Exploring Badlands National Park - RV Travel - Summer 2022 Episode 3
well guess what we're back take a look at this place I mean remember this place yes this is that famous the wall boondocking area right outside the Badlands the National Park um we have the AC running on battery for a little bit we're gonna go into the national park right now and try to see some of the Vista points maybe do a hike but it is much harder today than when we were here a week ago so um I don't know I don't know if uh I'm gonna have to fire up that generator when we return although in the shade if there is a little bit of a breeze it's not too bad [Music] wherever I want to be you guys I'm free in my RV oh there's like the best boondocking site ever top 5 for sure a little bit crowded but the view definitely makes up for it [Music] foreign we're just going to do the main Loop Road and stop at some of the Vista points [Music] let's go down there [Music] oh [Music] this is called the Ancient Hunters overlook foreign we're approaching the yellow Mounds and isn't this leg the most incredible scenery [Music] hey guys isn't this slick the most magnificent sight I don't even know what this Overlook is called we just stopped on the side of the road but look at the different colors and the layers and the rocks it looks almost like surreal-like like you're in this in a different planet this is the reason why we come to the West to get this uh this amazing 360. and um and when I was here a couple of years ago I didn't it didn't look this good just because we didn't have the the the perfect weather conditions that we have today and yeah I'm just in ah you know at this this incredible landscape this is all right let's continue [Music] we're going to stop at the yellow Mounds Overlook here although I think there's a better one at a little higher elevation if memory serves the other Overlook was closed by the way so this is the best we can do under the circumstances which is not bad not bad at all fabulous views of the Badlands there's some construction going on so for this portion we have to follow a pilot car which also means not stopping at any of the overlooks timing is everything or so they say and here we have another prairie dog Town very common in the Badlands in both North and South Dakota thank you [Music] thank you [Music] it is the first time we were able to stop in a while so let's take a break [Music] thank you [Music] this is an important Trailhead here on the right hand side we have a fossil exhibit and on the left one one of the trailheads for the castle Trail which is five miles one way and the next time we come to the Badlands I intend to do that one but this time around tomorrow morning actually I have something else in mind [Music] keep going towards the eastern part of the park [Music] foreign [Music] thank you [Music] this is the cliff shelf Trail which actually takes you down below for today let's just enjoy the view from up here [Music] [Applause] [Music] thank you [Music] there that's the trail right there [Music] this is the trailhead where I'm coming tomorrow there are at least two Trails here that I want to do and this is the other Terminus of the castle Trail let me take a picture of the sign thank you [Music] we've got one more stop today and that would be the big Badlands overlook [Music] foreign [Music] there seems to be something attracting bees to the interpretive sign so I'm not gonna get anywhere near that [Music] we return to our campsite by the wall to enjoy the rest of the day [Music] thank you what a difference a week makes I find the landscape somewhat different that Lake wasn't there before for example and now we've got cows lots of cows [Music] and we've got some Wildlife as well [Music] as the Sun starts to get lower Over the Horizon magic hour is here Sunset is upon us here in the Badlands so is moonrise [Music] [Applause] [Music] thank you foreign it is going to be one of those magical Crimson Western sunrises [Music] hi good morning so we're gonna go for a little hike we're gonna go back to the national park and someone recommended this hike called the notch so that's what I'm gonna do [Music] so I'm taking I-90 to the northeastern entrance to the Badlands and then I'm gonna go to that large parking lot with the three trailheads the welcoming community Trio of bighorn sheep what a treat to be able to see them there we have the Badlands as I said we're going to the large parking lot with the three trailheads the notch which I'm definitely going to do the door which is an easy walk on a boardwalk although you can walk a little farther on an undeveloped Trail then there's the castle Trail which that one I'm going to save for a future trip when I'm hopefully better prepared and with more time and there's another short walk called the window that I think I'm going to do as well thank you [Music] nuts Trail here's the adventure here we go window Trail because the notch Trail is the last one I guess we have to follow these white blazes but we'll do we'll be aware of the of the rattlesnakes [Music] [Music] I mean never forget to look back and I think this is gonna be pretty epic pretty epic trail [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] so