the hot springs of Thermopolis, WY.\r\n\r\nAll in all, our time in the Badlands have been an enjoyable and incredible experience.  Almost every turn around a corner brought into view an amazing panorama.  The extreme winds and rains of South Dakota were a memorable experience and provided a stress test of our tent.  Our multiple interactions with prairie dogs in “the wild” were the closest we’ve been to them.  It was nice spending Shabbat with my Dad amongst the beautiful landscapes.  For our first tourist destination, the Badlands have set the bar very high for our future travels.  They say the Badlands may be completely eroded in another 500,000 years, so if you have a chance, we recommend you check it out before it’s too late.', 'Day 4 & 5:  The Awe-full Badlands ', '', 'publish', 'open', 'open', '', 'day-4-5-the-awe-full-badlands', '', '', '2011-09-06 01:03:08', '2011-09-06 01:03:08', '', 0, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=101', 0, 'post', '', 51),
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(109, 2, '2011-09-05 03:28:40', '2011-09-05 03:28:40', 'Start: Mitchell, SD\nDestination:  Badlands National Park, Interior, SD\nOdometer: 103,062 (start) - 103,400 (end) 338 miles\nDate:  September 2nd and 3rd,  2011\n\nSouth Dakota….where the wind comes sweeping down the planes.  As mentioned about yesterday, the wind was quite strong while trying to cook dinner, but it was not enough to be of concern.  This changed around midnight that evening.  The Coleman tent is rather broad and will easily catch wind like a sail, even with the windows opened party way to let air through.  This fact mixed in with incredibly strong and constant winds, leads to quite a stress test of the tent.  The wind huffed, and it puffed, but while the walls of the tent flapped strongly and noisily in and out, the tent stood strong. (I tried getting pictures of the young, nearby trees bending in the wind but it was too dark.)  We were not going back to sleep, but hoped we would at least be able to lay down in an upright tent.  Finally, it happened: one of the corners came in on my Dad during a particularly strong wind.  Now, if this were a traditional tent, the likely reality would be that the tent pole had broken and we’d be in quite a predicament.  The instant tent however has elbow joints that go in and out.  The wind buckled that joint into the tent, but we were also able to push the joint back into place, without even having to leave the tent.  With a little help from its occupants during that incident, the tent was able to stand strong for the entire night.\n\nThe wind finally waned and we went back to sleep.  Then the morning rains arrived around 3am.  As before, the tent did not leak, but the noise of the rain hitting the tent made the rain sound much worse and woke us up.  I somehow fell back into a deep sleep, because the next thing I knew, it was around 5:30am, Dad was loading the car and I needed to get up so we could take down the tent.\n\nI have camped many times before, but I had never experienced winds like that.  As such, I am a skeptic regarding the need for the guy-wires of the tent.  More often than not, they are a tripping hazard and are rarely needed.  My Dad however strongly encouraged we follow all the setup requirements of the tent.  I’m glad he did.  Not only did the tent not blow away, but all of the stakes were still firmly in place.  I was sure at least some of them would have been pulled out by the winds.  I still believe those wires are a hazard, but they should not be neglected if you’re in an area capable of having strong winds.\n\nSo, we packed up the wet tent and hit the road around 6am heading to the Badlands on an empty stomach.  I took the wheel, and after surviving a turn into the oncoming traffic lane of a major road, we were on the highway that we would be taking straight across for around 200 miles.\n\nMy Dad would have just driven to the destination without breakfast, but I appreciate a meal in the morning, particularly after a minimal dinner the night before.  Fortunately, there was a rest stop early on where we could eat.  (I’m coming to have a greater appreciation for the need/value of those rest stops I’d ignore back home.)  I made peanut butter and honey sandwiches, and my Dad finished his cinnamon-raison bagels.  No longer hungry, we ventured on to what was our first, real tourist destination of the trip:  the Badlands of South Dakota.\n\nThe drive through South Dakota was a smooth drive, with corn and sunflower farms on the side, and signs for misc. Badlands attractions, particularly Wall Drug.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy Dad and I share a great attraction to Prairie Dogs.  They are just so cute and adorable.  So, you can imagine our excitement when just before arriving at the Badlands, we saw there was a prairie dog ranch that seemed as enamored as we.\n\nFor free, you can walk right up to the prairie dogs, who have little to now fear of people.  For 50 cents, you can buy a bag of peanuts and feed them (so they’ll stay by you and not snub their nose at your lack of an offering).  Try petting and getting this personal to a group of prairie dogs at the zoo.  We spent a fun thirty minutes playing with them, checking out their burrows, hearing their squeaks, and seeing their diversity (e.g. apparently there are white prairie dogs).\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe then headed for the Cedar Pass Campground at Badlands National Park to get settled in for our two day stay at the Badlands.  The sites and proximity of the sites to the bathrooms and water were nice, but the views the campground afforded were even better.\n\nWe had earlier gotten a test of the Badlands and were definitely wowed.  We wasted little time before getting back in the car to drive the scenic, roughly 50-mile Loop Road through the entire Badlands.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe had both heard of the Badlands, but honestly had little idea what they were. As we learned, the Badlands are the product of erosion over the past 500,000 years.  Millions of years ago, it was the floor of a warm, shallow sea, then it was a grassy flood plane, and now it’s grassland surrounded by a 50-mile “wall” of rock formations shaped by the immense rains and winds of the area.  It was an incredibly difficult area to travel, hence its name “bad lands”, but thanks to modern roads, is now easily driven through and is an incredibly beautiful landscape. This slideshow will not do them justice.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAt the end of the loop, we found ourselves in Wall, a town of some 800 people and home to the famous Wall Drug, where we decided to stop for lunch.  Wall Drug is definitely a tourist destination, and they know it.  While the ice water may be free and the coffee 5 cents, the food and wares are a bit more expensive.  The service was good (we got two free donuts because our order was delayed), but don’t stop at the Wall Cafe if you’re looking for a cheap or particular delicious lunch.  Dad thought he could find a nice western-style shirt, but to no avail.  After touring the various Wall stores, we got some ice cream and some ice, and headed back to the car.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe drive back from Wall took us on a dirt road through the southern part of the park, which is mostly grassland.  Since they were windy dirt roads, we were going slow; however, if you’re a giant tractor trailer, going 80+ and blowing dust on everyone is apparently OK.  They claim there are buffalo there, but all we saw were horses and cattle.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe arrived back to the campsite around 4 and each took some time to ourselves until dinner.  For dinner, I made veggie burgers, which even Dad thought were good.  We made Kiddish for the start of Shabbat, enjoyed our meal, and retired early.  It was windy that night (the candles were blown out pretty quick), but nothing compared to our previous experience in Mitchell, SD.  That was, until about midnight.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe tent began to shake, the walls were blowing in and out, and we thought the tent wouldn’t make it.  As we later learned, there were 60mph winds that night.  After the wind, there was a few minutes calm...a clam that turned out to be the proverbial calm before the storm.  What was a cloudless night had become a dark cloud that filled the sky.  That giant cloud also had an amazing lightning storm going on within it.  Picture a hollywood movie depiction of what the clouds might look like during the apocalypse, and you might have a good idea of what we saw outside our tent window.   Next thing we knew, the tent was being bombarded with what sounded like a heavy rain and powerful winds.  We were both trying to support the tent from the inside, and had to push back into place tent elbows when they buckled under the pressure.  We thought we were going to make it, but then we felt some water spraying in from the top of the tent, and it hit the sleeping bags, cots, and so we decided it was time to abandon ship and ride out the storm in the car.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs we exited the tent, I became aware that what was hitting the tent was not just rain, but also 1/4” size hail, enough to form a nice pile at the entrance of the tent.  Dad took some items to the car, and I raced to the bathroom (hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go).  In the bathroom, I found another refugee who had also abandoned his tent.  By the time we were done talking in the bathroom and heading back, the worst of the storm was over.  In the end, the storm lasted about 30 minutes, but felt like forever.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRealizing our sleeping stuff would be wet, we tried to catch some sleep in the car.  Dad managed longer than I did.  After a few hours, I went back to the tent and made use of Dad’s relatively dry sleeping area. Dad got up around 4:40 and prepared for the day.  I came out around 5:30, running to the bathroom, and tripping over the guy wire.  By 6:15, daybreak had finally arrived and we were able to better assess our situation and conduct a forensic investigation of the tent.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe conclusion of the investigation was that an open flap that covered the mesh air vent at the top of the tent had been propped/held open.  It was unclear whether we had propped it up earlier or whether the wind had forced it up, but either way, it provided a clear entry point for the downpour and our prompt exit from the tent.  The investigation also showed that not a tent was spared from the rain, from the expensive REI tents to the basic dome tents, everyone either made due with a wet tent or went to their car.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen the morning sun arrived, the clouds were gone and we were able to enjoy breakfast and leave the wet camping equipment out to dry, which it did in a couple hours.  Dad dried out the floor of the tent with paper towels and by 9am, I went back to sleep, while my dad did some reading.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf the storm had to happen, it happened on the best day, since Saturday/Shabbat are our rest days and so we didn’t need to break camp or be anywhere in particular.  Around noon, we were both up and headed over to three nearby trails.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe first trail was about half a mile and allowed for walking on top of and amongst the rock formations.  The second was a quarter mile walk along a boardwalk that led to a view of a large canyon formed by the erosion process.  The third was about a mile and half and was the most difficult of the three.  Most notably, climbing up and down a 30-40 rung ladder, at least 100’ tall, bolted to the side of a rock formation, and walking along a path with loose stones and a few feet from a cavernous drop.  We both were surprised that the park service allows hikes like these.  The end of this trail led to an amazing panorama of a huge swatch of the bad lands, both prairie and rock.  We took the advice of other hikers and went to an unmarked path near the end that led to another awe-inspiring view of the terrain.  We were definitely glad we choose these hikes.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe returned to the campsite around 4 to have lunch.  I made peanut butter and honey (and cheese on mine) sandwiches.  My Dad hadn’t had honey on his peanut butter before and enjoyed it.  Exhausted, we both went back to the tent and had a Shabbat nap.  There was still plenty of daylight when we woke up, so we journeyed over to the visitor center to see their exhibits about the park and check out the Indian teepees. We returned to the camp site and again took some time to ourselves.  I did some reading and went back to bed until sundown, and Dad relaxed for awhile and also re-organized the car.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor dinner, we decided to try out the instant-meals we had purchased.  One simply required boiling water, and the second required using a pouch that used a chemical reaction to create an oven-like effect.  Both were types of vegetarian lasagna.  The heat pouch ended up being the quickest and easiest to make, and was also the least expensive and most delicious.  However, the boiled water one allowed me to create a new alumnimum-foil contraption:  a protective wall to keep out the wind and contain the heat of the flame.\n\nI’m glad to report that it worked great and we were able to finally boil water.  As for the meal it was going help create:  the parts that got cooked were good; however, I must not have mixed it throughly enough because there were pieces of pasta and seasoning that were still dry and crunch.  I think I’ll be able to do better when I make the pad thai meal from this manufacturer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA full stomach and the lack of a full nights sleep from the night before hit us and we both sacked out in the tent.  We hoped that the weather report of neither rain nor wind would hold true.  We were getting up early tomorrow to see Mt. Rushmore and arrive at the hot springs of Thermopolis, WY.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAll in all, our time in the Badlands have been an incredible experience.  Almost every turn around a corner brought into view an amazing panorama.  The extreme winds and rains of South Dakota were a memorable experience and provided a stress test of our tent.  Our multiple interactions with prairie dogs in “the wild” were the closest we’ve been to them.  It was nice spending Shabbat with my Dad amongst the beautiful landscapes.  For our first tourist destination, the Badlands have set the bar very high for our future travels.  They say the Badlands may be completely eroded in another 500,000 years, so if you have a chance, we recommend you check it out before it’s too late.', 'Day 4 & 5:  The Awe-full Badlands ', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '101-revision-2', '', '', '2011-09-05 03:28:40', '2011-09-05 03:28:40', '', 101, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=109', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
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(117, 2, '2011-09-05 03:38:20', '2011-09-05 03:38:20', 'Start: Mitchell, SD\nDestination:  Badlands National Park, Interior, SD\nOdometer: 103,062 (start) - 103,400 (end) 338 miles\nDate:  September 2nd and 3rd,  2011\n\nSouth Dakota….where the wind comes sweeping down the planes.  As mentioned about yesterday, the wind was quite strong while trying to cook dinner, but it was not enough to be of concern.  This changed around midnight that evening.  The Coleman tent is rather broad and will easily catch wind like a sail, even with the windows opened party way to let air through.  This fact mixed in with incredibly strong and constant winds, leads to quite a stress test of the tent.  The wind huffed, and it puffed, but while the walls of the tent flapped strongly and noisily in and out, the tent stood strong. (I tried getting pictures of the young, nearby trees bending in the wind but it was too dark.)  We were not going back to sleep, but hoped we would at least be able to lay down in an upright tent.  Finally, it happened: one of the corners came in on my Dad during a particularly strong wind.  Now, if this were a traditional tent, the likely reality would be that the tent pole had broken and we’d be in quite a predicament.  The instant tent however has elbow joints that go in and out.  The wind buckled that joint into the tent, but we were also able to push the joint back into place, without even having to leave the tent.  With a little help from its occupants during that incident, the tent was able to stand strong for the entire night.\n\nThe wind finally waned and we went back to sleep.  Then the morning rains arrived around 3am.  As before, the tent did not leak, but the noise of the rain hitting the tent made the rain sound much worse and woke us up.  I somehow fell back into a deep sleep, because the next thing I knew, it was around 5:30am, Dad was loading the car and I needed to get up so we could take down the tent.\n\nI have camped many times before, but I had never experienced winds like that.  As such, I am a skeptic regarding the need for the guy-wires of the tent.  More often than not, they are a tripping hazard and are rarely needed.  My Dad however strongly encouraged we follow all the setup requirements of the tent.  I’m glad he did.  Not only did the tent not blow away, but all of the stakes were still firmly in place.  I was sure at least some of them would have been pulled out by the winds.  I still believe those wires are a hazard, but they should not be neglected if you’re in an area capable of having strong winds.\n\nSo, we packed up the wet tent and hit the road around 6am heading to the Badlands on an empty stomach.  I took the wheel, and after surviving a turn into the oncoming traffic lane of a major road, we were on the highway that we would be taking straight across for around 200 miles.\n\nMy Dad would have just driven to the destination without breakfast, but I appreciate a meal in the morning, particularly after a minimal dinner the night before.  Fortunately, there was a rest stop early on where we could eat.  (I’m coming to have a greater appreciation for the need/value of those rest stops I’d ignore back home.)  I made peanut butter and honey sandwiches, and my Dad finished his cinnamon-raison bagels.  No longer hungry, we ventured on to what was our first, real tourist destination of the trip:  the Badlands of South Dakota.\n\nThe drive through South Dakota was a smooth drive, with corn and sunflower farms on the side, and signs for misc. Badlands attractions, particularly Wall Drug.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-103\" title=\"102_1264\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-104\" title=\"102_1261\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-105\" title=\"102_1269\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nMy Dad and I share a great attraction to Prairie Dogs.  They are just so cute and adorable.  So, you can imagine our excitement when just before arriving at the Badlands, we saw there was a prairie dog ranch that seemed as enamored as we.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-106\" title=\"102_1271\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\nFor free, you can walk right up to the prairie dogs, who have little to now fear of people.  For 50 cents, you can buy a bag of peanuts and feed them (so they’ll stay by you and not snub their nose at your lack of an offering).  Try petting and getting this personal to a group of prairie dogs at the zoo.  We spent a fun thirty minutes playing with them, checking out their burrows, hearing their squeaks, and seeing their diversity (e.g. apparently there are white prairie dogs).\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-107\" title=\"102_1303\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-108\" title=\"102_1311\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe then headed for the Cedar Pass Campground at Badlands National Park to get settled in for our two day stay at the Badlands.  The sites and proximity of the sites to the bathrooms and water were nice, but the views the campground afforded were even better.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-110\" title=\"102_1318\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-111\" title=\"102_1322\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe had earlier gotten a test of the Badlands and were definitely wowed.  We wasted little time before getting back in the car to drive the scenic, roughly 50-mile Loop Road through the entire Badlands.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe had both heard of the Badlands, but honestly had little idea what they were. As we learned, the Badlands are the product of erosion over the past 500,000 years.  Millions of years ago, it was the floor of a warm, shallow sea, then it was a grassy flood plane, and now it’s grassland surrounded by a 50-mile “wall” of rock formations shaped by the immense rains and winds of the area.  It was an incredibly difficult area to travel, hence its name “bad lands”, but thanks to modern roads, is now easily driven through and is an incredibly beautiful landscape. This slideshow will not do them justice.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAt the end of the loop, we found ourselves in Wall, a town of some 800 people and home to the famous Wall Drug, where we decided to stop for lunch.  Wall Drug is definitely a tourist destination, and they know it.  While the ice water may be free and the coffee 5 cents, the food and wares are a bit more expensive.  The service was good (we got two free donuts because our order was delayed), but don’t stop at the Wall Cafe if you’re looking for a cheap or particular delicious lunch.  Dad thought he could find a nice western-style shirt, but to no avail.  After touring the various Wall stores, we got some ice cream and some ice, and headed back to the car.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-112\" title=\"102_1455\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-113\" title=\"102_1439\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114\" title=\"102_1441\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nThe drive back from Wall took us on a dirt road through the southern part of the park, which is mostly grassland.  Since they were windy dirt roads, we were going slow; however, if you’re a giant tractor trailer, going 80+ and blowing dust on everyone is apparently OK.  They claim there are buffalo there, but all we saw were horses and cattle.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-115\" title=\"102_1474\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe arrived back to the campsite around 4 and each took some time to ourselves until dinner.  For dinner, I made veggie burgers, which even Dad thought were good.  We made Kiddish for the start of Shabbat, enjoyed our meal, and retired early.  It was windy that night (the candles were blown out pretty quick), but nothing compared to our previous experience in Mitchell, SD.  That was, until about midnight.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe tent began to shake, the walls were blowing in and out, and we thought the tent wouldn’t make it.  As we later learned, there were 60mph winds that night.  After the wind, there was a few minutes calm...a clam that turned out to be the proverbial calm before the storm.  What was a cloudless night had become a dark cloud that filled the sky.  That giant cloud also had an amazing lightning storm going on within it.  Picture a hollywood movie depiction of what the clouds might look like during the apocalypse, and you might have a good idea of what we saw outside our tent window.   Next thing we knew, the tent was being bombarded with what sounded like a heavy rain and powerful winds.  We were both trying to support the tent from the inside, and had to push back into place tent elbows when they buckled under the pressure.  We thought we were going to make it, but then we felt some water spraying in from the top of the tent, and it hit the sleeping bags, cots, and so we decided it was time to abandon ship and ride out the storm in the car.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs we exited the tent, I became aware that what was hitting the tent was not just rain, but also 1/4” size hail, enough to form a nice pile at the entrance of the tent.  Dad took some items to the car, and I raced to the bathroom (hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go).  In the bathroom, I found another refugee who had also abandoned his tent.  By the time we were done talking in the bathroom and heading back, the worst of the storm was over.  In the end, the storm lasted about 30 minutes, but felt like forever.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRealizing our sleeping stuff would be wet, we tried to catch some sleep in the car.  Dad managed longer than I did.  After a few hours, I went back to the tent and made use of Dad’s relatively dry sleeping area. Dad got up around 4:40 and prepared for the day.  I came out around 5:30, running to the bathroom, and tripping over the guy wire.  By 6:15, daybreak had finally arrived and we were able to better assess our situation and conduct a forensic investigation of the tent.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe conclusion of the investigation was that an open flap that covered the mesh air vent at the top of the tent had been propped/held open.  It was unclear whether we had propped it up earlier or whether the wind had forced it up, but either way, it provided a clear entry point for the downpour and our prompt exit from the tent.  The investigation also showed that not a tent was spared from the rain, from the expensive REI tents to the basic dome tents, everyone either made due with a wet tent or went to their car.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen the morning sun arrived, the clouds were gone and we were able to enjoy breakfast and leave the wet camping equipment out to dry, which it did in a couple hours.  Dad dried out the floor of the tent with paper towels and by 9am, I went back to sleep, while my dad did some reading.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf the storm had to happen, it happened on the best day, since Saturday/Shabbat are our rest days and so we didn’t need to break camp or be anywhere in particular.  Around noon, we were both up and headed over to three nearby trails.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe first trail was about half a mile and allowed for walking on top of and amongst the rock formations.  The second was a quarter mile walk along a boardwalk that led to a view of a large canyon formed by the erosion process.  The third was about a mile and half and was the most difficult of the three.  