Community post
The Cool A$$ Badlands
It's been a while, but since I've learned I can bring my computer to work, well, here we are. And yes, I said work. I have a legit full time job now. Something that I haven't held in 23 years. I was a stay at home Mom and then my ex felt I should be taking care of his every need and of course, a job would take that away. It feels quite nice to be able to do what I want when I want and if I want to work a seventy-two hour shift, no one can keep me from doing so. What can I say? Freedom is the greatest thing on Earth! This job is only temporary though, it's a stepping stone to get me closer to being able to start a cajun food truck!
Ok enough about that.
Check this out...
Sunrise in Badlands, SD
Driving west to Rapid City was quite an experience, I decided to take the scenic route until I got stopped by two masked Native Americans at the border of the Pine Ridge Reservation. Here's how the conversation went...
Native American: Hmmmm... no front plate?
Me: No, I'm from New Orleans front plates are not necessary.
Native American: What the hell are you doing all the way up here?
Me: Well, right now, I'm trying to go to Rapid City.
He starts to walk to the back of my car to get the numbers off of my license plate. The other masked one is just standing there staring at me.
Native American: Well, you want the good news or bad news first?
Me: I guess give me the bad news.
Native American: You can't drive through here, you have to go to the interstate, it's faster that way anyway.
Me: Okay, Bye!
I didn't wait for the good news, and I probably didn't want to know the good news, or even think of what that good news could be. I didn't ask any questions. I happily turned my ass around and went to the interstate. And by that time, I had seen plenty of scenery anyway. These were some pretty intimidating dudes with their covered faces. And it was just little old me alone in my vehicle. A local told me, "I would have just drove through." Ummmm no, that's not good advice. Thanks anyway.
Anyway, after the "event" at the border of the reservation, I made it to the Badlands. And let me just say... The Badlands are badass!! You kind of expect a place with a name like that to look a certain way. Well, folks it did not disappoint.
Sunrise in Badlands, SD
I know the pictures do this place no justice. When I look at them now, they do not compare to seeing this place with your own eyes. It was windy that day and a little too chilly for my taste so I was shivering on my walk, but the beauty took my breath away and I didn't think about it too much. The jagged rocks stretched as far as the eye could see and with my limited vocabulary it's hard to find the right word to express how stunning this place is.
I left early in the morning as it was a three hour drive to Rapid City and I had some things to take care of so I didn't have very long to dilly dally but the timing could not have been more perfect.
Not a cloud in the sky. The way the sun shined on the rocks... had I been a better photographer, I would have been able to take advantage of the situation but as it was, I had to keep picking up my bottom jaw from dragging.
At the end of the walk way was a lookout, which is something common here... they have scenic lookouts on the side of the highways because the scenery is so beautiful. When you look over the side of the lookout straight down, the jagged points made me bring my arms back over the handrail. If I take one misstep, I would quickly become food for the wildlife in the area. Don't laugh, like I said, it was windy... we take no chances!
Maybe next time I take a ride through the Badlands, I'll be brave and take a picture pointing straight down. It was a sight to behold. My son decided not to take this ride with me, and of course I told him how much he missed out on. I showed him the pictures when I got home just to make him jealous. It worked.
I want to get back to the Badlands after a snowfall. can you imagine this place covered in snow? I want... wait no, I need more pictures. I hope you've enjoyed this little adventure into the Badlands, and I hope that you get to see this place with your own eyes if you haven't one day. It's definitely worth the trip!
Replies (17)
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STOPDo not miss the last post from @hivebuzz:
#3 and #5. If I had to pick.
Never been through the Badlands but I could imagine those points with snow--gorgeous. We saw the Tetons like that, they're kinda edgy.
Nice to see you posting again. Now that you've admitted how easy it is to post from work, Ima expect more of this and less of that bitterness stuff. As Judge Judy would say: You chose him.
Congratulations on your new gig! Why do you call it temporary? The position is or you are? Yeah, that's what I said, You chose him.