I guess this is the famous ladder okay those stairs now foreign the beginning is not bad but it gets steeper the higher you get all right yeah those doors weren't too bad [Music] not a solitary Trail yes as he looked at the beginning it's a very popular Trail a little out of breath that's two stairs took my breath away a little bit and now we're just gonna work on this ledge here no guard rails that's for sure looking back [Music] I'm actually glad the trail is marked with warning signs and arrows to help you navigate oh wow look at that well here we go actually you can see all the way to the parking lot [Music] since we don't have a marked or worn out path on the ground sometimes it is hard to know exactly which way to go [Music] oh I'm so glad I brought my hiking shoes let me tell you this some of this is and I'm not entirely sure I'm on the right side right now but I do see more [Music] I guess there's no right or wrong way to do it right interesting these rocks [Applause] yeah I think this is probably the end of the dangerous part right famous last word but uh yeah the cliffs are back there now I think it's just to that Overlook over there [Music] by the way we have perfectly blue skies today such a beautiful contrast with a bright Rock oh so I often say never forget to look back usually although this is an in and out Trail So eventually we have to come back the same way we came in [Music] thank you wow [Music] foreign [Music] was definitely worth the effort for sure I love Trails like this you get a big reveal at the end here overlooking the Cedar Pass Lodge and Campground and the small town called interior [Music] well this is one of those trails that I would say the the effort to reward the ratio is rather High I mean that's revealed at the end of the trail is just worth the let's be honest it wasn't that difficult you know you have to scramble over a couple of rocks here and there but it is not too bad and that landscape back there it's just unreal now let's get back [Music] thank you [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] well here comes the moment of truth [Music] [Music] thank you [Music] now those people were waiting for me to come down the ladder but anyway now now for the easy part [Music] and that's it for the notch Trail very rewarding very rewarding hike now let's see if we can do some of the other like shorter hikes and I would love to do a little bit of that castle Trail but we'll see we'll see this took an hour so maybe Wednesday another hour out here starting to get hot that's the thing it is very convenient to have that trauma cooler in the car because I just went grabbed a fresh bottle of you know cold water bottle of water and now we're gonna do the window Trail this is a short one only a third of a mile and wheelchair accessible [Music] oh yeah wow good take a look at this place amazing views which proves not every Trail has to be 10 miles long although you do those for the fun of the hike this one just a third of a mile and take a look at this [Music] oh those must be the windows over there [Music] [Music] foreign that one kind of looks like someone or something let's do that door Trail we may or may not do a little bit of the castle Trail it's getting late it's getting warm I entered the door Trail yeah apparently it goes um 800 meters what is that about half a mile beyond the the boardwalk but the world Boardwalk is only like a hundred meters so let's do the boardwalk and maybe a little bit of the of the hard part such a place this Badlands let me tell you oh okay look at all those birds they're they're nesting on the on the roof there and look at this area here with all this it's like miniature mesas I think [Music] and this is the end of the boardwalk now let's do the rest okay you say 800 meters in this area of rugged terrain may not do the whole thing but let's uh let's just do a little bit I guess I should follow that the blazes but look at that look at that I just have to [Music] I'm not sure exactly if this is part of the trail but we'll go to this higher point and see yep so I guess I guess the trail went over there went off Trail a little bit well it turns out I'm more than halfway on this Trail so might as well finish it we'll just we just won't do the castle Trail it is like a mini Grand Canyon here [Music] [Music] let me tell you it is one thing to see this landscape from afar and the totally different experience to be able to walk on it see it up close [Music] [Music] here we are the end of the trail that was awesome now let's start getting back [Music] overall a fairly easy Trail I've seen children on it but I wouldn't leave them unsupervised because there are several fairly big drops along the way and that's pretty much going to be it for us as I mentioned today we're saying goodbye to the Badlands and to the West for that matter and there is certainly with a heavy heart that I depart from this place second favorite boondocking spot in the United States ever let me know do you think this will be first which one do you like better this or money or or Valley of the Gods okay [Music] We Begin The Journey East going back home to Florida although we are going to have a few stops along the way and you're