DFT21 - Day 5 and 6

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There are two caves in the Black Hills.  Jewel Cave and Wind Cave, but in order to get tours you have to basically be at the park by the time the visitors center opens at 8am.  So for the past two mornings we have had to get up extra early.  We made it to Jewel Cave right at 8ish.  People were flying through the parking lot to get their tickets - it was kinda crazy.  We purchased our tickets and then had a catastrophe.  It said closed toe shoes.  All EG had were crocs and some keen type shoes (that we left back at the tent).  Some people were saying Keens were fine, others were saying no it couldn't be any type of sandal.  So being the rule followers we are we drove into to town to buy her shoes.  I tried the Dollar General first for some cheap shoes.  They didn't have any and said the Dollar General 30 miles away carried kids shoes.  But there was an outfitters store in the town that we stopped at and sure enough they carried kids hiking boots. So EG got her first pair of big girl hiking boots.  I had been holding off on buying a pair because she grows out of shoes so fast.  But we sized up and hopefully she can wear them at least next summer too.  
We made it back to Jewel Cave for our 11am tour and EG completed another Junior Ranger program.  




After Jewel Cave we spent some time exploring Custer, SD.  And found another Ice Cream shop. This time EG and I shared an Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich.  

                                        

                                                    

Then we drove into Rapid City for a few different reasons.  1) All along the interstate are signs for the Firehouse Brewing Co. in Rapid City.  Literally there is one probably every 5 to 10 miles.  2) We needed another Target Run - I apparently forgot to pack myself some leggings and it has been getting cold here in the evenings. Also the $9 phone holder I bought for the car doesn't work - that's what I get for trying to buy it from Wal-Mart ;) - and we wanted to get a better one.  

The Firehouse place was not very good - not even picture worthy. I have discovered that all the things advertised along I-90 in South Dakota are just MEH. 

                                                         
Today we explored Wind Cave - again we had to be there early.  My goal was to be there by 7:45.  We arrived at 7:50 and there were already close to 75 people in line.  But we made it through the line pretty quick and were able to get tickets for the Natural Entrance tour at 9am.  I heard them say as we were leaving the park that they would sell out of tour tickets for the entire day by noon. 


 
Look Close there is a Prairie Dog behind her!


The tour was great! I personally think Wind Cave is far better than Jewel Cave.  The tour was longer, you got to see more, and the tour guide was more knowledgeable.  EG earned another Junior Ranger Badge.  We saw Prairie Dogs and Buffalo!! EG was most excited for the Prairie Dogs!  And we did a short 1 mile hike up to a fire tower.  Wind Cave as a whole is a really great park.  It is very diverse and has lots of things to offer.  We would have hiked more but someone needed a nap.  So we drove into Hot Springs, SD.  And over to a town called Edgemont because 1) we were trying to kill some time because she was still asleep and 2) because they had a quilt shop.  After she woke up we went back to Hot Springs for dinner ate at a BBQ food truck that was amazing! And found an ice cream shop - that made homemade limon gelato that tasted like frozen lemonade and it was so good EG stopped eating her own ice cream to try to share mine.  OH and we saw a Coyote on our way back through the park tonight. 

                                                    

                                                      
                                                     
We came back to the campground early tonight, so I could do laundry and blog ;) Tomorrow we leave the KOA (thank goodness because there are more people here then I have ever seen before) and head into Custer State Park for two nights.  I should have plenty of wifi because we are staying at their lodge. 

Ice Cream Count: 4
Target Run: 2 

Favorite part of Monday: Ice Cream Sandwich
Favorite part of Tuesday: Prairie Dogs

*this has been typed very quickly in the KOA laundry mat and I don't know what type of errors it may contain ;) 


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