May 30, 2016
Day 17 - Custer, SD to Garryowen, MT - 380 Miles
Today I traveled from South Dakota through Wyoming and on to Montana. The day began with a side trip to Sundance, WY. I have to say it is just a town and not at all what I was expecting. I was looking for Butch Cassidy, to no avail. It appeared to be kind of a dead town.
Then it was onward to visit Devils Tower National Monument, another of the National Park Service wonders. The mountain rises up against the sky, possibly from a volcano or “igneous intrusion”, according to geologists who disagree about its formation.
The Kiowa natives say that Eight children were there at play, seven sisters and their brother. Suddenly the boy was struck dumb; he trembled and began to run upon his hands and feet. His fingers became claws, and his body was covered with fur. Then, all of a sudden there was a bear where the boy had been. The sisters were terrified; they ran, and the bear ran after them. They came to the stump of a great tree, and the tree spoke to them to climb upon it. As they did so, the stump began to rise into the air. The bear came to kill them, but they were just beyond its reach. It reared against the tree and scored the bark all around with its claws. The seven sisters were borne into the sky, and they became the stars of the Pleiades.
As I was leaving, I stopped at the bottom of Devils Tower and spent a few moments watching the prairie dogs who have a who community there. They are very interesting to watch.
From there it was onto Hulett, Wyoming, a “western” little town. Found a good photo op for Ryder in the town's 1880s jail. Doesn't she look just thrilled? Definitely doing her 'grumpy cat' imitation.
This cute little store in the center of town is adorned with antlers.
The weather was anything but dead today. High winds of 35 + mph came across the highway and the sky turned very dark almost in the blink of an eye. The sky opened up and pummeled the RV and the winds were brutal. It took everything I had to keep the RV steady. But, alas, I made it through the storm, but I must say, I am exhausted.
I think the winds were much more than 35 + mph...as the photo illustrates.
On the road to Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument, I passed through the town of Buffalo.
Just as quickly the weather started to improve.
I finally entered Montana and Crow Agency.
Next stop was the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Crow Agency, MT. This was one of the last efforts of the Indians to defend their lands against the settlers. The US Army lost this battle in 1876, and Custer and his leadership were killed, but ultimately the US Army won the war.
Ended the day at 7th Ranch RV Park, Garryowen, MT. A very nicely maintained park.