more than welcome to tag along some of the places we're visiting tomorrow we've been there before although the experience is always somewhat different and some are going to be completely new like Sioux Falls for example [Music] going home I got me knowing let's stop and let the big fifth wheel pass [Music] on a trip like this it would be definitely more efficient and economic to Boondock every night at a Walmart rest area but it's been a very hot July in the midwest so we're gonna stay here at the Kennebec KOA just a quick overnight [Music] our first stop today we've been here before during the Lewis and Clark trip about a month ago we're crossing the Missouri River and we're going to stop by the dignity statue [Music] when we were here before it was under construction so let's see if it is all better now it's an inconsiderate a car driver who parks in the oversized section what can you do in any case the great detour begins let me show you something this is of course the dignity statue and we were here a few weeks ago and we'll probably be back but this is the last time we're gonna intersect the Lewis and Clark Trail and this will return until we return to the West you know you know in a few days they have the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center there and uh and there it is with the Missouri river behind it this time we were here we did the visitor center and the ACTA Lakota Museum so we're not gonna do any of that today that's it we're not gonna spend the whole time here since we were here a few weeks ago now we continue back East towards another spot where we were a few weeks ago we want to see if it has changed at all you know okay well yes we're going to stop by the Corn Palace because we have to when we stopped here last month they were still working on some of the murals so let's see if there's any difference there is oversized parking about a block away and once again here we are at the famous Corn Palace it looks like they haven't finished yet [Music] the building is a basketball arena and they are playing videos on their scoreboard about the history of the Corn Palace originally built in 1892 as a way to prove to the world that South Dakota had a healthy agricultural climate this is actually the third building built in 1921. while the arena is nothing used it is a gift shop did I mention it smells like Corning here it is a pretty strong smell last time I was here I forgot to come to the second floor and there is a balcony yeah maybe we'll get to see it completely finished one of these days we have to come in October I think that's when they finish covering the whole thing with the corn and every year as you can see it's a it's a different theme like the 1903 look all right let's continue Sioux Falls is calling the theme in 2022 is under the big top named after a 1938 movie so yeah apparently they start like in June and they don't finish like until October or November so maybe we're gonna have to come back like in the fall and see it you know finished [Music] anyway here's my friend corny [Music] this is perhaps the flattest part of the Great Plains our next destination Sioux Falls again we're only going to spend one night here at the KOA although today we do have a little bit of time to explore [Music] thank you [Music] we haven't had anything to eat and here's false Overlook Cafe let's see how it is let's see what they have it's called the Dakota Cuban let's see how it tastes pretty good so this is what I've been debuted if we were able to sit outside but it is too hot for that in a way pretty pretty good Cuban sandwich and the local beer was a ale I forgot the name Sioux Falls is the largest city in South Dakota and the main attraction seems to revolve around these Cascades on the Big Sioux River an area originally inhabited by Native Americans first visited by French explorers in the 18th century this is called false Park and it would be very pleasant actually if it wasn't so hot says the Floridian but let me tell you when it gets hot in the midwest it is totally legit it gets very hot this by the way the queen bee Mill ruins it used to be seven stories stop and it was in operation from 1878 until it was destroyed by fire in 1956. well here we've got some ruins so let's see what this is the way it is uncomfortably hot today here in I mean when you're in the shade and the breeze comes it's bearable but in the sun it's uh so it will be brief check it out how it used to look like right there [Music] thank you [Music] [Music] there's like an observation tower we should go there later let me tell you I don't know if swimming is allowed here but I kind of wish I would have brought my bathing suit check it out the monarch of the Plains okay here we are the big reveal [Music] oh you can see everything from here well this is the tower on the visitor information center and this is the view shall I say commanding View [Music] now let's go for a stroll along the other Bank of the river see the Cascades from the other side [Music] this statue is called for which it stands and it is of course facing the flag [Music] thank you [Music] [Music] we're just taking in the views from some of the many spots overlooking the river [Music] alright let's continue there is more to explore [Music] [Music] thank you let's check out this pretty interesting piece here from afar it looked like an unfinished Bridge but apparently it is not it's just art but there's a pedestrian bridge here let's take it and see what the views are [Music] [Music] thank you [Music] this area is called sculpture walk because of all the street art but there is one sculpture and particularly interested in [Music] okay here we are this is another point of Interest here in Sioux Falls this is fabric Park here we have a Sundial which is 4 26 PM daylight saving time so yeah it is kind of right it will be 3 P.M on astronomical time but that's not