Most notably, climbing up and down a 30-40 rung ladder, at least 100’ tall, bolted to the side of a rock formation, and walking along a path with loose stones and a few feet from a cavernous drop.  We both were surprised that the park service allows hikes like these.  The end of this trail led to an amazing panorama of a huge swatch of the bad lands, both prairie and rock.  We took the advice of other hikers and went to an unmarked path near the end that led to another awe-inspiring view of the terrain.  We were definitely glad we choose these hikes.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe returned to the campsite around 4 to have lunch.  I made peanut butter and honey (and cheese on mine) sandwiches.  My Dad hadn’t had honey on his peanut butter before and enjoyed it.  Exhausted, we both went back to the tent and had a Shabbat nap.  There was still plenty of daylight when we woke up, so we journeyed over to the visitor center to see their exhibits about the park and check out the Indian teepees. We returned to the camp site and again took some time to ourselves.  I did some reading and went back to bed until sundown, and Dad relaxed for awhile and also re-organized the car.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor dinner, we decided to try out the instant-meals we had purchased.  One simply required boiling water, and the second required using a pouch that used a chemical reaction to create an oven-like effect.  Both were types of vegetarian lasagna.  The heat pouch ended up being the quickest and easiest to make, and was also the least expensive and most delicious.  However, the boiled water one allowed me to create a new alumnimum-foil contraption:  a protective wall to keep out the wind and contain the heat of the flame.\n\nI’m glad to report that it worked great and we were able to finally boil water.  As for the meal it was going help create:  the parts that got cooked were good; however, I must not have mixed it throughly enough because there were pieces of pasta and seasoning that were still dry and crunch.  I think I’ll be able to do better when I make the pad thai meal from this manufacturer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA full stomach and the lack of a full nights sleep from the night before hit us and we both sacked out in the tent.  We hoped that the weather report of neither rain nor wind would hold true.  We were getting up early tomorrow to see Mt. Rushmore and arrive at the hot springs of Thermopolis, WY.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAll in all, our time in the Badlands have been an incredible experience.  Almost every turn around a corner brought into view an amazing panorama.  The extreme winds and rains of South Dakota were a memorable experience and provided a stress test of our tent.  Our multiple interactions with prairie dogs in “the wild” were the closest we’ve been to them.  It was nice spending Shabbat with my Dad amongst the beautiful landscapes.  For our first tourist destination, the Badlands have set the bar very high for our future travels.  They say the Badlands may be completely eroded in another 500,000 years, so if you have a chance, we recommend you check it out before it’s too late.', 'Day 4 & 5:  The Awe-full Badlands ', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '101-revision-3', '', '', '2011-09-05 03:38:20', '2011-09-05 03:38:20', '', 101, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=117', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(119, 2, '2011-09-05 03:40:49', '2011-09-05 03:40:49', 'Start: Mitchell, SD\nDestination:  Badlands National Park, Interior, SD\nOdometer: 103,062 (start) - 103,400 (end) 338 miles\nDate:  September 2nd and 3rd,  2011\n\nSouth Dakota….where the wind comes sweeping down the planes.  As mentioned about yesterday, the wind was quite strong while trying to cook dinner, but it was not enough to be of concern.  This changed around midnight that evening.  The Coleman tent is rather broad and will easily catch wind like a sail, even with the windows opened party way to let air through.  This fact mixed in with incredibly strong and constant winds, leads to quite a stress test of the tent.  The wind huffed, and it puffed, but while the walls of the tent flapped strongly and noisily in and out, the tent stood strong. (I tried getting pictures of the young, nearby trees bending in the wind but it was too dark.)  We were not going back to sleep, but hoped we would at least be able to lay down in an upright tent.  Finally, it happened: one of the corners came in on my Dad during a particularly strong wind.  Now, if this were a traditional tent, the likely reality would be that the tent pole had broken and we’d be in quite a predicament.  The instant tent however has elbow joints that go in and out.  The wind buckled that joint into the tent, but we were also able to push the joint back into place, without even having to leave the tent.  With a little help from its occupants during that incident, the tent was able to stand strong for the entire night.\n\nThe wind finally waned and we went back to sleep.  Then the morning rains arrived around 3am.  As before, the tent did not leak, but the noise of the rain hitting the tent made the rain sound much worse and woke us up.  I somehow fell back into a deep sleep, because the next thing I knew, it was around 5:30am, Dad was loading the car and I needed to get up so we could take down the tent.\n\nI have camped many times before, but I had never experienced winds like that.  As such, I am a skeptic regarding the need for the guy-wires of the tent.  More often than not, they are a tripping hazard and are rarely needed.  My Dad however strongly encouraged we follow all the setup requirements of the tent.  I’m glad he did.  Not only did the tent not blow away, but all of the stakes were still firmly in place.  I was sure at least some of them would have been pulled out by the winds.  I still believe those wires are a hazard, but they should not be neglected if you’re in an area capable of having strong winds.\n\nSo, we packed up the wet tent and hit the road around 6am heading to the Badlands on an empty stomach.  I took the wheel, and after surviving a turn into the oncoming traffic lane of a major road, we were on the highway that we would be taking straight across for around 200 miles.\n\nMy Dad would have just driven to the destination without breakfast, but I appreciate a meal in the morning, particularly after a minimal dinner the night before.  Fortunately, there was a rest stop early on where we could eat.  (I’m coming to have a greater appreciation for the need/value of those rest stops I’d ignore back home.)  I made peanut butter and honey sandwiches, and my Dad finished his cinnamon-raison bagels.  No longer hungry, we ventured on to what was our first, real tourist destination of the trip:  the Badlands of South Dakota.\n\nThe drive through South Dakota was a smooth drive, with corn and sunflower farms on the side, and signs for misc. Badlands attractions, particularly Wall Drug.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-103\" title=\"102_1264\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-104\" title=\"102_1261\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-105\" title=\"102_1269\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nMy Dad and I share a great attraction to Prairie Dogs.  They are just so cute and adorable.  So, you can imagine our excitement when just before arriving at the Badlands, we saw there was a prairie dog ranch that seemed as enamored as we.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-106\" title=\"102_1271\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\nFor free, you can walk right up to the prairie dogs, who have little to now fear of people.  For 50 cents, you can buy a bag of peanuts and feed them (so they’ll stay by you and not snub their nose at your lack of an offering).  Try petting and getting this personal to a group of prairie dogs at the zoo.  We spent a fun thirty minutes playing with them, checking out their burrows, hearing their squeaks, and seeing their diversity (e.g. apparently there are white prairie dogs).\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-107\" title=\"102_1303\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-108\" title=\"102_1311\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe then headed for the Cedar Pass Campground at Badlands National Park to get settled in for our two day stay at the Badlands.  The sites and proximity of the sites to the bathrooms and water were nice, but the views the campground afforded were even better.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-110\" title=\"102_1318\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-111\" title=\"102_1322\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe had earlier gotten a test of the Badlands and were definitely wowed.  We wasted little time before getting back in the car to drive the scenic, roughly 50-mile Loop Road through the entire Badlands.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe had both heard of the Badlands, but honestly had little idea what they were. As we learned, the Badlands are the product of erosion over the past 500,000 years.  Millions of years ago, it was the floor of a warm, shallow sea, then it was a grassy flood plane, and now it’s grassland surrounded by a 50-mile “wall” of rock formations shaped by the immense rains and winds of the area.  It was an incredibly difficult area to travel, hence its name “bad lands”, but thanks to modern roads, is now easily driven through and is an incredibly beautiful landscape. This slideshow will not do them justice.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAt the end of the loop, we found ourselves in Wall, a town of some 800 people and home to the famous Wall Drug, where we decided to stop for lunch.  Wall Drug is definitely a tourist destination, and they know it.  While the ice water may be free and the coffee 5 cents, the food and wares are a bit more expensive.  The service was good (we got two free donuts because our order was delayed), but don’t stop at the Wall Cafe if you’re looking for a cheap or particular delicious lunch.  Dad thought he could find a nice western-style shirt, but to no avail.  After touring the various Wall stores, we got some ice cream and some ice, and headed back to the car.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-112\" title=\"102_1455\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-113\" title=\"102_1439\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114\" title=\"102_1441\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nThe drive back from Wall took us on a dirt road through the southern part of the park, which is mostly grassland.  Since they were windy dirt roads, we were going slow; however, if you’re a giant tractor trailer, going 80+ and blowing dust on everyone is apparently OK.  They claim there are buffalo there, but all we saw were horses and cattle.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-115\" title=\"102_1474\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe arrived back to the campsite around 4 and each took some time to ourselves until dinner.  For dinner, I made veggie burgers, which even Dad thought were good.  We made Kiddish for the start of Shabbat, enjoyed our meal, and retired early.  It was windy that night (the candles were blown out pretty quick), but nothing compared to our previous experience in Mitchell, SD.  That was, until about midnight.\n\nThe tent began to shake, the walls were blowing in and out, and we thought the tent wouldn’t make it.  As we later learned, there were 60mph winds that night.  After the wind, there was a few minutes calm...a clam that turned out to be the proverbial calm before the storm.  What was a cloudless night had become a dark cloud that filled the sky.  That giant cloud also had an amazing lightning storm going on within it.  Picture a hollywood movie depiction of what the clouds might look like during the apocalypse, and you might have a good idea of what we saw outside our tent window.   Next thing we knew, the tent was being bombarded with what sounded like a heavy rain and powerful winds.  We were both trying to support the tent from the inside, and had to push back into place tent elbows when they buckled under the pressure.  We thought we were going to make it, but then we felt some water spraying in from the top of the tent, and it hit the sleeping bags, cots, and so we decided it was time to abandon ship and ride out the storm in the car.\n\nAs we exited the tent, I became aware that what was hitting the tent was not just rain, but also 1/4” size hail, enough to form a nice pile at the entrance of the tent.  Dad took some items to the car, and I raced to the bathroom (hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go).  In the bathroom, I found another refugee who had also abandoned his tent.  By the time we were done talking in the bathroom and heading back, the worst of the storm was over.  In the end, the storm lasted about 30 minutes, but felt like forever.\n\nRealizing our sleeping stuff would be wet, we tried to catch some sleep in the car.  Dad managed longer than I did.  After a few hours, I went back to the tent and made use of Dad’s relatively dry sleeping area. Dad got up around 4:40 and prepared for the day.  I came out around 5:30, running to the bathroom, and tripping over the guy wire.  By 6:15, daybreak had finally arrived and we were able to better assess our situation and conduct a forensic investigation of the tent.\n\nThe conclusion of the investigation was that an open flap that covered the mesh air vent at the top of the tent had been propped/held open.  It was unclear whether we had propped it up earlier or whether the wind had forced it up, but either way, it provided a clear entry point for the downpour and our prompt exit from the tent.  The investigation also showed that not a tent was spared from the rain, from the expensive REI tents to the basic dome tents, everyone either made due with a wet tent or went to their car.\n\nWhen the morning sun arrived, the clouds were gone and we were able to enjoy breakfast and leave the wet camping equipment out to dry, which it did in a couple hours.  Dad dried out the floor of the tent with paper towels and by 9am, I went back to sleep, while my dad did some reading.\n\nIf the storm had to happen, it happened on the best day, since Saturday/Shabbat are our rest days and so we didn’t need to break camp or be anywhere in particular.  Around noon, we were both up and headed over to three nearby trails.\n\nThe first trail was about half a mile and allowed for walking on top of and amongst the rock formations.  The second was a quarter mile walk along a boardwalk that led to a view of a large canyon formed by the erosion process.  The third was about a mile and half and was the most difficult of the three.  Most notably, climbing up and down a 30-40 rung ladder, at least 100’ tall, bolted to the side of a rock formation, and walking along a path with loose stones and a few feet from a cavernous drop.  We both were surprised that the park service allows hikes like these.  The end of this trail led to an amazing panorama of a huge swatch of the bad lands, both prairie and rock.  We took the advice of other hikers and went to an unmarked path near the end that led to another awe-inspiring view of the terrain.  We were definitely glad we choose these hikes.\n\nWe returned to the campsite around 4 to have lunch.  I made peanut butter and honey (and cheese on mine) sandwiches.  My Dad hadn’t had honey on his peanut butter before and enjoyed it.  Exhausted, we both went back to the tent and had a Shabbat nap.  There was still plenty of daylight when we woke up, so we journeyed over to the visitor center to see their exhibits about the park and check out the Indian teepees. We returned to the camp site and again took some time to ourselves.  I did some reading and went back to bed until sundown, and Dad relaxed for awhile and also re-organized the car.\n\nFor dinner, we decided to try out the instant-meals we had purchased.  One simply required boiling water, and the second required using a pouch that used a chemical reaction to create an oven-like effect.  Both were types of vegetarian lasagna.  The heat pouch ended up being the quickest and easiest to make, and was also the least expensive and most delicious.  However, the boiled water one allowed me to create a new alumnimum-foil contraption:  a protective wall to keep out the wind and contain the heat of the flame.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-116\" title=\"102_1490\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nI’m glad to report that it worked great and we were able to finally boil water.  As for the meal it was going help create:  the parts that got cooked were good; however, I must not have mixed it throughly enough because there were pieces of pasta and seasoning that were still dry and crunch.  I think I’ll be able to do better when I make the pad thai meal from this manufacturer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA full stomach and the lack of a full nights sleep from the night before hit us and we both sacked out in the tent.  We hoped that the weather report of neither rain nor wind would hold true.  We were getting up early tomorrow to see Mt. Rushmore and arrive at the hot springs of Thermopolis, WY.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAll in all, our time in the Badlands have been an incredible experience.  Almost every turn around a corner brought into view an amazing panorama.  The extreme winds and rains of South Dakota were a memorable experience and provided a stress test of our tent.  Our multiple interactions with prairie dogs in “the wild” were the closest we’ve been to them.  It was nice spending Shabbat with my Dad amongst the beautiful landscapes.  For our first tourist destination, the Badlands have set the bar very high for our future travels.  They say the Badlands may be completely eroded in another 500,000 years, so if you have a chance, we recommend you check it out before it’s too late.', 'Day 4 & 5:  The Awe-full Badlands ', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '101-revision-4', '', '', '2011-09-05 03:40:49', '2011-09-05 03:40:49', '', 101, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=119', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(118, 2, '2011-09-05 03:20:03', '2011-09-05 03:20:03', 'Start:  Naperville, IL\r\nDestination:  Mitchell, SD - <a href=\"http://www.rondeescampground.com/\">Rondee\'s Campground</a>\r\nOdometer: 102,387 (start) - 103,062 (end) 675 miles\r\nDate:  September 1st, 2011\r\n\r\nThe road to the west, for us, will go through South Dakota.  We left Chicago around 6am, after a good night sleep and sharing goodbyes with George and Lynn.   Dad had the first driving shift of what was going to be a long driving day:  roughly 10.5 hours.\r\n\r\nFortunately, the time flew by for Dad, who found it a pleasure to cruise along (at 80mph) with little traffic and take in the scenery.  Wisconsin will be remembered for rock formations that seemed to jut out of nowhere (anyone familiar with these?), having a lot of interesting scenes blocked by trees, an exit that cost us time, but had some interesting structures associated with the businesses along the strip, and being passed several times by a speeding house.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1187.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-79\" title=\"102_1187\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1187-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1194.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-80\" title=\"102_1194\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1194-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1190.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-81\" title=\"102_1190\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1190-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1191.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-82\" title=\"102_1191\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1191-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1189.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-98\" title=\"102_1189\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1189-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe crossed into Minnesota through a bridge over the Mississippi River. I must admit to be surprised that the Mississippi River went that far north.  I’m glad it did, because it was a magnificent scene to behold. It is a very big and powerful river.  Minnesota was so welcoming, that they had two Welcome to Minnesota signs.  Another unique thing about Minnesota was the preponderance of wind farms amongst food farms.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1210.jpg\"><img title=\"102_1210\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1210-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1211.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-83\" title=\"102_1211\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1211-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_12121.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-85\" title=\"102_1212\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_12121-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1229.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-88\" title=\"102_1229\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1229-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nDriving the width of Minnesota was perhaps the longest distance of the trip, but it also went by quickly.  I took driving duty after having lunch less than half way through Minnesota.  The time flew by, thanks to limited traffic and an engaging discussion of religion and politics.  Before we knew it, we arrived in South Dakota.  In fact, we almost didn’t see the sign and had to turn back to get the picture.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1233.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-91\" title=\"102_1233\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1233-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nAnd we could not miss the bullhead sculpture by the side of the road.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1234.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-95\" title=\"102_1234\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1234-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nA short time later, we arrived in Mitchell, SD.  Before we went to the campground, we decided to fill up the gas tank for tomorrow.  Fortunately, there was a Sinclair gas station (all of which apparently have a dinosaur of some form at their stations), right in front of the campgrounds.  I, of course, had to get a picture with one wearing my tourist hat.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1238.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-92\" title=\"102_1238\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1238-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe also learned an interesting difference about gas in SD at this station.  As far as I’ve ever seen, regular 87 octane is the cheapest, followed by 89 plus, and 91 premium.  No so in SD.  Apparently, “regular plus” has 10% ethanol (not that different from other states), but there is such an ethanol subsidy that it can be 10 cents/gal cheaper.  Unfortunately, I didn’t realize this until after I filled up with regular, my Dad noticed the seeming price discrepancy on the receipt, and I enquired of the station cashier.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1235.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-93\" title=\"102_1235\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1235-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nHaving had enough fun at the Sinclair gas station, we drove a few hundred feet to <a href=\"http://www.rondeescampground.com/\">Rondee’s campground</a>.  If you are ever in or near Mitchell, SD, you should stay at Rondee’s campground.  The management was friendly, the campsites, showers, and bathrooms were very clean, the free wireless internet was very fast, and there is a great indoor water park. That’s right, for $5, you have access to a great water slide, a big pool, and a hot tub…at a campground.  After the long day of driving, I had a blast at their water park.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1241.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-94\" title=\"102_1241\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1241-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI wish I could say the same about dinner that night.  My Dad likes hot dogs, and we had a pack of Hebrew Nationals that we had in the cooler since we left Philadelphia, and planned to make that night.  Now, I’m not a hot dog person and don’t think I’ve ever cooked them, but all it basically requires is boiling water (we didn’t have firewood or a fire pit that night for cooking them over the fire, which is how I had originally expected to do it).  I don’t know whether it was the propane stove, the inexpensive and new skillet for cooking meat, or the incredibly strong and constant winds, but after around an hour, the water had yet to boil (no, we were not in high altitudes as far as we know).  Still intent on making hot dogs, I tried a different approach.  I dumped the water, added some oil, and basically tried to fry them.  This seemed to work.  My Dad tried a bite, and while the outside was cooked, it was unclear if the inside was cooked enough.  Added to the fact that they had been in the cooler, not a refrigerator, for some time, we erred on the side of caution and admitted defeat.  For dinner that night, we had Bush’s vegetarian baked beans (which did get hot on the stove) and some tuna fish and cracker snack packets my Dad had brought along.  Fortunately, neither of us was particularly hungry that night.\r\n\r\nBy the time we finished dinner, it was dark.  I made good use of the cell phone reception and internet that would likely not be available for the next couple days, while my Dad cleaned dishes and prepared for bed.  It was about 10 when we went to bed, unaware that our tent was to be tested once again.', 'Day 3:  Heading West to South Dakota', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '75-revision-10', '', '', '2011-09-05 03:20:03', '2011-09-05 03:20:03', '', 75, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=118', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
