So after our fond fair well to our first home away from home, Olney, IL it was time to set forth into unknown territory, heading northwest to Omaha, Nebraska. Like Lewis and Clark, we headed toward the Missouri River, following it north on the Iowa side until we crossed into Nebraska where we were greeted by my long time friend Ian Aeillo. He has lived in Nebraska since college, but now has an amazing family of his own and they went out of their way to welcome us into their home and show us what Omaha has to offer.
Ian (nothing has changed, but he's a dad!), Mary Clare Sweet (yoga extraordinaire - look her up!) & Tallullah (the most well articulated 4 year old I've come across)
In the short amount of time we had (Saturday night & Sunday) we fit a lot in: fine dining at a sushi restaurant in downtown Omaha, entertained by a Nashville musician flown into Omaha for a very impressive house party, a drive-by of Warren Buffet's neighborhood, monkeying around at the Henry Doorly Zoo, Yoga Rocks the Park (see video below), and fun with friends at Ian and M.C.'s Sunday night family dinner.
Quite the warm welcome
Desert Dome at the zoo. At 13 stories tall it's the largest geodesic dome in the world!
We left the comforts of Omaha Sunday morning and were ready to see the wild west. Day 6 & 7 of our trip were designated to South Dakota's Badlands National Park and the infamous Mount Rushmore. We heard praises about a "corn palace" in South Dakota so we kept a lookout for such a thing and turns out it was conveniently en route!
Interesting concept, but we were slightly under impressed.
We kept moving and were entering the Badlands before we knew it. Before I continue, I need to note that one of the best parts of this trip was doing it in a car because it is unbelievable to look out the window and see so many varieties of landscape, geology, and topography unfold. This is unfortunately also one of the most challenging things to describe. Luckily we took a lot of pictures, which helps, but doesn't do it justice.
So we went from rolling hills and hay bails to the prairie where you suddenly see an enormous wall of eroding spires, which is Badlands National Park. We entered the park, found the visitors center to gather some information and then reserved a camp site for the night. We were both in awe, jaws dropped at this place. The best I can describe the land is like drip sand castles you make in the wet sand at the beach, but with magnificently colored sand. There is a large loop that you can drive to see the park from various perspectives and make stops along the way to explore. We couldn't believe our eyes when we saw bison in the distance. Then we realized we were standing in a field of burrows, which is a prairie dog town! Incredible. We were excited to find that the parks offer free education programs led by park rangers. We attended a short afternoon session about fossils and archeology within the park and were really excited for an evening program on astronomy held under the stars where they end by giving a tour of the amazing night sky. Unfortunately, as the sky darkened clouds rolled in and lightening was striking in every direction. Due to the inclement weather, the session was cancelled and we headed back to our wind tossed $20 Walmart tent which was now only attached by 2 of our 4 stakes. I was slightly concerned at the "shelter" we had as the wind picked up and the thunder roared. I held down the tent with my body as Charlie was out in the elements being a good neighbor to the family camped beside us that had all sort of gear blowing away. I made sure to ground myself with my sneakers and prayed. Somehow we made it through the night with only minor leakage into our tent (we now have adhesive along the tent seams - live and learn!). We were up early to catch a sunrise and to go on an early morning hike before the temperature rose (it was 106 degrees the day before) and before it was time to continue west to Mount Rushmore and Cody, WY.
Welcome to the Wild West!
Layer upon layer of different sediments deposited 34 to 67 million yrs ago. They are now eroding sedimentary rocks.
He's got his eye on us.
They just make you smile.
With that, I must say goodnight! I'm out of blogging shape (not sure if I've ever really been in it, thanks to my overzealous husband). Stay tuned for part 3...
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