the the famous thing here the famous series that [Music] of course this would be a life-size replica of Michelangelo's David the original in Florence Italy of course but we have one here in Sioux Falls South Dakota let's continue [Music] and I'm sure there's a lot more to see in Sioux Falls but that's all we're gonna do today [Music] on the road again Sioux Falls here pretty cool town we'll be back one of these days but right now we're going to the Mothership Forest City Iowa to the Grand the national rally [Music] oh yes we just arrived here at the Winnebago Grand National rally and we're hungry we're gonna see if we can get something to eat and you know and just walk around the grounds see what's uh what's exciting well here we are the rally hasn't really started yet but this is like the Main Avenue we have all the state flags and you know we're gonna have the road party here in a couple of days and um we just had late lunch there at the the two old chefs they're very good food truck we had the pork tenderloin because if you're in Iowa that's what you have to have right so I'll be reporting daily here of our activities at the at the 2022 Winnebago Grand National rally in Forest City Iowa actually I did another video in which I covered GNR as we say for short so here I'm just going to show you the highlights before we continue to East or Southeast rather commanding views of the Iowa Prairie here Sunday like a cone but it's got coleslaw on the top we're having the loaded carnita nachos [Music] [Music] [Music] after a week of fun at the rally it was time to make a beeline to the southeast to Orangeburg South Carolina to be exact because this final leg of the trip is I'm sorry to say the last time we're going to see Denver the Colorado good tow vehicle for the past three and a half years but I've put a lot of miles on it I think an upgrade is in order [Music] [Music] welcome to Illinois oh thank you keep left to continue on I-55 North [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] South Carolina and before I own hitch I just wanted to point out this may be the last Toe with the Colorado you see at 124 309 miles I think it's been a good ship right so let's unhitch and tomorrow we're gonna trade her in for something a little bigger well I removed all of my Mounds so we're going handheld today uh by the way good morning and uh yeah we're going to to Joe Ferry Chevrolet in Orangeburg South Carolina the old trusted Colorado for uh It's a larger cousin I'll show you I'll show you in a few minutes well here we made a Joe Ferry Chevrolet in Orangeburg South Carolina and look what we have here that's Joe by the way and this is our Trail bus we're gonna we're gonna take it for a spin see if we like it if we don't like but we're gonna like it I'm sure it's a beauty it's a beauty I can't wait to get behind the wheel in all honesty the Colorado was never my favorite it was certainly reliable I believe it took us to Old lower 48 and even British Columbia and all I put in it was gas oil regular maintenance and two sets of tires now a new chapter begins and I want to thank Joe Ferry owner of Ferry Chevrolet in Orangeburg South Carolina for getting me exactly the vehicle I wanted the process many months in the making now heading back to Florida so with the Trail Boss [Music] see how this goes it's gonna be fine I'm sure [Music] oh [Music] and we are back in Florida after almost three months on the road and I just want to see if they still offer orange juice in there well check it out greetings from Florida [Music] we got a nice dolphin welcome to Florida [Music] there you go welcome to Florida well as I was saying yes they still do offer free oranges when you arrive at the Sunshine State very cool now let's continue towards Valley Camp we still have a couple hours to go actually [Music] it is pretty overgrown but not for long [Music] foreign this was the beginning of the great detour of 2022 from the Lewis and Clark Trail besides the Winnebago Grand National rally and getting the new truck the other reason we returned was we had contracted a company to put a roof over minitini one and they were early I know shocking by the way the carport came out great and that's it on the next one we are heading back West to finish this summer 2022 Lewis and Clark Trail that you already saw but first what you haven't seen yet Colorado Utah California Oregon dare I say the best may be yet to come until then thank you so much for watching see you on the road [Music] thank you I'm writing riding in my RV
2023-03-23 02:55