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(122, 2, '2011-09-05 04:20:37', '2011-09-05 04:20:37', 'Start: Mitchell, SD\r\nDestination:  Badlands National Park, Interior, SD\r\nOdometer: 103,062 (start) - 103,400 (end) 338 miles\r\nDate:  September 2nd and 3rd,  2011\r\n\r\nSouth Dakota….where the wind comes sweeping down the planes.  As mentioned about yesterday, the wind was quite strong while trying to cook dinner, but it was not enough to be of concern.  This changed around midnight that evening.  The Coleman tent is rather broad and will easily catch wind like a sail, even with the windows opened party way to let air through.  This fact mixed in with incredibly strong and constant winds, leads to quite a stress test of the tent.  The wind huffed, and it puffed, but while the walls of the tent flapped strongly and noisily in and out, the tent stood strong. (I tried getting pictures of the young, nearby trees bending in the wind but it was too dark.)  We were not going back to sleep, but hoped we would at least be able to lay down in an upright tent.  Finally, it happened: one of the corners came in on my Dad during a particularly strong wind.  Now, if this were a traditional tent, the likely reality would be that the tent pole had broken and we’d be in quite a predicament.  The instant tent however has elbow joints that go in and out.  The wind buckled that joint into the tent, but we were also able to push the joint back into place, without even having to leave the tent.  With a little help from its occupants during that incident, the tent was able to stand strong for the entire night.\r\n\r\nThe wind finally waned and we went back to sleep.  Then the morning rains arrived around 3am.  As before, the tent did not leak, but the noise of the rain hitting the tent made the rain sound much worse and woke us up.  I somehow fell back into a deep sleep, because the next thing I knew, it was around 5:30am, Dad was loading the car and I needed to get up so we could take down the tent.\r\n\r\nI have camped many times before, but I had never experienced winds like that.  As such, I am a skeptic regarding the need for the guy-wires of the tent.  More often than not, they are a tripping hazard and are rarely needed.  My Dad however strongly encouraged we follow all the setup requirements of the tent.  I’m glad he did.  Not only did the tent not blow away, but all of the stakes were still firmly in place.  I was sure at least some of them would have been pulled out by the winds.  I still believe those wires are a hazard, but they should not be neglected if you’re in an area capable of having strong winds.\r\n\r\nSo, we packed up the wet tent and hit the road around 6am heading to the Badlands on an empty stomach.  I took the wheel, and after surviving a turn into the oncoming traffic lane of a major road, we were on the highway that we would be taking straight across for around 200 miles.\r\n\r\nMy Dad would have just driven to the destination without breakfast, but I appreciate a meal in the morning, particularly after a minimal dinner the night before.  Fortunately, there was a rest stop early on where we could eat.  (I’m coming to have a greater appreciation for the need/value of those rest stops I’d ignore back home.)  I made peanut butter and honey sandwiches, and my Dad finished his cinnamon-raison bagels.  No longer hungry, we ventured on to what was our first, real tourist destination of the trip:  the Badlands of South Dakota.\r\n\r\nThe drive through South Dakota was a smooth drive, with corn and sunflower farms on the side, and signs for misc. Badlands attractions, particularly Wall Drug.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-103\" title=\"102_1264\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-104\" title=\"102_1261\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-105\" title=\"102_1269\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nMy Dad and I share a great attraction to Prairie Dogs.  They are just so cute and adorable.  So, you can imagine our excitement when just before arriving at the Badlands, we saw there was a prairie dog ranch that seemed as enamored as we.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-106\" title=\"102_1271\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nFor free, you can walk right up to the prairie dogs, who have little to now fear of people.  For 50 cents, you can buy a bag of peanuts and feed them (so they’ll stay by you and not snub their nose at your lack of an offering).  Try petting and getting this personal to a group of prairie dogs at the zoo.  We spent a fun thirty minutes playing with them, checking out their burrows, hearing their squeaks, and seeing their diversity (e.g. apparently there are white prairie dogs).\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-107\" title=\"102_1303\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-108\" title=\"102_1311\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe then headed for the Cedar Pass Campground at Badlands National Park to get settled in for our two day stay at the Badlands.  The sites and proximity of the sites to the bathrooms and water were nice, but the views the campground afforded were even better.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-110\" title=\"102_1318\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-111\" title=\"102_1322\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe had earlier gotten a test of the Badlands and were definitely wowed.  We wasted little time before getting back in the car to drive the scenic, roughly 50-mile Loop Road through the entire Badlands.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe had both heard of the Badlands, but honestly had little idea what they were. As we learned, the Badlands are the product of erosion over the past 500,000 years.  Millions of years ago, it was the floor of a warm, shallow sea, then it was a grassy flood plane, and now it’s grassland surrounded by a 50-mile “wall” of rock formations shaped by the immense rains and winds of the area.  It was an incredibly difficult area to travel, hence its name “bad lands”, but thanks to modern roads, is now easily driven through and is an incredibly beautiful landscape. This slideshow will not do them justice.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<embed type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" src=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf\" width=\"288\" height=\"192\" flashvars=\"host=picasaweb.google.com&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F107638235733347757198%2Falbumid%2F5648684325457534673%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US\" pluginspage=\"http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer\"></embed>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAt the end of the loop, we found ourselves in Wall, a town of some 800 people and home to the famous Wall Drug, where we decided to stop for lunch.  Wall Drug is definitely a tourist destination, and they know it.  While the ice water may be free and the coffee 5 cents, the food and wares are a bit more expensive.  The service was good (we got two free donuts because our order was delayed), but don’t stop at the Wall Cafe if you’re looking for a cheap or particular delicious lunch.  Dad thought he could find a nice western-style shirt, but to no avail.  After touring the various Wall stores, we got some ice cream and some ice, and headed back to the car.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-112\" title=\"102_1455\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-113\" title=\"102_1439\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114\" title=\"102_1441\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThe drive back from Wall took us on a dirt road through the southern part of the park, which is mostly grassland.  Since they were windy dirt roads, we were going slow; however, if you’re a giant tractor trailer, going 80+ and blowing dust on everyone is apparently OK.  They claim there are buffalo there, but all we saw were horses and cattle.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-115\" title=\"102_1474\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe arrived back to the campsite around 4 and each took some time to ourselves until dinner.  For dinner, I made veggie burgers, which even Dad thought were good.  We made Kiddish for the start of Shabbat, enjoyed our meal, and retired early.  It was windy that night (the candles were blown out pretty quick), but nothing compared to our previous experience in Mitchell, SD.  That was, until about midnight.\r\n\r\nThe tent began to shake, the walls were blowing in and out, and we thought the tent wouldn’t make it.  As we later learned, there were 60mph winds that night.  After the wind, there was a few minutes calm...a clam that turned out to be the proverbial calm before the storm.  What was a cloudless night had become a dark cloud that filled the sky.  That giant cloud also had an amazing lightning storm going on within it.  Picture a hollywood movie depiction of what the clouds might look like during the apocalypse, and you might have a good idea of what we saw outside our tent window.   Next thing we knew, the tent was being bombarded with what sounded like a heavy rain and powerful winds.  We were both trying to support the tent from the inside, and had to push back into place tent elbows when they buckled under the pressure.  We thought we were going to make it, but then we felt some water spraying in from the top of the tent, and it hit the sleeping bags, cots, and so we decided it was time to abandon ship and ride out the storm in the car.\r\n\r\nAs we exited the tent, I became aware that what was hitting the tent was not just rain, but also 1/4” size hail, enough to form a nice pile at the entrance of the tent.  Dad took some items to the car, and I raced to the bathroom (hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go).  In the bathroom, I found another refugee who had also abandoned his tent.  By the time we were done talking in the bathroom and heading back, the worst of the storm was over.  In the end, the storm lasted about 30 minutes, but felt like forever.\r\n\r\nRealizing our sleeping stuff would be wet, we tried to catch some sleep in the car.  Dad managed longer than I did.  After a few hours, I went back to the tent and made use of Dad’s relatively dry sleeping area. Dad got up around 4:40 and prepared for the day.  I came out around 5:30, running to the bathroom, and tripping over the guy wire.  By 6:15, daybreak had finally arrived and we were able to better assess our situation and conduct a forensic investigation of the tent.\r\n\r\nThe conclusion of the investigation was that an open flap that covered the mesh air vent at the top of the tent had been propped/held open.  It was unclear whether we had propped it up earlier or whether the wind had forced it up, but either way, it provided a clear entry point for the downpour and our prompt exit from the tent.  The investigation also showed that not a tent was spared from the rain, from the expensive REI tents to the basic dome tents, everyone either made due with a wet tent or went to their car.\r\n\r\nWhen the morning sun arrived, the clouds were gone and we were able to enjoy breakfast and leave the wet camping equipment out to dry, which it did in a couple hours.  Dad dried out the floor of the tent with paper towels and by 9am, I went back to sleep, while my dad did some reading.\r\n\r\nIf the storm had to happen, it happened on the best day, since Saturday/Shabbat are our rest days and so we didn’t need to break camp or be anywhere in particular.  Around noon, we were both up and headed over to three nearby trails.\r\n\r\nThe first trail was about half a mile and allowed for walking on top of and amongst the rock formations.  The second was a quarter mile walk along a boardwalk that led to a view of a large canyon formed by the erosion process.  The third was about a mile and half and was the most difficult of the three.  Most notably, climbing up and down a 30-40 rung ladder, at least 100’ tall, bolted to the side of a rock formation, and walking along a path with loose stones and a few feet from a cavernous drop.  We both were surprised that the park service allows hikes like these.  The end of this trail led to an amazing panorama of a huge swatch of the bad lands, both prairie and rock.  We took the advice of other hikers and went to an unmarked path near the end that led to another awe-inspiring view of the terrain.  We were definitely glad we choose these hikes.\r\n\r\nWe returned to the campsite around 4 to have lunch.  I made peanut butter and honey (and cheese on mine) sandwiches.  My Dad hadn’t had honey on his peanut butter before and enjoyed it.  Exhausted, we both went back to the tent and had a Shabbat nap.  There was still plenty of daylight when we woke up, so we journeyed over to the visitor center to see their exhibits about the park and check out the Indian teepees. We returned to the camp site and again took some time to ourselves.  I did some reading and went back to bed until sundown, and Dad relaxed for awhile and also re-organized the car.\r\n\r\nFor dinner, we decided to try out the instant-meals we had purchased.  One simply required boiling water, and the second required using a pouch that used a chemical reaction to create an oven-like effect.  Both were types of vegetarian lasagna.  The heat pouch ended up being the quickest and easiest to make, and was also the least expensive and most delicious.  However, the boiled water one allowed me to create a new alumnimum-foil contraption:  a protective wall to keep out the wind and contain the heat of the flame.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-116\" title=\"102_1490\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI’m glad to report that it worked great and we were able to finally boil water.  As for the meal it was going help create:  the parts that got cooked were good; however, I must not have mixed it throughly enough because there were pieces of pasta and seasoning that were still dry and crunch.  I think I’ll be able to do better when I make the pad thai meal from this manufacturer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA full stomach and the lack of a full nights sleep from the night before hit us and we both sacked out in the tent.  We hoped that the weather report of neither rain nor wind would hold true.  We were getting up early tomorrow to see Mt. Rushmore and arrive at the hot springs of Thermopolis, WY.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAll in all, our time in the Badlands have been an incredible experience.  Almost every turn around a corner brought into view an amazing panorama.  The extreme winds and rains of South Dakota were a memorable experience and provided a stress test of our tent.  Our multiple interactions with prairie dogs in “the wild” were the closest we’ve been to them.  It was nice spending Shabbat with my Dad amongst the beautiful landscapes.  For our first tourist destination, the Badlands have set the bar very high for our future travels.  They say the Badlands may be completely eroded in another 500,000 years, so if you have a chance, we recommend you check it out before it’s too late.', 'Day 4 & 5:  The Awe-full Badlands ', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '101-revision-7', '', '', '2011-09-05 04:20:37', '2011-09-05 04:20:37', '', 101, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=122', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(120, 2, '2011-09-05 04:19:11', '2011-09-05 04:19:11', 'Start: Mitchell, SD\r\nDestination:  Badlands National Park, Interior, SD\r\nOdometer: 103,062 (start) - 103,400 (end) 338 miles\r\nDate:  September 2nd and 3rd,  2011\r\n\r\nSouth Dakota….where the wind comes sweeping down the planes.  As mentioned about yesterday, the wind was quite strong while trying to cook dinner, but it was not enough to be of concern.  This changed around midnight that evening.  The Coleman tent is rather broad and will easily catch wind like a sail, even with the windows opened party way to let air through.  This fact mixed in with incredibly strong and constant winds, leads to quite a stress test of the tent.  The wind huffed, and it puffed, but while the walls of the tent flapped strongly and noisily in and out, the tent stood strong. (I tried getting pictures of the young, nearby trees bending in the wind but it was too dark.)  We were not going back to sleep, but hoped we would at least be able to lay down in an upright tent.  Finally, it happened: one of the corners came in on my Dad during a particularly strong wind.  Now, if this were a traditional tent, the likely reality would be that the tent pole had broken and we’d be in quite a predicament.  The instant tent however has elbow joints that go in and out.  The wind buckled that joint into the tent, but we were also able to push the joint back into place, without even having to leave the tent.  With a little help from its occupants during that incident, the tent was able to stand strong for the entire night.\r\n\r\nThe wind finally waned and we went back to sleep.  Then the morning rains arrived around 3am.  As before, the tent did not leak, but the noise of the rain hitting the tent made the rain sound much worse and woke us up.  I somehow fell back into a deep sleep, because the next thing I knew, it was around 5:30am, Dad was loading the car and I needed to get up so we could take down the tent.\r\n\r\nI have camped many times before, but I had never experienced winds like that.  As such, I am a skeptic regarding the need for the guy-wires of the tent.  More often than not, they are a tripping hazard and are rarely needed.  My Dad however strongly encouraged we follow all the setup requirements of the tent.  I’m glad he did.  Not only did the tent not blow away, but all of the stakes were still firmly in place.  I was sure at least some of them would have been pulled out by the winds.  I still believe those wires are a hazard, but they should not be neglected if you’re in an area capable of having strong winds.\r\n\r\nSo, we packed up the wet tent and hit the road around 6am heading to the Badlands on an empty stomach.  I took the wheel, and after surviving a turn into the oncoming traffic lane of a major road, we were on the highway that we would be taking straight across for around 200 miles.\r\n\r\nMy Dad would have just driven to the destination without breakfast, but I appreciate a meal in the morning, particularly after a minimal dinner the night before.  Fortunately, there was a rest stop early on where we could eat.  (I’m coming to have a greater appreciation for the need/value of those rest stops I’d ignore back home.)  I made peanut butter and honey sandwiches, and my Dad finished his cinnamon-raison bagels.  No longer hungry, we ventured on to what was our first, real tourist destination of the trip:  the Badlands of South Dakota.\r\n\r\nThe drive through South Dakota was a smooth drive, with corn and sunflower farms on the side, and signs for misc. Badlands attractions, particularly Wall Drug.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-103\" title=\"102_1264\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-104\" title=\"102_1261\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-105\" title=\"102_1269\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nMy Dad and I share a great attraction to Prairie Dogs.  They are just so cute and adorable.  So, you can imagine our excitement when just before arriving at the Badlands, we saw there was a prairie dog ranch that seemed as enamored as we.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-106\" title=\"102_1271\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nFor free, you can walk right up to the prairie dogs, who have little to now fear of people.  For 50 cents, you can buy a bag of peanuts and feed them (so they’ll stay by you and not snub their nose at your lack of an offering).  Try petting and getting this personal to a group of prairie dogs at the zoo.  We spent a fun thirty minutes playing with them, checking out their burrows, hearing their squeaks, and seeing their diversity (e.g. apparently there are white prairie dogs).\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-107\" title=\"102_1303\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-108\" title=\"102_1311\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe then headed for the Cedar Pass Campground at Badlands National Park to get settled in for our two day stay at the Badlands.  The sites and proximity of the sites to the bathrooms and water were nice, but the views the campground afforded were even better.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-110\" title=\"102_1318\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-111\" title=\"102_1322\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe had earlier gotten a test of the Badlands and were definitely wowed.  We wasted little time before getting back in the car to drive the scenic, roughly 50-mile Loop Road through the entire Badlands.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe had both heard of the Badlands, but honestly had little idea what they were. As we learned, the Badlands are the product of erosion over the past 500,000 years.  Millions of years ago, it was the floor of a warm, shallow sea, then it was a grassy flood plane, and now it’s grassland surrounded by a 50-mile “wall” of rock formations shaped by the immense rains and winds of the area.  It was an incredibly difficult area to travel, hence its name “bad lands”, but thanks to modern roads, is now easily driven through and is an incredibly beautiful landscape. This slideshow will not do them justice.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<table style=\"width:194px;\"><tr><td align=\"center\" style=\"height:194px;background:url(https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left\"><a href=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/107638235733347757198/Badlands?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite\"><img src=\"https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hyWQVVxxUB8/TmQod0s2ntE/AAAAAAAAAtk/LPcRBfBaqt0/s160-c/Badlands.jpg\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" style=\"margin:1px 0 0 4px;\"></a></td></tr><tr><td style=\"text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px\"><a href=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/107638235733347757198/Badlands?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite\" style=\"color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;\">Badlands</a></td></tr></table>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAt the end of the loop, we found ourselves in Wall, a town of some 800 people and home to the famous Wall Drug, where we decided to stop for lunch.  Wall Drug is definitely a tourist destination, and they know it.  While the ice water may be free and the coffee 5 cents, the food and wares are a bit more expensive.  The service was good (we got two free donuts because our order was delayed), but don’t stop at the Wall Cafe if you’re looking for a cheap or particular delicious lunch.  Dad thought he could find a nice western-style shirt, but to no avail.  After touring the various Wall stores, we got some ice cream and some ice, and headed back to the car.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-112\" title=\"102_1455\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-113\" title=\"102_1439\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114\" title=\"102_1441\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThe drive back from Wall took us on a dirt road through the southern part of the park, which is mostly grassland.  Since they were windy dirt roads, we were going slow; however, if you’re a giant tractor trailer, going 80+ and blowing dust on everyone is apparently OK.  They claim there are buffalo there, but all we saw were horses and cattle.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-115\" title=\"102_1474\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe arrived back to the campsite around 4 and each took some time to ourselves until dinner.  For dinner, I made veggie burgers, which even Dad thought were good.  We made Kiddish for the start of Shabbat, enjoyed our meal, and retired early.  It was windy that night (the candles were blown out pretty quick), but nothing compared to our previous experience in Mitchell, SD.  That was, until about midnight.\r\n\r\nThe tent began to shake, the walls were blowing in and out, and we thought the tent wouldn’t make it.  As we later learned, there were 60mph winds that night.  After the wind, there was a few minutes calm...a clam that turned out to be the proverbial calm before the storm.  What was a cloudless night had become a dark cloud that filled the sky.  That giant cloud also had an amazing lightning storm going on within it.  Picture a hollywood movie depiction of what the clouds might look like during the apocalypse, and you might have a good idea of what we saw outside our tent window.   Next thing we knew, the tent was being bombarded with what sounded like a heavy rain and powerful winds.  We were both trying to support the tent from the inside, and had to push back into place tent elbows when they buckled under the pressure.  We thought we were going to make it, but then we felt some water spraying in from the top of the tent, and it hit the sleeping bags, cots, and so we decided it was time to abandon ship and ride out the storm in the car.\r\n\r\nAs we exited the tent, I became aware that what was hitting the tent was not just rain, but also 1/4” size hail, enough to form a nice pile at the entrance of the tent.  Dad took some items to the car, and I raced to the bathroom (hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go).  In the bathroom, I found another refugee who had also abandoned his tent.  By the time we were done talking in the bathroom and heading back, the worst of the storm was over.  In the end, the storm lasted about 30 minutes, but felt like forever.\r\n\r\nRealizing our sleeping stuff would be wet, we tried to catch some sleep in the car.  Dad managed longer than I did.  After a few hours, I went back to the tent and made use of Dad’s relatively dry sleeping area. Dad got up around 4:40 and prepared for the day.  I came out around 5:30, running to the bathroom, and tripping over the guy wire.  By 6:15, daybreak had finally arrived and we were able to better assess our situation and conduct a forensic investigation of the tent.\r\n\r\nThe conclusion of the investigation was that an open flap that covered the mesh air vent at the top of the tent had been propped/held open.  It was unclear whether we had propped it up earlier or whether the wind had forced it up, but either way, it provided a clear entry point for the downpour and our prompt exit from the tent.  The investigation also showed that not a tent was spared from the rain, from the expensive REI tents to the basic dome tents, everyone either made due with a wet tent or went to their car.\r\n\r\nWhen the morning sun arrived, the clouds were gone and we were able to enjoy breakfast and leave the wet camping equipment out to dry, which it did in a couple hours.  Dad dried out the floor of the tent with paper towels and by 9am, I went back to sleep, while my dad did some reading.\r\n\r\nIf the storm had to happen, it happened on the best day, since Saturday/Shabbat are our rest days and so we didn’t need to break camp or be anywhere in particular.  Around noon, we were both up and headed over to three nearby trails.\r\n\r\nThe first trail was about half a mile and allowed for walking on top of and amongst the rock formations.  The second was a quarter mile walk along a boardwalk that led to a view of a large canyon formed by the erosion process.  The third was about a mile and half and was the most difficult of the three.  Most notably, climbing up and down a 30-40 rung ladder, at least 100’ tall, bolted to the side of a rock formation, and walking along a path with loose stones and a few feet from a cavernous drop.  We both were surprised that the park service allows hikes like these.  The end of this trail led to an amazing panorama of a huge swatch of the bad lands, both prairie and rock.  We took the advice of other hikers and went to an unmarked path near the end that led to another awe-inspiring view of the terrain.  We were definitely glad we choose these hikes.\r\n\r\nWe returned to the campsite around 4 to have lunch.  I made peanut butter and honey (and cheese on mine) sandwiches.  My Dad hadn’t had honey on his peanut butter before and enjoyed it.  Exhausted, we both went back to the tent and had a Shabbat nap.  There was still plenty of daylight when we woke up, so we journeyed over to the visitor center to see their exhibits about the park and check out the Indian teepees. We returned to the camp site and again took some time to ourselves.  I did some reading and went back to bed until sundown, and Dad relaxed for awhile and also re-organized the car.\r\n\r\nFor dinner, we decided to try out the instant-meals we had purchased.  One simply required boiling water, and the second required using a pouch that used a chemical reaction to create an oven-like effect.  Both were types of vegetarian lasagna.  The heat pouch ended up being the quickest and easiest to make, and was also the least expensive and most delicious.  However, the boiled water one allowed me to create a new alumnimum-foil contraption:  a protective wall to keep out the wind and contain the heat of the flame.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-116\" title=\"102_1490\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI’m glad to report that it worked great and we were able to finally boil water.  As for the meal it was going help create:  the parts that got cooked were good; however, I must not have mixed it throughly enough because there were pieces of pasta and seasoning that were still dry and crunch.  I think I’ll be able to do better when I make the pad thai meal from this manufacturer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA full stomach and the lack of a full nights sleep from the night before hit us and we both sacked out in the tent.  We hoped that the weather report of neither rain nor wind would hold true.  We were getting up early tomorrow to see Mt. Rushmore and arrive at the hot springs of Thermopolis, WY.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAll in all, our time in the Badlands have been an incredible experience.  Almost every turn around a corner brought into view an amazing panorama.  The extreme winds and rains of South Dakota were a memorable experience and provided a stress test of our tent.  Our multiple interactions with prairie dogs in “the wild” were the closest we’ve been to them.  It was nice spending Shabbat with my Dad amongst the beautiful landscapes.  For our first tourist destination, the Badlands have set the bar very high for our future travels.  They say the Badlands may be completely eroded in another 500,000 years, so if you have a chance, we recommend you check it out before it’s too late.', 'Day 4 & 5:  The Awe-full Badlands ', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '101-revision-5', '', '', '2011-09-05 04:19:11', '2011-09-05 04:19:11', '', 101, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=120', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