Psst--Congratulations on 'that' new gig too 👍🏿
Yes @dandays. My favorites are #2 and #5. I absolutely love that sunrise. But I remember the feeling I had pulling up and seeing that so I'm sure that influences my decision.
And yeah the bitterness stuff is done, I mean you might have to hear it just for the sake of me telling a story or something.
And trust me when I tell you I could kick myself in the ass for choosing him. I got my son out of it so I try to not be so hard on myself. But that's in the past now and I'm ready to move forward.
I say temporary because I have a dream and want to pursue my dream of starting a cajun food truck which will hopefully lead me to opening a restaurant. I would like to take once a month and go feed the homeless. And Once a year I'd like to have a free crawfish boil. I cooked gumbo yesterday and brought some to my patients. They've never had any kind of cajun food before and they loved it!! I think I have some potential.
And thanks for always being there @dandays... out of my 12 followers you are my biggest fan and it means a lot to me that you stop by to say hello and chew my ass out from time to time too.
Damn I grew up on the Rez and that was funny. Masked huh? And yes, they are marvelous after a good snow. The badlands I mean. Have you noticed the air is cleaner up there?
One of my favorite places on earth. I stop in every time by.
Have you been to Wall, SD yet? Surely you have seen the bumper stickers and billboards for Wall Drug? There is a fine restaurant directly West of Wall Drug (which covers 2 city blocks).
The Natives. Some of that is a pissing contest with the governor of South Dakota and authorities in general. Remember it hasn't been long since a pipeline was re routed through a reservation (Standing Rock) to protect the area around Rapid City and very much against the wishes of the Sioux nation.
It's also a protest against the cavalier attitude towards CV 19 in South Dakota and North Dakota. The death rate on the Rez is about 10x higher than it is in the white Dakotas. So they put the big brothers out on the roadblocks. Just sayin'
My pleasure. You make it easy.
Well you sure do get a lot of attention for 12 followers.
Pura's a chef, too. Her dream is to refurbish a set of conex's one of these days to serve up her keto recipes and coffee.
We have a lot in common, us. Prior to leaving Long Beach I was delivering food twice a week for Meals On Wheels. Man I really enjoyed that, I miss my clients regularly. She and I also donated our time twice a week while in Greece to a kitchen called Steky Center, a refugee kitchen for Middle Eastern refugees seeking asylum in Europe. I bet you woulda been right there with us, choppin, stirrin, and servin it up.
I have seen all the signs for Wall Drug but haven't had the opportunity to stop by there yet but definitely want to go. I'll probably wait for the spring or even summer though ... we would just have more fun that way.
I understand the story with the natives which is why I just happily turned around and went on my way. I do find in some of these small towns they do have that much expected small town thinking... thats the only thing I'm not too fond of around here.
The Rez... did that make for a very interesting childhood? And yes love, masked... we could blame it on Covid... but it was intimidating nonetheless.
The air is much cleaner up here. And the wide open spaces... I really can't wait to see this place in the summertime when the crops are growing and everything is green. I'm very excited for that!
Small towns, particularly in tough country, tend to be pretty defensive and stand offish. Though Wall is so tourist oriented that I've never found it there.
Last time I was in that restaurant I walked in and a guy fingered me. I just let it go so he came to talk. I had forgotten that I had an ADV rider sticker on my bike. The finger is the universal Hi, how you doing? salute for them. He joined me for breakfast...
I love that part of South Dakota! The Badlands and the Blackhills are amazing!
Yay! 🤗
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The "good news" from those masked men, was probably going to be, "For a dollar… we'll let you pass through."🤠
I completely agree. And honestly I have yet to find a part of South Dakota that I'm not in love with! I really can't wait to see this place in the summertime.
I have never spent any time exploring North of I90. I think that would be a great road trip. I drove across ND once and loved it. I've never made it back there.
I'm actually not too far away from the ND border. I go into Bismarck to get groceries from time to time.. I was in Gregory at the end of September for about a month and loved it down there too!
Oh good... Then I can count on you to give us some tours around the area?
Absolutely!! I'm getting to know the area pretty well up here!!