Winter Family Travels in 2005: Day Fourty Three

We woke up at 7.00 all refreshed and in a good mood. As we were packing up, Margot noticed a red squirrel that seemed very interested in our bathing suits on the line. When packing up the suits it was discovered that Stewart's suit must have been the favorite with lots of little holes chewed into the waist band. When we left the Black Hills we found an easy Geocache called Falling Rock. We finally left Young Elvis travel bug from Dinosaur Provincial Park. There was a great view of a river canyon from this cache though we had to pick our way through the poison ivy. We arrived in Badlands National Park at lunch time to major heat. We picked a camp site by a cottonwood tree that helped a bit. After a lunch and setting up our tents, Margot read a bit to the girls as they tried to stay cool in the grass.

We escaped into the air conditioning of the truck and took the road through the park. We stopped at the Big Pig Dig and watched as they worked on a old watering hole where they have over the past 11 years recovered over 12,000 bones. Next stop was Prairie Dog town and watch the dogs and bison. The bison were digging up lots of dirt and rolling. They must be very hot. We spotted a badger in the town, he was digging in a dog's hole. The other prairie dogs were standing and watching him closely.

We got back after 6.30 to make dinner in the heat. After supper Stewart and the girls went off to do a trail and get some pictures. They arrived back after sunset and finally it was cooling off a bit. Margot had talked with a ranger who said the the high today was not that bad, about 94 and that tomorrow it would be 105. Went to bed with the windows down and just a sheet, it was very comfortable. Good thing we were getting out of Dodge tomorrow.