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(121, 2, '2011-09-05 04:19:27', '2011-09-05 04:19:27', 'Start: Mitchell, SD\r\nDestination:  Badlands National Park, Interior, SD\r\nOdometer: 103,062 (start) - 103,400 (end) 338 miles\r\nDate:  September 2nd and 3rd,  2011\r\n\r\nSouth Dakota….where the wind comes sweeping down the planes.  As mentioned about yesterday, the wind was quite strong while trying to cook dinner, but it was not enough to be of concern.  This changed around midnight that evening.  The Coleman tent is rather broad and will easily catch wind like a sail, even with the windows opened party way to let air through.  This fact mixed in with incredibly strong and constant winds, leads to quite a stress test of the tent.  The wind huffed, and it puffed, but while the walls of the tent flapped strongly and noisily in and out, the tent stood strong. (I tried getting pictures of the young, nearby trees bending in the wind but it was too dark.)  We were not going back to sleep, but hoped we would at least be able to lay down in an upright tent.  Finally, it happened: one of the corners came in on my Dad during a particularly strong wind.  Now, if this were a traditional tent, the likely reality would be that the tent pole had broken and we’d be in quite a predicament.  The instant tent however has elbow joints that go in and out.  The wind buckled that joint into the tent, but we were also able to push the joint back into place, without even having to leave the tent.  With a little help from its occupants during that incident, the tent was able to stand strong for the entire night.\r\n\r\nThe wind finally waned and we went back to sleep.  Then the morning rains arrived around 3am.  As before, the tent did not leak, but the noise of the rain hitting the tent made the rain sound much worse and woke us up.  I somehow fell back into a deep sleep, because the next thing I knew, it was around 5:30am, Dad was loading the car and I needed to get up so we could take down the tent.\r\n\r\nI have camped many times before, but I had never experienced winds like that.  As such, I am a skeptic regarding the need for the guy-wires of the tent.  More often than not, they are a tripping hazard and are rarely needed.  My Dad however strongly encouraged we follow all the setup requirements of the tent.  I’m glad he did.  Not only did the tent not blow away, but all of the stakes were still firmly in place.  I was sure at least some of them would have been pulled out by the winds.  I still believe those wires are a hazard, but they should not be neglected if you’re in an area capable of having strong winds.\r\n\r\nSo, we packed up the wet tent and hit the road around 6am heading to the Badlands on an empty stomach.  I took the wheel, and after surviving a turn into the oncoming traffic lane of a major road, we were on the highway that we would be taking straight across for around 200 miles.\r\n\r\nMy Dad would have just driven to the destination without breakfast, but I appreciate a meal in the morning, particularly after a minimal dinner the night before.  Fortunately, there was a rest stop early on where we could eat.  (I’m coming to have a greater appreciation for the need/value of those rest stops I’d ignore back home.)  I made peanut butter and honey sandwiches, and my Dad finished his cinnamon-raison bagels.  No longer hungry, we ventured on to what was our first, real tourist destination of the trip:  the Badlands of South Dakota.\r\n\r\nThe drive through South Dakota was a smooth drive, with corn and sunflower farms on the side, and signs for misc. Badlands attractions, particularly Wall Drug.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-103\" title=\"102_1264\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-104\" title=\"102_1261\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-105\" title=\"102_1269\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nMy Dad and I share a great attraction to Prairie Dogs.  They are just so cute and adorable.  So, you can imagine our excitement when just before arriving at the Badlands, we saw there was a prairie dog ranch that seemed as enamored as we.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-106\" title=\"102_1271\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nFor free, you can walk right up to the prairie dogs, who have little to now fear of people.  For 50 cents, you can buy a bag of peanuts and feed them (so they’ll stay by you and not snub their nose at your lack of an offering).  Try petting and getting this personal to a group of prairie dogs at the zoo.  We spent a fun thirty minutes playing with them, checking out their burrows, hearing their squeaks, and seeing their diversity (e.g. apparently there are white prairie dogs).\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-107\" title=\"102_1303\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-108\" title=\"102_1311\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe then headed for the Cedar Pass Campground at Badlands National Park to get settled in for our two day stay at the Badlands.  The sites and proximity of the sites to the bathrooms and water were nice, but the views the campground afforded were even better.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-110\" title=\"102_1318\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-111\" title=\"102_1322\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe had earlier gotten a test of the Badlands and were definitely wowed.  We wasted little time before getting back in the car to drive the scenic, roughly 50-mile Loop Road through the entire Badlands.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe had both heard of the Badlands, but honestly had little idea what they were. As we learned, the Badlands are the product of erosion over the past 500,000 years.  Millions of years ago, it was the floor of a warm, shallow sea, then it was a grassy flood plane, and now it’s grassland surrounded by a 50-mile “wall” of rock formations shaped by the immense rains and winds of the area.  It was an incredibly difficult area to travel, hence its name “bad lands”, but thanks to modern roads, is now easily driven through and is an incredibly beautiful landscape. This slideshow will not do them justice.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<table style=\"width:194px;\"><tr><td align=\"center\" style=\"height:194px;background:url(https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left\"><a href=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/107638235733347757198/Badlands?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite\"><img src=\"https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hyWQVVxxUB8/TmQod0s2ntE/AAAAAAAAAtk/LPcRBfBaqt0/s160-c/Badlands.jpg\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" style=\"margin:1px 0 0 4px;\"></a></td></tr><tr><td style=\"text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px\"><a href=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/107638235733347757198/Badlands?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite\" style=\"color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;\">Badlands</a></td></tr></table>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAt the end of the loop, we found ourselves in Wall, a town of some 800 people and home to the famous Wall Drug, where we decided to stop for lunch.  Wall Drug is definitely a tourist destination, and they know it.  While the ice water may be free and the coffee 5 cents, the food and wares are a bit more expensive.  The service was good (we got two free donuts because our order was delayed), but don’t stop at the Wall Cafe if you’re looking for a cheap or particular delicious lunch.  Dad thought he could find a nice western-style shirt, but to no avail.  After touring the various Wall stores, we got some ice cream and some ice, and headed back to the car.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-112\" title=\"102_1455\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-113\" title=\"102_1439\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114\" title=\"102_1441\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThe drive back from Wall took us on a dirt road through the southern part of the park, which is mostly grassland.  Since they were windy dirt roads, we were going slow; however, if you’re a giant tractor trailer, going 80+ and blowing dust on everyone is apparently OK.  They claim there are buffalo there, but all we saw were horses and cattle.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-115\" title=\"102_1474\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe arrived back to the campsite around 4 and each took some time to ourselves until dinner.  For dinner, I made veggie burgers, which even Dad thought were good.  We made Kiddish for the start of Shabbat, enjoyed our meal, and retired early.  It was windy that night (the candles were blown out pretty quick), but nothing compared to our previous experience in Mitchell, SD.  That was, until about midnight.\r\n\r\nThe tent began to shake, the walls were blowing in and out, and we thought the tent wouldn’t make it.  As we later learned, there were 60mph winds that night.  After the wind, there was a few minutes calm...a clam that turned out to be the proverbial calm before the storm.  What was a cloudless night had become a dark cloud that filled the sky.  That giant cloud also had an amazing lightning storm going on within it.  Picture a hollywood movie depiction of what the clouds might look like during the apocalypse, and you might have a good idea of what we saw outside our tent window.   Next thing we knew, the tent was being bombarded with what sounded like a heavy rain and powerful winds.  We were both trying to support the tent from the inside, and had to push back into place tent elbows when they buckled under the pressure.  We thought we were going to make it, but then we felt some water spraying in from the top of the tent, and it hit the sleeping bags, cots, and so we decided it was time to abandon ship and ride out the storm in the car.\r\n\r\nAs we exited the tent, I became aware that what was hitting the tent was not just rain, but also 1/4” size hail, enough to form a nice pile at the entrance of the tent.  Dad took some items to the car, and I raced to the bathroom (hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go).  In the bathroom, I found another refugee who had also abandoned his tent.  By the time we were done talking in the bathroom and heading back, the worst of the storm was over.  In the end, the storm lasted about 30 minutes, but felt like forever.\r\n\r\nRealizing our sleeping stuff would be wet, we tried to catch some sleep in the car.  Dad managed longer than I did.  After a few hours, I went back to the tent and made use of Dad’s relatively dry sleeping area. Dad got up around 4:40 and prepared for the day.  I came out around 5:30, running to the bathroom, and tripping over the guy wire.  By 6:15, daybreak had finally arrived and we were able to better assess our situation and conduct a forensic investigation of the tent.\r\n\r\nThe conclusion of the investigation was that an open flap that covered the mesh air vent at the top of the tent had been propped/held open.  It was unclear whether we had propped it up earlier or whether the wind had forced it up, but either way, it provided a clear entry point for the downpour and our prompt exit from the tent.  The investigation also showed that not a tent was spared from the rain, from the expensive REI tents to the basic dome tents, everyone either made due with a wet tent or went to their car.\r\n\r\nWhen the morning sun arrived, the clouds were gone and we were able to enjoy breakfast and leave the wet camping equipment out to dry, which it did in a couple hours.  Dad dried out the floor of the tent with paper towels and by 9am, I went back to sleep, while my dad did some reading.\r\n\r\nIf the storm had to happen, it happened on the best day, since Saturday/Shabbat are our rest days and so we didn’t need to break camp or be anywhere in particular.  Around noon, we were both up and headed over to three nearby trails.\r\n\r\nThe first trail was about half a mile and allowed for walking on top of and amongst the rock formations.  The second was a quarter mile walk along a boardwalk that led to a view of a large canyon formed by the erosion process.  The third was about a mile and half and was the most difficult of the three.  Most notably, climbing up and down a 30-40 rung ladder, at least 100’ tall, bolted to the side of a rock formation, and walking along a path with loose stones and a few feet from a cavernous drop.  We both were surprised that the park service allows hikes like these.  The end of this trail led to an amazing panorama of a huge swatch of the bad lands, both prairie and rock.  We took the advice of other hikers and went to an unmarked path near the end that led to another awe-inspiring view of the terrain.  We were definitely glad we choose these hikes.\r\n\r\nWe returned to the campsite around 4 to have lunch.  I made peanut butter and honey (and cheese on mine) sandwiches.  My Dad hadn’t had honey on his peanut butter before and enjoyed it.  Exhausted, we both went back to the tent and had a Shabbat nap.  There was still plenty of daylight when we woke up, so we journeyed over to the visitor center to see their exhibits about the park and check out the Indian teepees. We returned to the camp site and again took some time to ourselves.  I did some reading and went back to bed until sundown, and Dad relaxed for awhile and also re-organized the car.\r\n\r\nFor dinner, we decided to try out the instant-meals we had purchased.  One simply required boiling water, and the second required using a pouch that used a chemical reaction to create an oven-like effect.  Both were types of vegetarian lasagna.  The heat pouch ended up being the quickest and easiest to make, and was also the least expensive and most delicious.  However, the boiled water one allowed me to create a new alumnimum-foil contraption:  a protective wall to keep out the wind and contain the heat of the flame.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-116\" title=\"102_1490\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI’m glad to report that it worked great and we were able to finally boil water.  As for the meal it was going help create:  the parts that got cooked were good; however, I must not have mixed it throughly enough because there were pieces of pasta and seasoning that were still dry and crunch.  I think I’ll be able to do better when I make the pad thai meal from this manufacturer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA full stomach and the lack of a full nights sleep from the night before hit us and we both sacked out in the tent.  We hoped that the weather report of neither rain nor wind would hold true.  We were getting up early tomorrow to see Mt. Rushmore and arrive at the hot springs of Thermopolis, WY.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAll in all, our time in the Badlands have been an incredible experience.  Almost every turn around a corner brought into view an amazing panorama.  The extreme winds and rains of South Dakota were a memorable experience and provided a stress test of our tent.  Our multiple interactions with prairie dogs in “the wild” were the closest we’ve been to them.  It was nice spending Shabbat with my Dad amongst the beautiful landscapes.  For our first tourist destination, the Badlands have set the bar very high for our future travels.  They say the Badlands may be completely eroded in another 500,000 years, so if you have a chance, we recommend you check it out before it’s too late.', 'Day 4 & 5:  The Awe-full Badlands ', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '101-revision-6', '', '', '2011-09-05 04:19:27', '2011-09-05 04:19:27', '', 101, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=121', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(123, 2, '2011-09-05 04:20:55', '2011-09-05 04:20:55', 'Start: Mitchell, SD\r\nDestination:  Badlands National Park, Interior, SD\r\nOdometer: 103,062 (start) - 103,400 (end) 338 miles\r\nDate:  September 2nd and 3rd,  2011\r\n\r\nSouth Dakota….where the wind comes sweeping down the planes.  As mentioned about yesterday, the wind was quite strong while trying to cook dinner, but it was not enough to be of concern.  This changed around midnight that evening.  The Coleman tent is rather broad and will easily catch wind like a sail, even with the windows opened party way to let air through.  This fact mixed in with incredibly strong and constant winds, leads to quite a stress test of the tent.  The wind huffed, and it puffed, but while the walls of the tent flapped strongly and noisily in and out, the tent stood strong. (I tried getting pictures of the young, nearby trees bending in the wind but it was too dark.)  We were not going back to sleep, but hoped we would at least be able to lay down in an upright tent.  Finally, it happened: one of the corners came in on my Dad during a particularly strong wind.  Now, if this were a traditional tent, the likely reality would be that the tent pole had broken and we’d be in quite a predicament.  The instant tent however has elbow joints that go in and out.  The wind buckled that joint into the tent, but we were also able to push the joint back into place, without even having to leave the tent.  With a little help from its occupants during that incident, the tent was able to stand strong for the entire night.\r\n\r\nThe wind finally waned and we went back to sleep.  Then the morning rains arrived around 3am.  As before, the tent did not leak, but the noise of the rain hitting the tent made the rain sound much worse and woke us up.  I somehow fell back into a deep sleep, because the next thing I knew, it was around 5:30am, Dad was loading the car and I needed to get up so we could take down the tent.\r\n\r\nI have camped many times before, but I had never experienced winds like that.  As such, I am a skeptic regarding the need for the guy-wires of the tent.  More often than not, they are a tripping hazard and are rarely needed.  My Dad however strongly encouraged we follow all the setup requirements of the tent.  I’m glad he did.  Not only did the tent not blow away, but all of the stakes were still firmly in place.  I was sure at least some of them would have been pulled out by the winds.  I still believe those wires are a hazard, but they should not be neglected if you’re in an area capable of having strong winds.\r\n\r\nSo, we packed up the wet tent and hit the road around 6am heading to the Badlands on an empty stomach.  I took the wheel, and after surviving a turn into the oncoming traffic lane of a major road, we were on the highway that we would be taking straight across for around 200 miles.\r\n\r\nMy Dad would have just driven to the destination without breakfast, but I appreciate a meal in the morning, particularly after a minimal dinner the night before.  Fortunately, there was a rest stop early on where we could eat.  (I’m coming to have a greater appreciation for the need/value of those rest stops I’d ignore back home.)  I made peanut butter and honey sandwiches, and my Dad finished his cinnamon-raison bagels.  No longer hungry, we ventured on to what was our first, real tourist destination of the trip:  the Badlands of South Dakota.\r\n\r\nThe drive through South Dakota was a smooth drive, with corn and sunflower farms on the side, and signs for misc. Badlands attractions, particularly Wall Drug.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-103\" title=\"102_1264\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-104\" title=\"102_1261\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-105\" title=\"102_1269\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nMy Dad and I share a great attraction to Prairie Dogs.  They are just so cute and adorable.  So, you can imagine our excitement when just before arriving at the Badlands, we saw there was a prairie dog ranch that seemed as enamored as we.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-106\" title=\"102_1271\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nFor free, you can walk right up to the prairie dogs, who have little to now fear of people.  For 50 cents, you can buy a bag of peanuts and feed them (so they’ll stay by you and not snub their nose at your lack of an offering).  Try petting and getting this personal to a group of prairie dogs at the zoo.  We spent a fun thirty minutes playing with them, checking out their burrows, hearing their squeaks, and seeing their diversity (e.g. apparently there are white prairie dogs).\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-107\" title=\"102_1303\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-108\" title=\"102_1311\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe then headed for the Cedar Pass Campground at Badlands National Park to get settled in for our two day stay at the Badlands.  The sites and proximity of the sites to the bathrooms and water were nice, but the views the campground afforded were even better.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-110\" title=\"102_1318\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-111\" title=\"102_1322\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe had earlier gotten a test of the Badlands and were definitely wowed.  We wasted little time before getting back in the car to drive the scenic, roughly 50-mile Loop Road through the entire Badlands.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe had both heard of the Badlands, but honestly had little idea what they were. As we learned, the Badlands are the product of erosion over the past 500,000 years.  Millions of years ago, it was the floor of a warm, shallow sea, then it was a grassy flood plane, and now it’s grassland surrounded by a 50-mile “wall” of rock formations shaped by the immense rains and winds of the area.  It was an incredibly difficult area to travel, hence its name “bad lands”, but thanks to modern roads, is now easily driven through and is an incredibly beautiful landscape. This slideshow will not do them justice.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<embed type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" src=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf\" width=\"288\" height=\"192\" flashvars=\"host=picasaweb.google.com&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F107638235733347757198%2Falbumid%2F5648684325457534673%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US\" pluginspage=\"http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer\"></embed>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAt the end of the loop, we found ourselves in Wall, a town of some 800 people and home to the famous Wall Drug, where we decided to stop for lunch.  Wall Drug is definitely a tourist destination, and they know it.  While the ice water may be free and the coffee 5 cents, the food and wares are a bit more expensive.  