We got up early this morning and packed things up before the rest of the campground was awake. We then headed the car east and didn’t stop for 12 hours. We didn’t even stop to take a picture. We are now in the Wisconsin Dells at a KOA. We plan to relax for 3 nights before heading home. There is more to do here then I can grasp.
The Needles / Mt. Rushmore / Iron Mountain
‘Today we headed into the Black Hills to take a look at some of the local 
attractions. We started by heading up the Needles Highway which takes you up on a winding road that passes through granite spires. The road passes through 3 tunnels that are barely large enough to drive through.
The girl getting her picture taken on the right sat by us at the Cody Rodeo and Sarah and her became friends.
We then stopped at Mt. Rushmore and paid the 10$ to park and take a look at Mt. Rushmore and walk through the museum.
We then headed back on the Iron Mountain Highway. This highway also passes through 3 tunnels and crosses several old wooden bridges. You often drive under the bridge only to curve around and drive over it. Each of the 3 tunnels are aligned so that when you look down them you look directly at Mt. Rushmore.
Custer State Park – Wildlife Loop
We headed around the wildlife loop hoping to see some “wild” donkeys and bison. We barely got into the park and we found ourselves surrounded by the donkeys. People are allowed to feed them so if you have your windows down, they stick their head right into the car. The kids thought that was pretty cool. Misty didn’t enjoy that as much.
A little further down the road, we came upon a small herd of buffalo. We sat and watched them a while… until this guy with this really crappy car pulled up and then scared them all away with his loud muffler.
No worries, we came across many more bison and donkeys as we continued through the park.
We think the black hills has become infested with beaver. They have built subdivisions in every pine forest in the area. We never did see one, but their homes are everywhere.
Beaver Lake Campground – Custer, SD
We setup camp at Beaver Lake Campground. This campground wins our award for the friendliest staff and best kept campground. They have an extensive collection of bicycles that they have collected and repaired over the years that they allow the kids use for free. They have painted each 
bike green and yellow. They reminded us of Bob Blain’s collection. 
Headed to Custer, SD
We got up early this morning and packed up, headed to Custer, SD. We headed east out of Cody on 14 over a mountain pass that had us again seeing snow. This should be the last snow we see until November. After passing through the mountains, we stopped in the small town of “Dayton for a picnic before continuing east.
Dust Storm Near Moorcroft
A storm was building behind us so we pressed on hoping to outrun it. It caught up in Moorcroft while we stopped to get gas. The wind blew hard and it hailed for several minutes. We hid under the shelter at the gas station until it slowed and then took off southeast trying to outrun the next storm in the line. As we drove, we ran into small sections of hail that forced us to pull over until it slowed down. We finally got back ahead of the storm when the car started making a weird noise. We pulled over and the driver side rear rim or hub was HOT! There was smoke. We let it cool some and then I had Misty drive slowly while I walked beside the car listening to it. It was silent. I was hoping it wasn’t a bearing. We drove further down the road to Upton trying to stay ahead of the storm. I got out again and checked the tire and it had cooled down and seemed to be fine. We decided to stop and eat in Upton while we let the storm pass so we didn’t find ourselves stranded in a tornado. Our only option was Polly’s Pub and Grub. The pub was a little run down but the people working there were very nice. They told us a tornado had touched down in Moorcroft about 20 minutes before we arrived in 
Upton. We ate some dinner and then headed on toward NewCastle. Misty and I figured the parking break must have gotten set while we were dodging the hail. Whatever it was, it did not return the rest of the way to Custer.
Cody Rodeo – Every Night in the Summer
Tonight we headed to the Cody Rodeo. It was a two hour event that 
included all the traditional rodeo events. They add one fun event that makes it unique. They put a flag on some calves and turn them loose. The kids in the stands get to enter the arena and try to get the flag from the tail of the calf. Our kids are too cool to be humiliated so they did not participate.
Tipi Sleeping
Buffalo Bill Historical Center
Today we headed up the road a few blocks to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. The museum actually is made up of about 5 separate museums. A Buffalo Bill Museum, a Plains Indian Museum, a Museum of Natural History, A Firearms Museum, and a Western Art Museum. Until July, it is also hosting a showcase on Lewis and Clark Paintings.
We started in the Plains Indian Museum, which had some very interesting displays of how each tribe lived. The displays were setup so that you felt like you were actually there.
We then headed into the Natural History Museum which was organized by elevation. You start at the Alpine region and then work your way down. It also was well done, making you feel like you are actually there. For instance, when you walk through the section on forest fires, you can smell the smoke.
For lunch we headed down the road a few more blocks to the Irma Hotel and Saloon. It was built in the 1800’s by Buffalo Bill Cody. He had the bar built in France, it was then shipped to the East coast and traveled by train, and then by stage to its present location in Cody.
After lunch, Misty and the youngest three drove back to the campsite for a nap while the rest of us walked back to the museum to check out the rest of the displays. The girls enjoyed the western art museum because it gave them a chance to do some of their own drawing.
Ponderosa Campground – Cody, WY
We are staying at the Ponderosa Campground in Cody for the next two nights. To change things up a bit and to give Misty a chance to live out her Indian dreams, we stayed in a Tipi. The campground is right in the middle of Cody, within walking distance of most of the major attractions. Our tipi had been setup down a ravine which required about 3 switchbacks and an 90% grade to get down. The bathrooms were at the top. At first, Misty was not impressed. The tipi had a dirt floor, the nearest bathrooms were up a cliff, a stream was right behind the tipi waiting to wash the kids away, and some sort of tree was in bloom which gave the whole pit a strange odor. Once we got started setting up, Misty started to take a liking to the site and was soon happy with it.
Deer in Camp
While waiting for our tarp to dry up a bit, the kids decided to play on it, making quite a bit of noise. Apparently what they were doing was some sort of Indian deer call because a doe came strolling in for a little grazing a few yards away from the kids and hung around for about a half hour.
To Cody
Odd sign. No Explosions
We left Yellowstone out the east entrance to Yellowstone. The path took us over yet another pass above the snow line. 
A wild fire had hit the area since we were there last, leaving many dead trees standing. 
The pass opens into the valley of the Shoshone River. Large ranches line either side of the river. Buffalo Bill Cody once had a ranch in the area. 
Just west of Cody, a dam was constructed which forms a lake in the canyon
Back to Yellowstone – East Side
We headed back inot the park this morning, this time going down the east side of the park. Right away we started seeing more elk and bison.
We stopped for a quick photo at Undine Falls. It was working.
Some of us weren’t into the falls to much. Sitting in the road on the other hand is much more fun.
We took a drive down Blacktail Plateau Drive for some great views of the nearby meadow.
Near Roosevelt Lodge, they offer stage rides through a portion of the park.
From Roosevelt Lodge, the roads climb up to around 9000 feet over Dunraven Pass. The cliffs weren’t too steep so Misty let me stop to take a photo.
We stopped at Canyon Village Visitors Center so the girls could get their Jr. Ranger badge.
After being in the car for a few hours, we decided to take a hike along the 
Yellowstone above the falls. The trail we took gave us some good views of the Upper and Lower Falls.
After our hike, it was getting pretty late in the day so we headed out the East entrance to Cody. The last leg of our trip through Yellowstone took us along Yellowstone Lake.