The service was good (we got two free donuts because our order was delayed), but don’t stop at the Wall Cafe if you’re looking for a cheap or particular delicious lunch.  Dad thought he could find a nice western-style shirt, but to no avail.  After touring the various Wall stores, we got some ice cream and some ice, and headed back to the car.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-112\" title=\"102_1455\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-113\" title=\"102_1439\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114\" title=\"102_1441\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThe drive back from Wall took us on a dirt road through the southern part of the park, which is mostly grassland.  Since they were windy dirt roads, we were going slow; however, if you’re a giant tractor trailer, going 80+ and blowing dust on everyone is apparently OK.  They claim there are buffalo there, but all we saw were horses and cattle.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-115\" title=\"102_1474\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe arrived back to the campsite around 4 and each took some time to ourselves until dinner.  For dinner, I made veggie burgers, which even Dad thought were good.  We made Kiddish for the start of Shabbat, enjoyed our meal, and retired early.  It was windy that night (the candles were blown out pretty quick), but nothing compared to our previous experience in Mitchell, SD.  That was, until about midnight.\r\n\r\nThe tent began to shake, the walls were blowing in and out, and we thought the tent wouldn’t make it.  As we later learned, there were 60mph winds that night.  After the wind, there was a few minutes calm...a clam that turned out to be the proverbial calm before the storm.  What was a cloudless night had become a dark cloud that filled the sky.  That giant cloud also had an amazing lightning storm going on within it.  Picture a hollywood movie depiction of what the clouds might look like during the apocalypse, and you might have a good idea of what we saw outside our tent window.   Next thing we knew, the tent was being bombarded with what sounded like a heavy rain and powerful winds.  We were both trying to support the tent from the inside, and had to push back into place tent elbows when they buckled under the pressure.  We thought we were going to make it, but then we felt some water spraying in from the top of the tent, and it hit the sleeping bags, cots, and so we decided it was time to abandon ship and ride out the storm in the car.\r\n\r\nAs we exited the tent, I became aware that what was hitting the tent was not just rain, but also 1/4” size hail, enough to form a nice pile at the entrance of the tent.  Dad took some items to the car, and I raced to the bathroom (hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go).  In the bathroom, I found another refugee who had also abandoned his tent.  By the time we were done talking in the bathroom and heading back, the worst of the storm was over.  In the end, the storm lasted about 30 minutes, but felt like forever.\r\n\r\nRealizing our sleeping stuff would be wet, we tried to catch some sleep in the car.  Dad managed longer than I did.  After a few hours, I went back to the tent and made use of Dad’s relatively dry sleeping area. Dad got up around 4:40 and prepared for the day.  I came out around 5:30, running to the bathroom, and tripping over the guy wire.  By 6:15, daybreak had finally arrived and we were able to better assess our situation and conduct a forensic investigation of the tent.\r\n\r\nThe conclusion of the investigation was that an open flap that covered the mesh air vent at the top of the tent had been propped/held open.  It was unclear whether we had propped it up earlier or whether the wind had forced it up, but either way, it provided a clear entry point for the downpour and our prompt exit from the tent.  The investigation also showed that not a tent was spared from the rain, from the expensive REI tents to the basic dome tents, everyone either made due with a wet tent or went to their car.\r\n\r\nWhen the morning sun arrived, the clouds were gone and we were able to enjoy breakfast and leave the wet camping equipment out to dry, which it did in a couple hours.  Dad dried out the floor of the tent with paper towels and by 9am, I went back to sleep, while my dad did some reading.\r\n\r\nIf the storm had to happen, it happened on the best day, since Saturday/Shabbat are our rest days and so we didn’t need to break camp or be anywhere in particular.  Around noon, we were both up and headed over to three nearby trails.\r\n\r\nThe first trail was about half a mile and allowed for walking on top of and amongst the rock formations.  The second was a quarter mile walk along a boardwalk that led to a view of a large canyon formed by the erosion process.  The third was about a mile and half and was the most difficult of the three.  Most notably, climbing up and down a 30-40 rung ladder, at least 100’ tall, bolted to the side of a rock formation, and walking along a path with loose stones and a few feet from a cavernous drop.  We both were surprised that the park service allows hikes like these.  The end of this trail led to an amazing panorama of a huge swatch of the bad lands, both prairie and rock.  We took the advice of other hikers and went to an unmarked path near the end that led to another awe-inspiring view of the terrain.  We were definitely glad we choose these hikes.\r\n\r\nWe returned to the campsite around 4 to have lunch.  I made peanut butter and honey (and cheese on mine) sandwiches.  My Dad hadn’t had honey on his peanut butter before and enjoyed it.  Exhausted, we both went back to the tent and had a Shabbat nap.  There was still plenty of daylight when we woke up, so we journeyed over to the visitor center to see their exhibits about the park and check out the Indian teepees. We returned to the camp site and again took some time to ourselves.  I did some reading and went back to bed until sundown, and Dad relaxed for awhile and also re-organized the car.\r\n\r\nFor dinner, we decided to try out the instant-meals we had purchased.  One simply required boiling water, and the second required using a pouch that used a chemical reaction to create an oven-like effect.  Both were types of vegetarian lasagna.  The heat pouch ended up being the quickest and easiest to make, and was also the least expensive and most delicious.  However, the boiled water one allowed me to create a new alumnimum-foil contraption:  a protective wall to keep out the wind and contain the heat of the flame.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-116\" title=\"102_1490\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI’m glad to report that it worked great and we were able to finally boil water.  As for the meal it was going help create:  the parts that got cooked were good; however, I must not have mixed it throughly enough because there were pieces of pasta and seasoning that were still dry and crunch.  I think I’ll be able to do better when I make the pad thai meal from this manufacturer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA full stomach and the lack of a full nights sleep from the night before hit us and we both sacked out in the tent.  We hoped that the weather report of neither rain nor wind would hold true.  We were getting up early tomorrow to see Mt. Rushmore and arrive at the hot springs of Thermopolis, WY.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAll in all, our time in the Badlands have been an incredible experience.  Almost every turn around a corner brought into view an amazing panorama.  The extreme winds and rains of South Dakota were a memorable experience and provided a stress test of our tent.  Our multiple interactions with prairie dogs in “the wild” were the closest we’ve been to them.  It was nice spending Shabbat with my Dad amongst the beautiful landscapes.  For our first tourist destination, the Badlands have set the bar very high for our future travels.  They say the Badlands may be completely eroded in another 500,000 years, so if you have a chance, we recommend you check it out before it’s too late.', 'Day 4 & 5:  The Awe-full Badlands ', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '101-revision-8', '', '', '2011-09-05 04:20:55', '2011-09-05 04:20:55', '', 101, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=123', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
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(126, 2, '2011-09-06 00:48:35', '2011-09-06 00:48:35', 'Start: Mitchell, SD\nDestination:  Badlands National Park, Interior, SD\nOdometer: 103,062 (start) - 103,400 (end) 338 miles\nDate:  Friday, September 2nd - Saturday, September 3rd,  2011\n\nSouth Dakota….where the wind comes sweeping down the planes.  As mentioned yesterday, the wind was quite strong while trying to cook dinner, but it was not enough to raise our concern.  This changed around midnight that evening.  The Coleman tent is rather broad and will easily catch wind like a sail, even with the windows opened part way to let air through.  This fact, mixed in with incredibly strong and constant winds, leads to quite a stress test of the tent.  The wind huffed, and it puffed, but while the walls of the tent flapped strongly and noisily in and out, the tent stood strong. (I tried getting pictures of the young, nearby trees bending in the wind but it was too dark.)  We were not going back to sleep, but hoped we would at least be able to lay down in an upright tent.  Finally, it happened: one of the corners of the tent came in on my Dad during a particularly strong wind.  Now, if this were a traditional tent, the likely reality would be that the tent pole had broken and we’d be in quite a predicament.  The instant tent however has elbow joints that go in and out.  The wind buckled that joint into the tent, but we were also able to push the joint back into place, without even having to leave the tent.  With a little help from its occupants during that incident, the tent was able to stand strong for the entire night.  The wind finally waned and we went back to sleep.\n\nThen the morning rains arrived around 3am.  As before, the tent did not leak, but the noise of the rain hitting the tent made the rain sound much worse and woke us up.  I somehow fell back into a deep sleep, because the next thing I knew, it was around 5:30am, Dad was loading the car and I needed to get up so we could take down the tent.\n\nI have camped many times before, but I had never experienced winds like that.  As such, I am a skeptic regarding the need for the guy-wires of the tent.  More often than not, they are a tripping hazard and are rarely needed.  My Dad however strongly encouraged we follow all the setup requirements of the tent.  I’m glad he did.  Not only did the tent not blow away, but all of the stakes were still firmly in place.  I was sure at least some of them would have been pulled out by the winds.  I still believe those wires are a hazard, but they should not be neglected if you’re in an area capable of having strong winds.\n\nBy 6am, we had packed up the wet tent and were on the road heading to the Badlands, but on an empty stomach.  I took the wheel, and after surviving a turn into the oncoming traffic lane of a major road, we were on the highway that we would be taking straight across the state for around 200 miles.\n\nMy Dad would have just driven to the destination without breakfast, but I appreciate a meal in the morning, particularly after a minimal dinner the night before.  Fortunately, there was a rest stop early on where we could eat.  (I’m coming to have a greater appreciation for the need/value of those rest stops I’d ignore back home.)  I made peanut butter and honey sandwiches, and my Dad finished his cinnamon-raison bagels.  No longer hungry, we ventured on to what was our first, real tourist destination of the trip:  the Badlands of South Dakota.\n\nThe drive through South Dakota was a smooth drive, with corn and sunflower farms on the side, and signs for misc. Badlands attractions, particularly Wall Drug.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-103\" title=\"102_1264\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-104\" title=\"102_1261\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-105\" title=\"102_1269\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\n\nMy Dad and I share a great attraction for Prairie Dogs.  They are just so cute and adorable.  So, you can imagine our excitement when just before arriving at the Badlands, we saw there was a prairie dog ranch that seemed more enamored with them than we are.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-106\" title=\"102_1271\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\nFor free, you can walk right up to the prairie dogs, who have little to no fear of people.  For 50 cents, you can buy a bag of peanuts and feed them (so they’ll stay by you and not snub their nose at your lack of an offering).  Try petting and getting this personal to a group of prairie dogs at the zoo.  We spent a fun thirty minutes playing with them, checking out their burrows, hearing their squeaks, and seeing their diversity (e.g. apparently there are white prairie dogs).\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-107\" title=\"102_1303\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-108\" title=\"102_1311\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe then headed for the Cedar Pass Campground at Badlands National Park to get settled in for our two day stay at the Badlands.  The sites and proximity of the sites to the bathrooms and water were nice, but the views the campground afforded were even better.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-110\" title=\"102_1318\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-111\" title=\"102_1322\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe had gotten a test of the Badlands hen we entered the park, and were definitely wowed.  We wasted little time before getting back in the car to drive the scenic, roughly 50-mile Loop Road through the outer “wall” of the Badlands.\n\nWe had both heard of the Badlands, but honestly had little idea what they were. As we learned, the Badlands are the product of erosion over the past 500,000 years.  Millions of years ago, it was the floor of a warm, shallow sea, then it was a grassy flood plane, and now it’s grassland surrounded by a 50-mile “wall” of rock formations shaped by the immense rains and winds of the area.  It was an incredibly difficult area to travel, hence its name “bad lands”, but thanks to modern roads, is now easily driven through and is an incredibly beautiful landscape.  <a href=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/107638235733347757198/Badlands?authuser=0&amp;feat=directlink#slideshow/5648684398686263538\" target=\"_blank\">This slideshow</a> will not do them justice.\n\n\n\nAt the end of the loop, we found ourselves in Wall, a town of some 800 people and home to the famous Wall Drug, where we decided to stop for lunch.  Wall Drug is definitely a tourist destination, and they know it.  While the ice water may be free and the coffee 5 cents, the food and wares are a bit more expensive.  The service was good (we got two free donuts because our order was delayed), but don’t stop at the Wall Cafe if you’re looking for a cheap or particular delicious lunch.  Dad thought he could find a nice western-style shirt, but to no avail.  After touring the various Wall stores, we got some ice cream and some ice, and headed back to the car.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-112\" title=\"102_1455\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-113\" title=\"102_1439\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114\" title=\"102_1441\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nThe drive back from Wall took us on a dirt road through the southern part of the park, which is mostly grassland.  Since they were windy, dirt roads, we were going slow; however, if you’re a giant tractor trailer, going 80+ and blowing dust on everyone is apparently OK.  They claim there are buffalo there, but all we saw were horses and cattle.  This leg of the drive did not leave that great an impression.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-115\" title=\"102_1474\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe arrived back to the campsite around 4 and each took some time to ourselves until dinner.  For dinner, I made veggie burgers, which even Dad thought were good.  We made Kiddish for the start of Shabbat, enjoyed our meal and conversation, and retired early.  It was windy that night (the candles were blown out pretty quick), but nothing compared to our previous experience in Mitchell, SD.  That was, until about midnight.\n\nShortly before midnight, the tent began to shake, the walls were blowing in and out, and we thought the tent wouldn’t make it.  As we later learned, there were 60mph winds that night.  After the wind, there was a few minutes calm...a clam that turned out to be the oft referenced calm before the storm.  What was a cloudless night had become a dark cloud that filled the sky.  That giant cloud also had an amazing lightning storm going on within it, producing bursts of orange and purple.  Picture a hollywood movie depiction of what the clouds might look like during the apocalypse, and you might have a good idea of what we saw outside our tent window.   Next thing we knew, the tent was being bombarded with what sounded like a heavy rain and powerful winds.  We were both trying to support the tent from the inside, and had to push back into place tent elbows when they buckled under the pressure.  We thought we were going to make it, but then we felt some water spraying in from the top of the tent, hitting us, the sleeping bags, and the cots, so we decided it was time to abandon ship and ride out the storm in the car.\n\nAs we exited the tent, I became aware that what was hitting the tent was not just rain, but also 1/4” size hail, enough to form a nice pile at the entrance of the tent.  Dad took some items to the car, and I raced to the bathroom (hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go).  In the bathroom, I found Steven, another refugee who had also abandoned his tent.  By the time we were done talking about our storm experiences in the bathroom and heading back, the worst of the storm was over.  In the end, the storm lasted about 30 minutes, but felt like forever.\n\nRealizing our sleeping stuff would be wet, we tried to catch some sleep in the car.  Dad managed longer than I did.  After a few hours, I went back to the tent and made use of Dad’s relatively dry sleeping area. Dad got up around 4:40 and prepared for the day.  I left the tent around 5:30, running to the bathroom, and tripping over the guy wire.  By 6:15, daybreak had finally arrived and we were able to better assess our situation and conduct a forensic investigation of the tent.\n\nThe conclusion of the investigation was that an open flap that covered the mesh air vent at the top of the tent had been propped/held open.\n\nADD PICTURE\n\nIt was unclear whether we had propped it up earlier or whether the wind had forced it up, but either way, it provided a clear entry point for the downpour and our prompt exit from the tent.  The investigation also showed that everyone’s tent succumbed to the storm, from the expensive REI tents to the basic dome tents, everyone either made due with a wet tent or went to their car.\n\nWhen the morning sun arrived, the clouds were gone and we were able to enjoy breakfast and leave the wet camping equipment out to dry, which they did in a couple hours.  Dad dried out the floor of the tent with paper towels and by 9am, I went back to sleep in the dry tent, while my dad did some reading.\n\nIf the storm had to happen, it happened on the best day, since Saturday/Shabbat are our rest days and so we didn’t need to break camp or be anywhere in particular.  This said, we wanted to do the three nearby hiking trails around the grounds, so we headed over there after I woke up, around noon.\n\nThe first trail was about half a mile and allowed for walking on top of and amongst the rock formations.  The second was a quarter mile walk along a boardwalk that led to a view of a large canyon formed by the erosion process.  The third was about a mile and half and was the most difficult of the three.  Most notably, it involved climbing up and down a 30-40 rung ladder, at least 100’ tall, bolted to the side of a rock formation, and walking along a path with loose stones and a few feet from a cavernous drop.  We both were surprised that the park service allows hikes like these.  The end of this trail led to an amazing panorama of a huge swath of the Badlands, both prairie and rock.  We took the advice of other hikers and went to an unmarked path near the end that led to another awe-inspiring view of the terrain.  We were definitely glad we went on these hikes.\n\nWe returned to the campsite around 4 to have lunch.  I made peanut butter and honey (and cheese on mine) sandwiches.  My Dad hadn’t had honey on his peanut butter before, but enjoyed it.  Exhausted, we both went back to the tent and had a Shabbat nap.  There was still plenty of daylight when we woke up, so we journeyed over to the visitor center to see their exhibits about the park and check out the Indian teepees. We returned to the camp site and again took some time to ourselves.  I did some reading and went back to bed until sundown, and Dad relaxed for awhile and also re-organized the car.\n\nFor dinner, we decided to try out the instant-meals we had purchased.  One simply required adding boiled water, and the second required using a pouch that used a chemical reaction to create an oven-like effect.  Both were types of vegetarian lasagna.  The heat pouch ended up being the quickest and easiest to make, and was also the least expensive and most delicious.  However, the boiled water one encouraged me to create a new aluminum foil contraption:  a protective wall to keep out the wind and contain the heat of the flame.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-116\" title=\"102_1490\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nI’m glad to report that it worked great and we were able to finally boil water.  As for the meal it was going help create:  the parts that got cooked were good; however, I must not have mixed it throughly enough because there were pieces of pasta and seasoning that were still dry and crunch.  I think/hope I’ll be able to do better when I make the pad thai meal from this manufacturer.\n\nA full stomach and the lack of a full night’s sleep from the night before hit us and we both sacked out in the tent.  We hoped that the weather report of neither rain nor wind would hold true.  We were getting up early tomorrow to see Mt. Rushmore and arrive at the hot springs of Thermopolis, WY.\n\nAll in all, our time in the Badlands have been an enjoyable and incredible experience.  Almost every turn around a corner brought into view an amazing panorama.  The extreme winds and rains of South Dakota were a memorable experience and provided a stress test of our tent.  Our multiple interactions with prairie dogs in “the wild” were the closest we’ve been to them.  It was nice spending Shabbat with my Dad amongst the beautiful landscapes.  For our first tourist destination, the Badlands have set the bar very high for our future travels.  They say the Badlands may be completely eroded in another 500,000 years, so if you have a chance, we recommend you check it out before it’s too late.', 'Day 4 & 5:  The Awe-full Badlands ', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '101-revision-11', '', '', '2011-09-06 00:48:35', '2011-09-06 00:48:35', '', 101, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=126', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(125, 2, '2011-09-06 00:46:32', '2011-09-06 00:46:32', 'Start: Mitchell, SD\nDestination:  Badlands National Park, Interior, SD\nOdometer: 103,062 (start) - 103,400 (end) 338 miles\nDate:  Friday, September 2nd - Saturday, September 3rd,  2011\n\nSouth Dakota….where the wind comes sweeping down the planes.  As mentioned yesterday, the wind was quite strong while trying to cook dinner, but it was not enough to raise our concern.  This changed around midnight that evening.  The Coleman tent is rather broad and will easily catch wind like a sail, even with the windows opened part way to let air through.  This fact, mixed in with incredibly strong and constant winds, leads to quite a stress test of the tent.  The wind huffed, and it puffed, but while the walls of the tent flapped strongly and noisily in and out, the tent stood strong. (I tried getting pictures of the young, nearby trees bending in the wind but it was too dark.)  We were not going back to sleep, but hoped we would at least be able to lay down in an upright tent.  Finally, it happened: one of the corners of the tent came in on my Dad during a particularly strong wind.  Now, if this were a traditional tent, the likely reality would be that the tent pole had broken and we’d be in quite a predicament.  The instant tent however has elbow joints that go in and out.  The wind buckled that joint into the tent, but we were also able to push the joint back into place, without even having to leave the tent.  With a little help from its occupants during that incident, the tent was able to stand strong for the entire night.  The wind finally waned and we went back to sleep.\n\nThen the morning rains arrived around 3am.  As before, the tent did not leak, but the noise of the rain hitting the tent made the rain sound much worse and woke us up.  I somehow fell back into a deep sleep, because the next thing I knew, it was around 5:30am, Dad was loading the car and I needed to get up so we could take down the tent.\n\nI have camped many times before, but I had never experienced winds like that.  As such, I am a skeptic regarding the need for the guy-wires of the tent.  More often than not, they are a tripping hazard and are rarely needed.  My Dad however strongly encouraged we follow all the setup requirements of the tent.  I’m glad he did.  Not only did the tent not blow away, but all of the stakes were still firmly in place.  I was sure at least some of them would have been pulled out by the winds.  I still believe those wires are a hazard, but they should not be neglected if you’re in an area capable of having strong winds.\n\nBy 6am, we had packed up the wet tent and were on the road heading to the Badlands, but on an empty stomach.  I took the wheel, and after surviving a turn into the oncoming traffic lane of a major road, we were on the highway that we would be taking straight across the state for around 200 miles.\n\nMy Dad would have just driven to the destination without breakfast, but I appreciate a meal in the morning, particularly after a minimal dinner the night before.  Fortunately, there was a rest stop early on where we could eat.  (I’m coming to have a greater appreciation for the need/value of those rest stops I’d ignore back home.)  I made peanut butter and honey sandwiches, and my Dad finished his cinnamon-raison bagels.  No longer hungry, we ventured on to what was our first, real tourist destination of the trip:  the Badlands of South Dakota.\n\nThe drive through South Dakota was a smooth drive, with corn and sunflower farms on the side, and signs for misc. Badlands attractions, particularly Wall Drug.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-103\" title=\"102_1264\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-104\" title=\"102_1261\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-105\" title=\"102_1269\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\n\nMy Dad and I share a great attraction for Prairie Dogs.  They are just so cute and adorable.  So, you can imagine our excitement when just before arriving at the Badlands, we saw there was a prairie dog ranch that seemed more enamored with them than we are.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-106\" title=\"102_1271\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\nFor free, you can walk right up to the prairie dogs, who have little to no fear of people.  For 50 cents, you can buy a bag of peanuts and feed them (so they’ll stay by you and not snub their nose at your lack of an offering).  Try petting and getting this personal to a group of prairie dogs at the zoo.  We spent a fun thirty minutes playing with them, checking out their burrows, hearing their squeaks, and seeing their diversity (e.g. apparently there are white prairie dogs).\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-107\" title=\"102_1303\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-108\" title=\"102_1311\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe then headed for the Cedar Pass Campground at Badlands National Park to get settled in for our two day stay at the Badlands.  The sites and proximity of the sites to the bathrooms and water were nice, but the views the campground afforded were even better.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-110\" title=\"102_1318\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-111\" title=\"102_1322\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe had gotten a test of the Badlands hen we entered the park, and were definitely wowed.  We wasted little time before getting back in the car to drive the scenic, roughly 50-mile Loop Road through the outer “wall” of the Badlands.\n\nWe had both heard of the Badlands, but honestly had little idea what they were. As we learned, the Badlands are the product of erosion over the past 500,000 years.  Millions of years ago, it was the floor of a warm, shallow sea, then it was a grassy flood plane, and now it’s grassland surrounded by a 50-mile “wall” of rock formations shaped by the immense rains and winds of the area.  It was an incredibly difficult area to travel, hence its name “bad lands”, but thanks to modern roads, is now easily driven through and is an incredibly beautiful landscape.  <a href=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/107638235733347757198/Badlands?authuser=0&amp;feat=directlink#slideshow/5648684398686263538\" target=\"_blank\">This slideshow</a> will not do them justice.\n\nAt the end of the loop, we found ourselves in Wall, a town of some 800 people and home to the famous Wall Drug, where we decided to stop for lunch.  Wall Drug is definitely a tourist destination, and they know it.  While the ice water may be free and the coffee 5 cents, the food and wares are a bit more expensive.  The service was good (we got two free donuts because our order was delayed), but don’t stop at the Wall Cafe if you’re looking for a cheap or particular delicious lunch.  Dad thought he could find a nice western-style shirt, but to no avail.  After touring the various Wall stores, we got some ice cream and some ice, and headed back to the car.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-112\" title=\"102_1455\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-113\" title=\"102_1439\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114\" title=\"102_1441\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nThe drive back from Wall took us on a dirt road through the southern part of the park, which is mostly grassland.  Since they were windy, dirt roads, we were going slow; however, if you’re a giant tractor trailer, going 80+ and blowing dust on everyone is apparently OK.  They claim there are buffalo there, but all we saw were horses and cattle.  This leg of the drive did not leave that great an impression.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-115\" title=\"102_1474\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe arrived back to the campsite around 4 and each took some time to ourselves until dinner.  For dinner, I made veggie burgers, which even Dad thought were good.  We made Kiddish for the start of Shabbat, enjoyed our meal and conversation, and retired early.  It was windy that night (the candles were blown out pretty quick), but nothing compared to our previous experience in Mitchell, SD.  That was, until about midnight.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nShortly before midnight, the tent began to shake, the walls were blowing in and out, and we thought the tent wouldn’t make it.  As we later learned, there were 60mph winds that night.  After the wind, there was a few minutes calm...a clam that turned out to be the oft referenced calm before the storm.  What was a cloudless night had become a dark cloud that filled the sky.  That giant cloud also had an amazing lightning storm going on within it, producing bursts of orange and purple.  Picture a hollywood movie depiction of what the clouds might look like during the apocalypse, and you might have a good idea of what we saw outside our tent window.   Next thing we knew, the tent was being bombarded with what sounded like a heavy rain and powerful winds.  We were both trying to support the tent from the inside, and had to push back into place tent elbows when they buckled under the pressure.  We thought we were going to make it, but then we felt some water spraying in from the top of the tent, hitting us, the sleeping bags, and the cots, so we decided it was time to abandon ship and ride out the storm in the car.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs we exited the tent, I became aware that what was hitting the tent was not just rain, but also 1/4” size hail, enough to form a nice pile at the entrance of the tent.  Dad took some items to the car, and I raced to the bathroom (hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go).  In the bathroom, I found Steven, another refugee who had also abandoned his tent.  By the time we were done talking about our storm experiences in the bathroom and heading back, the worst of the storm was over.  In the end, the storm lasted about 30 minutes, but felt like forever.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRealizing our sleeping stuff would be wet, we tried to catch some sleep in the car.  Dad managed longer than I did.  After a few hours, I went back to the tent and made use of Dad’s relatively dry sleeping area. Dad got up around 4:40 and prepared for the day.  I left the tent around 5:30, running to the bathroom, and tripping over the guy wire.  By 6:15, daybreak had finally arrived and we were able to better assess our situation and conduct a forensic investigation of the tent.\n\nThe conclusion of the investigation was that an open flap that covered the mesh air vent at the top of the tent had been propped/held open.\n\nADD PICTURE\n\nIt was unclear whether we had propped it up earlier or whether the wind had forced it up, but either way, it provided a clear entry point for the downpour and our prompt exit from the tent.  The investigation also showed that everyone’s tent succumbed to the storm, from the expensive REI tents to the basic dome tents, everyone either made due with a wet tent or went to their car.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen the morning sun arrived, the clouds were gone and we were able to enjoy breakfast and leave the wet camping equipment out to dry, which they did in a couple hours.  Dad dried out the floor of the tent with paper towels and by 9am, I went back to sleep in the dry tent, while my dad did some reading.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf the storm had to happen, it happened on the best day, since Saturday/Shabbat are our rest days and so we didn’t need to break camp or be anywhere in particular.  This said, we wanted to do the three nearby hiking trails around the grounds, so we headed over there after I woke up, around noon.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe first trail was about half a mile and allowed for walking on top of and amongst the rock formations.  The second was a quarter mile walk along a boardwalk that led to a view of a large canyon formed by the erosion process.  The third was about a mile and half and was the most difficult of the three.  Most notably, it involved climbing up and down a 30-40 rung ladder, at least 100’ tall, bolted to the side of a rock formation, and walking along a path with loose stones and a few feet from a cavernous drop.  We both were surprised that the park service allows hikes like these.  The end of this trail led to an amazing panorama of a huge swath of the Badlands, both prairie and rock.  We took the advice of other hikers and went to an unmarked path near the end that led to another awe-inspiring view of the terrain.  We were definitely glad we went on these hikes.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe returned to the campsite around 4 to have lunch.  I made peanut butter and honey (and cheese on mine) sandwiches.  My Dad hadn’t had honey on his peanut butter before, but enjoyed it.  Exhausted, we both went back to the tent and had a Shabbat nap.  There was still plenty of daylight when we woke up, so we journeyed over to the visitor center to see their exhibits about the park and check out the Indian teepees. We returned to the camp site and again took some time to ourselves.  I did some reading and went back to bed until sundown, and Dad relaxed for awhile and also re-organized the car.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor dinner, we decided to try out the instant-meals we had purchased.  One simply required adding boiled water, and the second required using a pouch that used a chemical reaction to create an oven-like effect.  Both were types of vegetarian lasagna.  The heat pouch ended up being the quickest and easiest to make, and was also the least expensive and most delicious.  However, the boiled water one encouraged me to create a new aluminum foil contraption:  a protective wall to keep out the wind and contain the heat of the flame.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-116\" title=\"102_1490\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nI’m glad to report that it worked great and we were able to finally boil water.  As for the meal it was going help create:  the parts that got cooked were good; however, I must not have mixed it throughly enough because there were pieces of pasta and seasoning that were still dry and crunch.  I think/hope I’ll be able to do better when I make the pad thai meal from this manufacturer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA full stomach and the lack of a full night’s sleep from the night before hit us and we both sacked out in the tent.  We hoped that the weather report of neither rain nor wind would hold true.  We were getting up early tomorrow to see Mt. Rushmore and arrive at the hot springs of Thermopolis, WY.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAll in all, our time in the Badlands have been an enjoyable and incredible experience.  Almost every turn around a corner brought into view an amazing panorama.  The extreme winds and rains of South Dakota were a memorable experience and provided a stress test of our tent.  Our multiple interactions with prairie dogs in “the wild” were the closest we’ve been to them.  It was nice spending Shabbat with my Dad amongst the beautiful landscapes.  For our first tourist destination, the Badlands have set the bar very high for our future travels.  They say the Badlands may be completely eroded in another 500,000 years, so if you have a chance, we recommend you check it out before it’s too late.', 'Day 4 & 5:  The Awe-full Badlands ', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '101-revision-10', '', '', '2011-09-06 00:46:32', '2011-09-06 00:46:32', '', 101, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=125', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
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(124, 2, '2011-09-06 00:44:05', '2011-09-06 00:44:05', 'Start: Mitchell, SD\nDestination:  Badlands National Park, Interior, SD\nOdometer: 103,062 (start) - 103,400 (end) 338 miles\nDate:  September 2nd and 3rd,  2011\n\nSouth Dakota….where the wind comes sweeping down the planes.  As mentioned yesterday, the wind was quite strong while trying to cook dinner, but it was not enough to raise our concern.  This changed around midnight that evening.  The Coleman tent is rather broad and will easily catch wind like a sail, even with the windows opened part way to let air through.  This fact, mixed in with incredibly strong and constant winds, leads to quite a stress test of the tent.  The wind huffed, and it puffed, but while the walls of the tent flapped strongly and noisily in and out, the tent stood strong. (I tried getting pictures of the young, nearby trees bending in the wind but it was too dark.)  We were not going back to sleep, but hoped we would at least be able to lay down in an upright tent.  Finally, it happened: one of the corners of the tent came in on my Dad during a particularly strong wind.  Now, if this were a traditional tent, the likely reality would be that the tent pole had broken and we’d be in quite a predicament.  The instant tent however has elbow joints that go in and out.  The wind buckled that joint into the tent, but we were also able to push the joint back into place, without even having to leave the tent.  With a little help from its occupants during that incident, the tent was able to stand strong for the entire night.  The wind finally waned and we went back to sleep.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThen the morning rains arrived around 3am.  As before, the tent did not leak, but the noise of the rain hitting the tent made the rain sound much worse and woke us up.  I somehow fell back into a deep sleep, because the next thing I knew, it was around 5:30am, Dad was loading the car and I needed to get up so we could take down the tent.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have camped many times before, but I had never experienced winds like that.  As such, I am a skeptic regarding the need for the guy-wires of the tent.  More often than not, they are a tripping hazard and are rarely needed.  My Dad however strongly encouraged we follow all the setup requirements of the tent.  I’m glad he did.  Not only did the tent not blow away, but all of the stakes were still firmly in place.  I was sure at least some of them would have been pulled out by the winds.  I still believe those wires are a hazard, but they should not be neglected if you’re in an area capable of having strong winds.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy 6am, we had packed up the wet tent and were on the road heading to the Badlands, but on an empty stomach.  I took the wheel, and after surviving a turn into the oncoming traffic lane of a major road, we were on the highway that we would be taking straight across the state for around 200 miles.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy Dad would have just driven to the destination without breakfast, but I appreciate a meal in the morning, particularly after a minimal dinner the night before.  Fortunately, there was a rest stop early on where we could eat.  (I’m coming to have a greater appreciation for the need/value of those rest stops I’d ignore back home.)  I made peanut butter and honey sandwiches, and my Dad finished his cinnamon-raison bagels.  No longer hungry, we ventured on to what was our first, real tourist destination of the trip:  the Badlands of South Dakota.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe drive through South Dakota was a smooth drive, with corn and sunflower farms on the side, and signs for misc. Badlands attractions, particularly Wall Drug.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-103\" title=\"102_1264\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-104\" title=\"102_1261\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-105\" title=\"102_1269\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy Dad and I share a great attraction for Prairie Dogs.  They are just so cute and adorable.  So, you can imagine our excitement when just before arriving at the Badlands, we saw there was a prairie dog ranch that seemed more enamored with them than we are.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-106\" title=\"102_1271\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor free, you can walk right up to the prairie dogs, who have little to no fear of people.  For 50 cents, you can buy a bag of peanuts and feed them (so they’ll stay by you and not snub their nose at your lack of an offering).  Try petting and getting this personal to a group of prairie dogs at the zoo.  We spent a fun thirty minutes playing with them, checking out their burrows, hearing their squeaks, and seeing their diversity (e.g. apparently there are white prairie dogs).\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-107\" title=\"102_1303\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-108\" title=\"102_1311\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe then headed for the Cedar Pass Campground at Badlands National Park to get settled in for our two day stay at the Badlands.  The sites and proximity of the sites to the bathrooms and water were nice, but the views the campground afforded were even better.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-110\" title=\"102_1318\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-111\" title=\"102_1322\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe had gotten a test of the Badlands hen we entered the park, and were definitely wowed.  We wasted little time before getting back in the car to drive the scenic, roughly 50-mile Loop Road through the outer “wall” of the Badlands.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe had both heard of the Badlands, but honestly had little idea what they were. As we learned, the Badlands are the product of erosion over the past 500,000 years.  Millions of years ago, it was the floor of a warm, shallow sea, then it was a grassy flood plane, and now it’s grassland surrounded by a 50-mile “wall” of rock formations shaped by the immense rains and winds of the area.  It was an incredibly difficult area to travel, hence its name “bad lands”, but thanks to modern roads, is now easily driven through and is an incredibly beautiful landscape.  <a href=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/107638235733347757198/Badlands?authuser=0&amp;feat=directlink#slideshow/5648684398686263538\" target=\"_blank\">This slideshow</a> will not do them justice.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAt the end of the loop, we found ourselves in Wall, a town of some 800 people and home to the famous Wall Drug, where we decided to stop for lunch.  Wall Drug is definitely a tourist destination, and they know it.  While the ice water may be free and the coffee 5 cents, the food and wares are a bit more expensive.  The service was good (we got two free donuts because our order was delayed), but don’t stop at the Wall Cafe if you’re looking for a cheap or particular delicious lunch.  Dad thought he could find a nice western-style shirt, but to no avail.  After touring the various Wall stores, we got some ice cream and some ice, and headed back to the car.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-112\" title=\"102_1455\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-113\" title=\"102_1439\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114\" title=\"102_1441\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe drive back from Wall took us on a dirt road through the southern part of the park, which is mostly grassland.  Since they were windy, dirt roads, we were going slow; however, if you’re a giant tractor trailer, going 80+ and blowing dust on everyone is apparently OK.  They claim there are buffalo there, but all we saw were horses and cattle.  This leg of the drive did not leave that great an impression.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-115\" title=\"102_1474\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe arrived back to the campsite around 4 and each took some time to ourselves until dinner.  For dinner, I made veggie burgers, which even Dad thought were good.  We made Kiddish for the start of Shabbat, enjoyed our meal and conversation, and retired early.  It was windy that night (the candles were blown out pretty quick), but nothing compared to our previous experience in Mitchell, SD.  That was, until about midnight.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nShortly before midnight, the tent began to shake, the walls were blowing in and out, and we thought the tent wouldn’t make it.  As we later learned, there were 60mph winds that night.  After the wind, there was a few minutes calm...a clam that turned out to be the oft referenced calm before the storm.  What was a cloudless night had become a dark cloud that filled the sky.  That giant cloud also had an amazing lightning storm going on within it, producing bursts of orange and purple.  Picture a hollywood movie depiction of what the clouds might look like during the apocalypse, and you might have a good idea of what we saw outside our tent window.   Next thing we knew, the tent was being bombarded with what sounded like a heavy rain and powerful winds.  We were both trying to support the tent from the inside, and had to push back into place tent elbows when they buckled under the pressure.  We thought we were going to make it, but then we felt some water spraying in from the top of the tent, hitting us, the sleeping bags, and the cots, so we decided it was time to abandon ship and ride out the storm in the car.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs we exited the tent, I became aware that what was hitting the tent was not just rain, but also 1/4” size hail, enough to form a nice pile at the entrance of the tent.  Dad took some items to the car, and I raced to the bathroom (hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go).  In the bathroom, I found Steven, another refugee who had also abandoned his tent.  By the time we were done talking about our storm experiences in the bathroom and heading back, the worst of the storm was over.  In the end, the storm lasted about 30 minutes, but felt like forever.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRealizing our sleeping stuff would be wet, we tried to catch some sleep in the car.  Dad managed longer than I did.  After a few hours, I went back to the tent and made use of Dad’s relatively dry sleeping area. Dad got up around 4:40 and prepared for the day.  I left the tent around 5:30, running to the bathroom, and tripping over the guy wire.  By 6:15, daybreak had finally arrived and we were able to better assess our situation and conduct a forensic investigation of the tent.\n\nThe conclusion of the investigation was that an open flap that covered the mesh air vent at the top of the tent had been propped/held open.\n\nADD PICTURE\n\nIt was unclear whether we had propped it up earlier or whether the wind had forced it up, but either way, it provided a clear entry point for the downpour and our prompt exit from the tent.  The investigation also showed that everyone’s tent succumbed to the storm, from the expensive REI tents to the basic dome tents, everyone either made due with a wet tent or went to their car.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen the morning sun arrived, the clouds were gone and we were able to enjoy breakfast and leave the wet camping equipment out to dry, which they did in a couple hours.  Dad dried out the floor of the tent with paper towels and by 9am, I went back to sleep in the dry tent, while my dad did some reading.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf the storm had to happen, it happened on the best day, since Saturday/Shabbat are our rest days and so we didn’t need to break camp or be anywhere in particular.  This said, we wanted to do the three nearby hiking trails around the grounds, so we headed over there after I woke up, around noon.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe first trail was about half a mile and allowed for walking on top of and amongst the rock formations.  The second was a quarter mile walk along a boardwalk that led to a view of a large canyon formed by the erosion process.  The third was about a mile and half and was the most difficult of the three.  Most notably, it involved climbing up and down a 30-40 rung ladder, at least 100’ tall, bolted to the side of a rock formation, and walking along a path with loose stones and a few feet from a cavernous drop.  We both were surprised that the park service allows hikes like these.  The end of this trail led to an amazing panorama of a huge swath of the Badlands, both prairie and rock.  We took the advice of other hikers and went to an unmarked path near the end that led to another awe-inspiring view of the terrain.  We were definitely glad we went on these hikes.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe returned to the campsite around 4 to have lunch.  I made peanut butter and honey (and cheese on mine) sandwiches.  My Dad hadn’t had honey on his peanut butter before, but enjoyed it.  Exhausted, we both went back to the tent and had a Shabbat nap.  There was still plenty of daylight when we woke up, so we journeyed over to the visitor center to see their exhibits about the park and check out the Indian teepees. We returned to the camp site and again took some time to ourselves.  I did some reading and went back to bed until sundown, and Dad relaxed for awhile and also re-organized the car.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor dinner, we decided to try out the instant-meals we had purchased.  One simply required adding boiled water, and the second required using a pouch that used a chemical reaction to create an oven-like effect.  Both were types of vegetarian lasagna.  The heat pouch ended up being the quickest and easiest to make, and was also the least expensive and most delicious.  However, the boiled water one encouraged me to create a new aluminum foil contraption:  a protective wall to keep out the wind and contain the heat of the flame.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-116\" title=\"102_1490\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nI’m glad to report that it worked great and we were able to finally boil water.  As for the meal it was going help create:  the parts that got cooked were good; however, I must not have mixed it throughly enough because there were pieces of pasta and seasoning that were still dry and crunch.  I think I’ll be able to do better when I make the pad thai meal from this manufacturer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA full stomach and the lack of a full nights sleep from the night before hit us and we both sacked out in the tent.  We hoped that the weather report of neither rain nor wind would hold true.  We were getting up early tomorrow to see Mt. Rushmore and arrive at the hot springs of Thermopolis, WY.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAll in all, our time in the Badlands have been an incredible experience.  Almost every turn around a corner brought into view an amazing panorama.  The extreme winds and rains of South Dakota were a memorable experience and provided a stress test of our tent.  Our multiple interactions with prairie dogs in “the wild” were the closest we’ve been to them.  It was nice spending Shabbat with my Dad amongst the beautiful landscapes.  For our first tourist destination, the Badlands have set the bar very high for our future travels.  They say the Badlands may be completely eroded in another 500,000 years, so if you have a chance, we recommend you check it out before it’s too late.', 'Day 4 & 5:  The Awe-full Badlands ', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '101-revision-9', '', '', '2011-09-06 00:44:05', '2011-09-06 00:44:05', '', 101, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=124', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
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(129, 2, '2011-09-06 00:50:54', '2011-09-06 00:50:54', 'Start: Mitchell, SD\nDestination:  Badlands National Park, Interior, SD\nOdometer: 103,062 (start) - 103,400 (end) 338 miles\nDate:  Friday, September 2nd - Saturday, September 3rd,  2011\n\nSouth Dakota….where the wind comes sweeping down the planes.  As mentioned yesterday, the wind was quite strong while trying to cook dinner, but it was not enough to raise our concern.  This changed around midnight that evening.  The Coleman tent is rather broad and will easily catch wind like a sail, even with the windows opened part way to let air through.  This fact, mixed in with incredibly strong and constant winds, leads to quite a stress test of the tent.  The wind huffed, and it puffed, but while the walls of the tent flapped strongly and noisily in and out, the tent stood strong. (I tried getting pictures of the young, nearby trees bending in the wind but it was too dark.)  We were not going back to sleep, but hoped we would at least be able to lay down in an upright tent.  Finally, it happened: one of the corners of the tent came in on my Dad during a particularly strong wind.  Now, if this were a traditional tent, the likely reality would be that the tent pole had broken and we’d be in quite a predicament.  The instant tent however has elbow joints that go in and out.  The wind buckled that joint into the tent, but we were also able to push the joint back into place, without even having to leave the tent.  With a little help from its occupants during that incident, the tent was able to stand strong for the entire night.  The wind finally waned and we went back to sleep.\n\nThen the morning rains arrived around 3am.  As before, the tent did not leak, but the noise of the rain hitting the tent made the rain sound much worse and woke us up.  I somehow fell back into a deep sleep, because the next thing I knew, it was around 5:30am, Dad was loading the car and I needed to get up so we could take down the tent.\n\nI have camped many times before, but I had never experienced winds like that.  As such, I am a skeptic regarding the need for the guy-wires of the tent.  More often than not, they are a tripping hazard and are rarely needed.  My Dad however strongly encouraged we follow all the setup requirements of the tent.  I’m glad he did.  Not only did the tent not blow away, but all of the stakes were still firmly in place.  I was sure at least some of them would have been pulled out by the winds.  I still believe those wires are a hazard, but they should not be neglected if you’re in an area capable of having strong winds.\n\nBy 6am, we had packed up the wet tent and were on the road heading to the Badlands, but on an empty stomach.  I took the wheel, and after surviving a turn into the oncoming traffic lane of a major road, we were on the highway that we would be taking straight across the state for around 200 miles.\n\nMy Dad would have just driven to the destination without breakfast, but I appreciate a meal in the morning, particularly after a minimal dinner the night before.  Fortunately, there was a rest stop early on where we could eat.  (I’m coming to have a greater appreciation for the need/value of those rest stops I’d ignore back home.)  I made peanut butter and honey sandwiches, and my Dad finished his cinnamon-raison bagels.  No longer hungry, we ventured on to what was our first, real tourist destination of the trip:  the Badlands of South Dakota.\n\nThe drive through South Dakota was a smooth drive, with corn and sunflower farms on the side, and signs for misc. Badlands attractions, particularly Wall Drug.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-103\" title=\"102_1264\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-104\" title=\"102_1261\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-105\" title=\"102_1269\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\n\nMy Dad and I share a great attraction for Prairie Dogs.  They are just so cute and adorable.  So, you can imagine our excitement when just before arriving at the Badlands, we saw there was a prairie dog ranch that seemed more enamored with them than we are.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-106\" title=\"102_1271\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\nFor free, you can walk right up to the prairie dogs, who have little to no fear of people.  For 50 cents, you can buy a bag of peanuts and feed them (so they’ll stay by you and not snub their nose at your lack of an offering).  Try petting and getting this personal to a group of prairie dogs at the zoo.  We spent a fun thirty minutes playing with them, checking out their burrows, hearing their squeaks, and seeing their diversity (e.g. apparently there are white prairie dogs).\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-107\" title=\"102_1303\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-108\" title=\"102_1311\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe then headed for the Cedar Pass Campground at Badlands National Park to get settled in for our two day stay at the Badlands.  The sites and proximity of the sites to the bathrooms and water were nice, but the views the campground afforded were even better.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-110\" title=\"102_1318\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-111\" title=\"102_1322\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe had gotten a test of the Badlands hen we entered the park, and were definitely wowed.  We wasted little time before getting back in the car to drive the scenic, roughly 50-mile Loop Road through the outer “wall” of the Badlands.\n\nWe had both heard of the Badlands, but honestly had little idea what they were. As we learned, the Badlands are the product of erosion over the past 500,000 years.  Millions of years ago, it was the floor of a warm, shallow sea, then it was a grassy flood plane, and now it’s grassland surrounded by a 50-mile “wall” of rock formations shaped by the immense rains and winds of the area.  It was an incredibly difficult area to travel, hence its name “bad lands”, but thanks to modern roads, is now easily driven through and is an incredibly beautiful landscape.  <a href=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/107638235733347757198/Badlands?authuser=0&amp;feat=directlink#slideshow/5648684398686263538\" target=\"_blank\">This slideshow</a> will not do them justice.\n\n<object width=\"600\" height=\"400\" classid=\"clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000\" codebase=\"http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0\"><param name=\"src\" value=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf\" /><param name=\"flashvars\" value=\"host=picasaweb.google.com&amp;noautoplay=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;feat=flashalbum&amp;RGB=0x000000&amp;feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F107638235733347757198%2Falbumid%2F5648684325457534673%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US\" /><param name=\"pluginspage\" value=\"http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer\" /><embed width=\"600\" height=\"400\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" src=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf\" flashvars=\"host=picasaweb.google.com&amp;noautoplay=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;feat=flashalbum&amp;RGB=0x000000&amp;feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F107638235733347757198%2Falbumid%2F5648684325457534673%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US\" pluginspage=\"http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer\" /></object>\n\nAt the end of the loop, we found ourselves in Wall, a town of some 800 people and home to the famous Wall Drug, where we decided to stop for lunch.  Wall Drug is definitely a tourist destination, and they know it.  While the ice water may be free and the coffee 5 cents, the food and wares are a bit more expensive.  The service was good (we got two free donuts because our order was delayed), but don’t stop at the Wall Cafe if you’re looking for a cheap or particular delicious lunch.  Dad thought he could find a nice western-style shirt, but to no avail.  After touring the various Wall stores, we got some ice cream and some ice, and headed back to the car.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-112\" title=\"102_1455\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-113\" title=\"102_1439\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114\" title=\"102_1441\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nThe drive back from Wall took us on a dirt road through the southern part of the park, which is mostly grassland.  Since they were windy, dirt roads, we were going slow; however, if you’re a giant tractor trailer, going 80+ and blowing dust on everyone is apparently OK.  They claim there are buffalo there, but all we saw were horses and cattle.  This leg of the drive did not leave that great an impression.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-115\" title=\"102_1474\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nWe arrived back to the campsite around 4 and each took some time to ourselves until dinner.  For dinner, I made veggie burgers, which even Dad thought were good.  We made Kiddish for the start of Shabbat, enjoyed our meal and conversation, and retired early.  It was windy that night (the candles were blown out pretty quick), but nothing compared to our previous experience in Mitchell, SD.  That was, until about midnight.\n\nShortly before midnight, the tent began to shake, the walls were blowing in and out, and we thought the tent wouldn’t make it.  As we later learned, there were 60mph winds that night.  After the wind, there was a few minutes calm...a clam that turned out to be the oft referenced calm before the storm.  What was a cloudless night had become a dark cloud that filled the sky.  That giant cloud also had an amazing lightning storm going on within it, producing bursts of orange and purple.  Picture a hollywood movie depiction of what the clouds might look like during the apocalypse, and you might have a good idea of what we saw outside our tent window.   Next thing we knew, the tent was being bombarded with what sounded like a heavy rain and powerful winds.  We were both trying to support the tent from the inside, and had to push back into place tent elbows when they buckled under the pressure.  We thought we were going to make it, but then we felt some water spraying in from the top of the tent, hitting us, the sleeping bags, and the cots, so we decided it was time to abandon ship and ride out the storm in the car.\n\nAs we exited the tent, I became aware that what was hitting the tent was not just rain, but also 1/4” size hail, enough to form a nice pile at the entrance of the tent.  Dad took some items to the car, and I raced to the bathroom (hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go).  In the bathroom, I found Steven, another refugee who had also abandoned his tent.  By the time we were done talking about our storm experiences in the bathroom and heading back, the worst of the storm was over.  In the end, the storm lasted about 30 minutes, but felt like forever.\n\nRealizing our sleeping stuff would be wet, we tried to catch some sleep in the car.  Dad managed longer than I did.  After a few hours, I went back to the tent and made use of Dad’s relatively dry sleeping area. Dad got up around 4:40 and prepared for the day.  I left the tent around 5:30, running to the bathroom, and tripping over the guy wire.  By 6:15, daybreak had finally arrived and we were able to better assess our situation and conduct a forensic investigation of the tent.\n\nThe conclusion of the investigation was that an open flap that covered the mesh air vent at the top of the tent had been left propped/held open instead of velcro-ed shut.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1722.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-127\" title=\"102_1722\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1722-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nIt was unclear whether we had propped it up earlier or whether the wind had forced it up, but either way, it provided a clear entry point for the downpour and our prompt exit from the tent.  The investigation also showed that everyone’s tent succumbed to the storm, from the expensive REI tents to the basic dome tents, everyone either made due with a wet tent or went to their car.\n\nWhen the morning sun arrived, the clouds were gone and we were able to enjoy breakfast and leave the wet camping equipment out to dry, which they did in a couple hours.  Dad dried out the floor of the tent with paper towels and by 9am, I went back to sleep in the dry tent, while my dad did some reading.\n\nIf the storm had to happen, it happened on the best day, since Saturday/Shabbat are our rest days and so we didn’t need to break camp or be anywhere in particular.  This said, we wanted to do the three nearby hiking trails around the grounds, so we headed over there after I woke up, around noon.\n\nThe first trail was about half a mile and allowed for walking on top of and amongst the rock formations.  The second was a quarter mile walk along a boardwalk that led to a view of a large canyon formed by the erosion process.  The third was about a mile and half and was the most difficult of the three.  Most notably, it involved climbing up and down a 30-40 rung ladder, at least 100’ tall, bolted to the side of a rock formation, and walking along a path with loose stones and a few feet from a cavernous drop.  We both were surprised that the park service allows hikes like these.  The end of this trail led to an amazing panorama of a huge swath of the Badlands, both prairie and rock.  We took the advice of other hikers and went to an unmarked path near the end that led to another awe-inspiring view of the terrain.  We were definitely glad we went on these hikes.\n\nWe returned to the campsite around 4 to have lunch.  I made peanut butter and honey (and cheese on mine) sandwiches.  My Dad hadn’t had honey on his peanut butter before, but enjoyed it.  Exhausted, we both went back to the tent and had a Shabbat nap.  There was still plenty of daylight when we woke up, so we journeyed over to the visitor center to see their exhibits about the park and check out the Indian teepees. We returned to the camp site and again took some time to ourselves.  I did some reading and went back to bed until sundown, and Dad relaxed for awhile and also re-organized the car.\n\nFor dinner, we decided to try out the instant-meals we had purchased.  One simply required adding boiled water, and the second required using a pouch that used a chemical reaction to create an oven-like effect.  Both were types of vegetarian lasagna.  The heat pouch ended up being the quickest and easiest to make, and was also the least expensive and most delicious.  However, the boiled water one encouraged me to create a new aluminum foil contraption:  a protective wall to keep out the wind and contain the heat of the flame.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-116\" title=\"102_1490\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nI’m glad to report that it worked great and we were able to finally boil water.  As for the meal it was going help create:  the parts that got cooked were good; however, I must not have mixed it throughly enough because there were pieces of pasta and seasoning that were still dry and crunch.  I think/hope I’ll be able to do better when I make the pad thai meal from this manufacturer.\n\nA full stomach and the lack of a full night’s sleep from the night before hit us and we both sacked out in the tent.  We hoped that the weather report of neither rain nor wind would hold true.  We were getting up early tomorrow to see Mt. Rushmore and arrive at the hot springs of Thermopolis, WY.\n\nAll in all, our time in the Badlands have been an enjoyable and incredible experience.  Almost every turn around a corner brought into view an amazing panorama.  The extreme winds and rains of South Dakota were a memorable experience and provided a stress test of our tent.  Our multiple interactions with prairie dogs in “the wild” were the closest we’ve been to them.  It was nice spending Shabbat with my Dad amongst the beautiful landscapes.  For our first tourist destination, the Badlands have set the bar very high for our future travels.  They say the Badlands may be completely eroded in another 500,000 years, so if you have a chance, we recommend you check it out before it’s too late.', 'Day 4 & 5:  The Awe-full Badlands ', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '101-revision-12', '', '', '2011-09-06 00:50:54', '2011-09-06 00:50:54', '', 101, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=129', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
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(130, 2, '2011-09-06 00:51:32', '2011-09-06 00:51:32', 'Start: Mitchell, SD\r\nDestination:  Badlands National Park, Interior, SD\r\nOdometer: 103,062 (start) - 103,400 (end) 338 miles\r\nDate:  Friday, September 2nd - Saturday, September 3rd,  2011\r\n\r\nSouth Dakota….where the wind comes sweeping down the planes.  As mentioned yesterday, the wind was quite strong while trying to cook dinner, but it was not enough to raise our concern.  This changed around midnight that evening.  The Coleman tent is rather broad and will easily catch wind like a sail, even with the windows opened part way to let air through.  This fact, mixed in with incredibly strong and constant winds, leads to quite a stress test of the tent.  The wind huffed, and it puffed, but while the walls of the tent flapped strongly and noisily in and out, the tent stood strong. (I tried getting pictures of the young, nearby trees bending in the wind but it was too dark.)  We were not going back to sleep, but hoped we would at least be able to lay down in an upright tent.  Finally, it happened: one of the corners of the tent came in on my Dad during a particularly strong wind.  Now, if this were a traditional tent, the likely reality would be that the tent pole had broken and we’d be in quite a predicament.  The instant tent however has elbow joints that go in and out.  The wind buckled that joint into the tent, but we were also able to push the joint back into place, without even having to leave the tent.  With a little help from its occupants during that incident, the tent was able to stand strong for the entire night.  The wind finally waned and we went back to sleep.\r\n\r\nThen the morning rains arrived around 3am.  As before, the tent did not leak, but the noise of the rain hitting the tent made the rain sound much worse and woke us up.  I somehow fell back into a deep sleep, because the next thing I knew, it was around 5:30am, Dad was loading the car and I needed to get up so we could take down the tent.\r\n\r\nI have camped many times before, but I had never experienced winds like that.  As such, I am a skeptic regarding the need for the guy-wires of the tent.  More often than not, they are a tripping hazard and are rarely needed.  My Dad however strongly encouraged we follow all the setup requirements of the tent.  I’m glad he did.  Not only did the tent not blow away, but all of the stakes were still firmly in place.  I was sure at least some of them would have been pulled out by the winds.  I still believe those wires are a hazard, but they should not be neglected if you’re in an area capable of having strong winds.\r\n\r\nBy 6am, we had packed up the wet tent and were on the road heading to the Badlands, but on an empty stomach.  I took the wheel, and after surviving a turn into the oncoming traffic lane of a major road, we were on the highway that we would be taking straight across the state for around 200 miles.\r\n\r\nMy Dad would have just driven to the destination without breakfast, but I appreciate a meal in the morning, particularly after a minimal dinner the night before.  Fortunately, there was a rest stop early on where we could eat.  (I’m coming to have a greater appreciation for the need/value of those rest stops I’d ignore back home.)  I made peanut butter and honey sandwiches, and my Dad finished his cinnamon-raison bagels.  No longer hungry, we ventured on to what was our first, real tourist destination of the trip:  the Badlands of South Dakota.\r\n\r\nThe drive through South Dakota was a smooth drive, with corn and sunflower farms on the side, and signs for misc. Badlands attractions, particularly Wall Drug.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-103\" title=\"102_1264\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-104\" title=\"102_1261\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-105\" title=\"102_1269\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\r\n\r\nMy Dad and I share a great attraction for Prairie Dogs.  They are just so cute and adorable.  So, you can imagine our excitement when just before arriving at the Badlands, we saw there was a prairie dog ranch that seemed more enamored with them than we are.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-106\" title=\"102_1271\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nFor free, you can walk right up to the prairie dogs, who have little to no fear of people.  For 50 cents, you can buy a bag of peanuts and feed them (so they’ll stay by you and not snub their nose at your lack of an offering).  Try petting and getting this personal to a group of prairie dogs at the zoo.  We spent a fun thirty minutes playing with them, checking out their burrows, hearing their squeaks, and seeing their diversity (e.g. apparently there are white prairie dogs).\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-107\" title=\"102_1303\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-108\" title=\"102_1311\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe then headed for the Cedar Pass Campground at Badlands National Park to get settled in for our two day stay at the Badlands.  The sites and proximity of the sites to the bathrooms and water were nice, but the views the campground afforded were even better.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-110\" title=\"102_1318\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-111\" title=\"102_1322\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe had gotten a test of the Badlands hen we entered the park, and were definitely wowed.  We wasted little time before getting back in the car to drive the scenic, roughly 50-mile Loop Road through the outer “wall” of the Badlands.\r\n\r\nWe had both heard of the Badlands, but honestly had little idea what they were. As we learned, the Badlands are the product of erosion over the past 500,000 years.  Millions of years ago, it was the floor of a warm, shallow sea, then it was a grassy flood plane, and now it’s grassland surrounded by a 50-mile “wall” of rock formations shaped by the immense rains and winds of the area.  It was an incredibly difficult area to travel, hence its name “bad lands”, but thanks to modern roads, is now easily driven through and is an incredibly beautiful landscape.  <a href=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/107638235733347757198/Badlands?authuser=0&amp;feat=directlink#slideshow/5648684398686263538\" target=\"_blank\">This slideshow</a> will not do them justice.\r\n\r\n<object width=\"600\" height=\"400\" classid=\"clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000\" codebase=\"http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0\"><param name=\"src\" value=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf\" /><param name=\"flashvars\" value=\"host=picasaweb.google.com&amp;noautoplay=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;feat=flashalbum&amp;RGB=0x000000&amp;feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F107638235733347757198%2Falbumid%2F5648684325457534673%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US\" /><param name=\"pluginspage\" value=\"http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer\" /><embed width=\"600\" height=\"400\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" src=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf\" flashvars=\"host=picasaweb.google.com&amp;noautoplay=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;feat=flashalbum&amp;RGB=0x000000&amp;feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F107638235733347757198%2Falbumid%2F5648684325457534673%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US\" pluginspage=\"http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer\" /></object>\r\n\r\nAt the end of the loop, we found ourselves in Wall, a town of some 800 people and home to the famous Wall Drug, where we decided to stop for lunch.  Wall Drug is definitely a tourist destination, and they know it.  While the ice water may be free and the coffee 5 cents, the food and wares are a bit more expensive.  The service was good (we got two free donuts because our order was delayed), but don’t stop at the Wall Cafe if you’re looking for a cheap or particular delicious lunch.  Dad thought he could find a nice western-style shirt, but to no avail.  After touring the various Wall stores, we got some ice cream and some ice, and headed back to the car.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-112\" title=\"102_1455\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-113\" title=\"102_1439\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114\" title=\"102_1441\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThe drive back from Wall took us on a dirt road through the southern part of the park, which is mostly grassland.  Since they were windy, dirt roads, we were going slow; however, if you’re a giant tractor trailer, going 80+ and blowing dust on everyone is apparently OK.  They claim there are buffalo there, but all we saw were horses and cattle.  This leg of the drive did not leave that great an impression.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-115\" title=\"102_1474\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe arrived back to the campsite around 4 and each took some time to ourselves until dinner.  For dinner, I made veggie burgers, which even Dad thought were good.  We made Kiddish for the start of Shabbat, enjoyed our meal and conversation, and retired early.  It was windy that night (the candles were blown out pretty quick), but nothing compared to our previous experience in Mitchell, SD.  That was, until about midnight.\r\n\r\nShortly before midnight, the tent began to shake, the walls were blowing in and out, and we thought the tent wouldn’t make it.  As we later learned, there were 60mph winds that night.  After the wind, there was a few minutes calm...a clam that turned out to be the oft referenced calm before the storm.  What was a cloudless night had become a dark cloud that filled the sky.  That giant cloud also had an amazing lightning storm going on within it, producing bursts of orange and purple.  Picture a hollywood movie depiction of what the clouds might look like during the apocalypse, and you might have a good idea of what we saw outside our tent window.   Next thing we knew, the tent was being bombarded with what sounded like a heavy rain and powerful winds.  We were both trying to support the tent from the inside, and had to push back into place tent elbows when they buckled under the pressure.  We thought we were going to make it, but then we felt some water spraying in from the top of the tent, hitting us, the sleeping bags, and the cots, so we decided it was time to abandon ship and ride out the storm in the car.\r\n\r\nAs we exited the tent, I became aware that what was hitting the tent was not just rain, but also 1/4” size hail, enough to form a nice pile at the entrance of the tent.  Dad took some items to the car, and I raced to the bathroom (hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go).  In the bathroom, I found Steven, another refugee who had also abandoned his tent.  By the time we were done talking about our storm experiences in the bathroom and heading back, the worst of the storm was over.  In the end, the storm lasted about 30 minutes, but felt like forever.\r\n\r\nRealizing our sleeping stuff would be wet, we tried to catch some sleep in the car.  Dad managed longer than I did.  After a few hours, I went back to the tent and made use of Dad’s relatively dry sleeping area. Dad got up around 4:40 and prepared for the day.  I left the tent around 5:30, running to the bathroom, and tripping over the guy wire.  By 6:15, daybreak had finally arrived and we were able to better assess our situation and conduct a forensic investigation of the tent.\r\n\r\nThe conclusion of the investigation was that an open flap that covered the mesh air vent at the top of the tent had been left propped/held open instead of velcro-ed shut.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1722.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-127\" title=\"102_1722\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1722-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1723.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-128\" title=\"102_1723\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1723-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIt was unclear whether we had propped it up earlier or whether the wind had forced it up, but either way, it provided a clear entry point for the downpour and our prompt exit from the tent.  The investigation also showed that everyone’s tent succumbed to the storm, from the expensive REI tents to the basic dome tents, everyone either made due with a wet tent or went to their car.\r\n\r\nWhen the morning sun arrived, the clouds were gone and we were able to enjoy breakfast and leave the wet camping equipment out to dry, which they did in a couple hours.  Dad dried out the floor of the tent with paper towels and by 9am, I went back to sleep in the dry tent, while my dad did some reading.\r\n\r\nIf the storm had to happen, it happened on the best day, since Saturday/Shabbat are our rest days and so we didn’t need to break camp or be anywhere in particular.  This said, we wanted to do the three nearby hiking trails around the grounds, so we headed over there after I woke up, around noon.\r\n\r\nThe first trail was about half a mile and allowed for walking on top of and amongst the rock formations.  The second was a quarter mile walk along a boardwalk that led to a view of a large canyon formed by the erosion process.  The third was about a mile and half and was the most difficult of the three.  Most notably, it involved climbing up and down a 30-40 rung ladder, at least 100’ tall, bolted to the side of a rock formation, and walking along a path with loose stones and a few feet from a cavernous drop.  We both were surprised that the park service allows hikes like these.  The end of this trail led to an amazing panorama of a huge swath of the Badlands, both prairie and rock.  We took the advice of other hikers and went to an unmarked path near the end that led to another awe-inspiring view of the terrain.  We were definitely glad we went on these hikes.\r\n\r\nWe returned to the campsite around 4 to have lunch.  I made peanut butter and honey (and cheese on mine) sandwiches.  My Dad hadn’t had honey on his peanut butter before, but enjoyed it.  Exhausted, we both went back to the tent and had a Shabbat nap.  There was still plenty of daylight when we woke up, so we journeyed over to the visitor center to see their exhibits about the park and check out the Indian teepees. We returned to the camp site and again took some time to ourselves.  I did some reading and went back to bed until sundown, and Dad relaxed for awhile and also re-organized the car.\r\n\r\nFor dinner, we decided to try out the instant-meals we had purchased.  One simply required adding boiled water, and the second required using a pouch that used a chemical reaction to create an oven-like effect.  Both were types of vegetarian lasagna.  The heat pouch ended up being the quickest and easiest to make, and was also the least expensive and most delicious.  However, the boiled water one encouraged me to create a new aluminum foil contraption:  a protective wall to keep out the wind and contain the heat of the flame.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-116\" title=\"102_1490\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI’m glad to report that it worked great and we were able to finally boil water.  As for the meal it was going help create:  the parts that got cooked were good; however, I must not have mixed it throughly enough because there were pieces of pasta and seasoning that were still dry and crunch.  I think/hope I’ll be able to do better when I make the pad thai meal from this manufacturer.\r\n\r\nA full stomach and the lack of a full night’s sleep from the night before hit us and we both sacked out in the tent.  We hoped that the weather report of neither rain nor wind would hold true.  We were getting up early tomorrow to see Mt. Rushmore and arrive at the hot springs of Thermopolis, WY.\r\n\r\nAll in all, our time in the Badlands have been an enjoyable and incredible experience.  Almost every turn around a corner brought into view an amazing panorama.  The extreme winds and rains of South Dakota were a memorable experience and provided a stress test of our tent.  Our multiple interactions with prairie dogs in “the wild” were the closest we’ve been to them.  It was nice spending Shabbat with my Dad amongst the beautiful landscapes.  For our first tourist destination, the Badlands have set the bar very high for our future travels.  They say the Badlands may be completely eroded in another 500,000 years, so if you have a chance, we recommend you check it out before it’s too late.', 'Day 4 & 5:  The Awe-full Badlands ', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '101-revision-13', '', '', '2011-09-06 00:51:32', '2011-09-06 00:51:32', '', 101, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=130', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(131, 2, '2011-09-06 00:58:01', '2011-09-06 00:58:01', 'Start: Mitchell, SD\r\nDestination:  Badlands National Park, Interior, SD\r\nOdometer: 103,062 (start) - 103,400 (end) 338 miles\r\nDate:  Friday, September 2nd - Saturday, September 3rd,  2011\r\n\r\nSouth Dakota….where the wind comes sweeping down the planes.  As mentioned yesterday, the wind was quite strong while trying to cook dinner, but it was not enough to raise our concern.  This changed around midnight that evening.  The Coleman tent is rather broad and will easily catch wind like a sail, even with the windows opened part way to let air through.  This fact, mixed in with incredibly strong and constant winds, leads to quite a stress test of the tent.  The wind huffed, and it puffed, but while the walls of the tent flapped strongly and noisily in and out, the tent stood strong. (I tried getting pictures of the young, nearby trees bending in the wind but it was too dark.)  We were not going back to sleep, but hoped we would at least be able to lay down in an upright tent.  Finally, it happened: one of the corners of the tent came in on my Dad during a particularly strong wind.  Now, if this were a traditional tent, the likely reality would be that the tent pole had broken and we’d be in quite a predicament.  The instant tent however has elbow joints that go in and out.  The wind buckled that joint into the tent, but we were also able to push the joint back into place, without even having to leave the tent.  With a little help from its occupants during that incident, the tent was able to stand strong for the entire night.  The wind finally waned and we went back to sleep.\r\n\r\nThen the morning rains arrived around 3am.  As before, the tent did not leak, but the noise of the rain hitting the tent made the rain sound much worse and woke us up.  I somehow fell back into a deep sleep, because the next thing I knew, it was around 5:30am, Dad was loading the car and I needed to get up so we could take down the tent.\r\n\r\nI have camped many times before, but I had never experienced winds like that.  As such, I am a skeptic regarding the need for the guy-wires of the tent.  More often than not, they are a tripping hazard and are rarely needed.  My Dad however strongly encouraged we follow all the setup requirements of the tent.  I’m glad he did.  Not only did the tent not blow away, but all of the stakes were still firmly in place.  I was sure at least some of them would have been pulled out by the winds.  I still believe those wires are a hazard, but they should not be neglected if you’re in an area capable of having strong winds.\r\n\r\nBy 6am, we had packed up the wet tent and were on the road heading to the Badlands, but on an empty stomach.  I took the wheel, and after surviving a turn into the oncoming traffic lane of a major road, we were on the highway that we would be taking straight across the state for around 200 miles.\r\n\r\nMy Dad would have just driven to the destination without breakfast, but I appreciate a meal in the morning, particularly after a minimal dinner the night before.  Fortunately, there was a rest stop early on where we could eat.  (I’m coming to have a greater appreciation for the need/value of those rest stops I’d ignore back home.)  I made peanut butter and honey sandwiches, and my Dad finished his cinnamon-raison bagels.  No longer hungry, we ventured on to what was our first, real tourist destination of the trip:  the Badlands of South Dakota.\r\n\r\nThe drive through South Dakota was a smooth drive, with corn and sunflower farms on the side, and signs for misc. Badlands attractions, particularly Wall Drug.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-103\" title=\"102_1264\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1264-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-104\" title=\"102_1261\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1261-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-105\" title=\"102_1269\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1269-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nShortly before reaching Interior, SD, we took a much needed rest stop to stretch our legs and gaze out at the vast planes of grass.  Little did we suspect that perhaps the highlight of our entire trip would be a few miles down the road.\r\n\r\nMy Dad and I share a great attraction for Prairie Dogs.  They are just so cute and adorable.  So, you can imagine our excitement when just before arriving at the Badlands, we saw there was a prairie dog ranch that seemed more enamored with them than we are.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-106\" title=\"102_1271\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1271-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nFor free, you can walk right up to the prairie dogs, who have little to no fear of people.  For 50 cents, you can buy a bag of peanuts and feed them (so they’ll stay by you and not snub their nose at your lack of an offering).  Try petting and getting this personal to a group of prairie dogs at the zoo.  We spent a fun thirty minutes playing with them, checking out their burrows, hearing their squeaks, and seeing their diversity (e.g. apparently there are white prairie dogs).\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-107\" title=\"102_1303\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1303-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-108\" title=\"102_1311\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1311-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe then headed for the Cedar Pass Campground at Badlands National Park to get settled in for our two day stay at the Badlands.  The sites and proximity of the sites to the bathrooms and water were nice, but the views the campground afforded were even better.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-110\" title=\"102_1318\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1318-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-111\" title=\"102_1322\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1322-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe had gotten a test of the Badlands hen we entered the park, and were definitely wowed.  We wasted little time before getting back in the car to drive the scenic, roughly 50-mile Loop Road through the outer “wall” of the Badlands.\r\n\r\nWe had both heard of the Badlands, but honestly had little idea what they were. As we learned, the Badlands are the product of erosion over the past 500,000 years.  Millions of years ago, it was the floor of a warm, shallow sea, then it was a grassy flood plane, and now it’s grassland surrounded by a 50-mile “wall” of rock formations shaped by the immense rains and winds of the area.  It was an incredibly difficult area to travel, hence its name “bad lands”, but thanks to modern roads, is now easily driven through and is an incredibly beautiful landscape.  <a href=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/107638235733347757198/Badlands?authuser=0&amp;feat=directlink#slideshow/5648684398686263538\" target=\"_blank\">This slideshow</a> will not do them justice.\r\n\r\n<object width=\"600\" height=\"400\" classid=\"clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000\" codebase=\"http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0\"><param name=\"src\" value=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf\" /><param name=\"flashvars\" value=\"host=picasaweb.google.com&amp;noautoplay=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;feat=flashalbum&amp;RGB=0x000000&amp;feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F107638235733347757198%2Falbumid%2F5648684325457534673%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US\" /><param name=\"pluginspage\" value=\"http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer\" /><embed width=\"600\" height=\"400\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" src=\"https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf\" flashvars=\"host=picasaweb.google.com&amp;noautoplay=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;feat=flashalbum&amp;RGB=0x000000&amp;feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F107638235733347757198%2Falbumid%2F5648684325457534673%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US\" pluginspage=\"http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer\" /></object>\r\n\r\nAt the end of the loop, we found ourselves in Wall, a town of some 800 people and home to the famous Wall Drug, where we decided to stop for lunch.  Wall Drug is definitely a tourist destination, and they know it.  While the ice water may be free and the coffee 5 cents, the food and wares are a bit more expensive.  The service was good (we got two free donuts because our order was delayed), but don’t stop at the Wall Cafe if you’re looking for a cheap or particular delicious lunch.  Dad thought he could find a nice western-style shirt, but to no avail.  After touring the various Wall stores, we got some ice cream and some ice, and headed back to the car.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-112\" title=\"102_1455\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1455-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-113\" title=\"102_1439\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1439-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-114\" title=\"102_1441\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1441-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThe drive back from Wall took us on a dirt road through the southern part of the park, which is mostly grassland.  Since they were windy, dirt roads, we were going slow; however, if you’re a giant tractor trailer, going 80+ and blowing dust on everyone is apparently OK.  They claim there are buffalo there, but all we saw were horses and cattle.  This leg of the drive did not leave that great an impression.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-115\" title=\"102_1474\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1474-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWe arrived back to the campsite around 4 and each took some time to ourselves until dinner.  For dinner, I made veggie burgers, which even Dad thought were good.  We made Kiddish for the start of Shabbat, enjoyed our meal and conversation, and retired early.  It was windy that night (the candles were blown out pretty quick), but nothing compared to our previous experience in Mitchell, SD.  That was, until about midnight.\r\n\r\nShortly before midnight, the tent began to shake, the walls were blowing in and out, and we thought the tent wouldn’t make it.  As we later learned, there were 60mph winds that night.  After the wind, there was a few minutes calm...a clam that turned out to be the oft referenced calm before the storm.  What was a cloudless night had become a dark cloud that filled the sky.  That giant cloud also had an amazing lightning storm going on within it, producing bursts of orange and purple.  Picture a hollywood movie depiction of what the clouds might look like during the apocalypse, and you might have a good idea of what we saw outside our tent window.   Next thing we knew, the tent was being bombarded with what sounded like a heavy rain and powerful winds.  We were both trying to support the tent from the inside, and had to push back into place tent elbows when they buckled under the pressure.  We thought we were going to make it, but then we felt some water spraying in from the top of the tent, hitting us, the sleeping bags, and the cots, so we decided it was time to abandon ship and ride out the storm in the car.\r\n\r\nAs we exited the tent, I became aware that what was hitting the tent was not just rain, but also 1/4” size hail, enough to form a nice pile at the entrance of the tent.  Dad took some items to the car, and I raced to the bathroom (hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go).  In the bathroom, I found Steven, another refugee who had also abandoned his tent.  By the time we were done talking about our storm experiences in the bathroom and heading back, the worst of the storm was over.  In the end, the storm lasted about 30 minutes, but felt like forever.\r\n\r\nRealizing our sleeping stuff would be wet, we tried to catch some sleep in the car.  Dad managed longer than I did.  After a few hours, I went back to the tent and made use of Dad’s relatively dry sleeping area. Dad got up around 4:40 and prepared for the day.  I left the tent around 5:30, running to the bathroom, and tripping over the guy wire.  By 6:15, daybreak had finally arrived and we were able to better assess our situation and conduct a forensic investigation of the tent.\r\n\r\nThe conclusion of the investigation was that an open flap that covered the mesh air vent at the top of the tent had been left propped/held open instead of velcro-ed shut.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1722.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-127\" title=\"102_1722\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1722-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1723.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-128\" title=\"102_1723\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1723-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIt was unclear whether we had propped it up earlier or whether the wind had forced it up, but either way, it provided a clear entry point for the downpour and our prompt exit from the tent.  The investigation also showed that everyone’s tent succumbed to the storm, from the expensive REI tents to the basic dome tents, everyone either made due with a wet tent or went to their car.\r\n\r\nWhen the morning sun arrived, the clouds were gone and we were able to enjoy breakfast and leave the wet camping equipment out to dry, which they did in a couple hours.  Dad dried out the floor of the tent with paper towels and by 9am, I went back to sleep in the dry tent, while my dad did some reading.\r\n\r\nIf the storm had to happen, it happened on the best day, since Saturday/Shabbat are our rest days and so we didn’t need to break camp or be anywhere in particular.  This said, we wanted to do the three nearby hiking trails around the grounds, so we headed over there after I woke up, around noon.\r\n\r\nThe first trail was about half a mile and allowed for walking on top of and amongst the rock formations.  The second was a quarter mile walk along a boardwalk that led to a view of a large canyon formed by the erosion process.  The third was about a mile and half and was the most difficult of the three.  Most notably, it involved climbing up and down a 30-40 rung ladder, at least 100’ tall, bolted to the side of a rock formation, and walking along a path with loose stones and a few feet from a cavernous drop.  We both were surprised that the park service allows hikes like these.  The end of this trail led to an amazing panorama of a huge swath of the Badlands, both prairie and rock.  We took the advice of other hikers and went to an unmarked path near the end that led to another awe-inspiring view of the terrain.  We were definitely glad we went on these hikes.\r\n\r\nWe returned to the campsite around 4 to have lunch.  I made peanut butter and honey (and cheese on mine) sandwiches.  My Dad hadn’t had honey on his peanut butter before, but enjoyed it.  Exhausted, we both went back to the tent and had a Shabbat nap.  There was still plenty of daylight when we woke up, so we journeyed over to the visitor center to see their exhibits about the park and check out the Indian teepees. We returned to the camp site and again took some time to ourselves.  I did some reading and went back to bed until sundown, and Dad relaxed for awhile and also re-organized the car.\r\n\r\nFor dinner, we decided to try out the instant-meals we had purchased.  One simply required adding boiled water, and the second required using a pouch that used a chemical reaction to create an oven-like effect.  Both were types of vegetarian lasagna.  The heat pouch ended up being the quickest and easiest to make, and was also the least expensive and most delicious.  However, the boiled water one encouraged me to create a new aluminum foil contraption:  a protective wall to keep out the wind and contain the heat of the flame.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-116\" title=\"102_1490\" src=\"http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/102_1490-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI’m glad to report that it worked great and we were able to finally boil water.  As for the meal it was going help create:  the parts that got cooked were good; however, I must not have mixed it throughly enough because there were pieces of pasta and seasoning that were still dry and crunch.  I think/hope I’ll be able to do better when I make the pad thai meal from this manufacturer.\r\n\r\nA full stomach and the lack of a full night’s sleep from the night before hit us and we both sacked out in the tent.  We hoped that the weather report of neither rain nor wind would hold true.  We were getting up early tomorrow to see Mt. Rushmore and arrive at the hot springs of Thermopolis, WY.\r\n\r\nAll in all, our time in the Badlands have been an enjoyable and incredible experience.  Almost every turn around a corner brought into view an amazing panorama.  The extreme winds and rains of South Dakota were a memorable experience and provided a stress test of our tent.  Our multiple interactions with prairie dogs in “the wild” were the closest we’ve been to them.  It was nice spending Shabbat with my Dad amongst the beautiful landscapes.  For our first tourist destination, the Badlands have set the bar very high for our future travels.  They say the Badlands may be completely eroded in another 500,000 years, so if you have a chance, we recommend you check it out before it’s too late.', 'Day 4 & 5:  The Awe-full Badlands ', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '101-revision-14', '', '', '2011-09-06 00:58:01', '2011-09-06 00:58:01', '', 101, 'http://www.richgoldman.info/blog/?p=131', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
