Badlands or bust

Onkel Neal · 04-21-12, 11:22 AM

Barring any last minute emergencies, I'm off on a whirlwind tour of the central US, pivoting at the Badlands National Park in SD. I usually prefer to ad lib my route on trips like this (one trip to Albuquerque I ended up in Puerto Penasco Mexico). I will be posting a few pics and comments as I go along, depending on internet availability.

The planned route

Day 1 will be Monday.

I'm very casual about planning a trip. most of anything you forget can be picked up anywhere in the country. Thank you, Wal-Mart.

But, I'll be packing the laptop (wish I had one of those small tablets now).

Update 4/22/12: I'm going to attempt to draw the route as I go using Google Maps. I will update as I go in the thread.

Cheers
Neal

Skybird · 04-21-12, 11:28 AM

"Understood, captain. I will track your progress from right here."

04-21-12, 11:41 AM

Watch out for plasma storms and gravitational anomalies!

nikimcbee · 04-21-12, 12:08 PM

If you're doing the whirlwind tour of SD, there's:

Sturgis
Wall Drug
Corn Palace in Mitchell
that little rock carving thingy

If you don't mind riding further, you could swing over to MT and see the Custer Battlefield.

Blood_splat · 04-21-12, 12:12 PM

Just watch out for this guy.

nikimcbee · 04-21-12, 01:19 PM

Neal, I noticed Sturgis is NOT on the route?

Onkel Neal · 04-21-12, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blood_splat

Just watch out for this guy.

What? I am that guy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

Neal, I noticed Sturgis is NOT on the route?

You bet it isn't

RickC Sniper · 04-21-12, 02:30 PM

Check the weather reports before heading into that leg to Steamboat Springs. The Rocky Mountains still get some nasty snows this time of year, but the forecast for the next 5 days or so is warm and clear.

Example: Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mtn Natl Park isn't even scheduled to be open until May 25th

u crank · 04-21-12, 02:57 PM

In some ways Neal you ride for all of us. Try not to let us down Buddy.

Skybird · 04-21-12, 04:07 PM

Note to myself: it's not the Lyrids, it's Neal.

Platapus · 04-21-12, 04:09 PM

If you are into caves, the Rapid City area gives you the chance to go in to both limestone and crystal caves (on opposite sides of the mountain)

And if spleothems are an interest, in one of the limestone caves there is a helicite which is a rarity in the US.

Rhodes · 04-21-12, 04:21 PM

Have a nice trip!

Onkel Neal · 04-21-12, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by u crank

In some ways Neal you ride for all of us. Try not to let us down Buddy.

That's one way to be seen.

August · 04-21-12, 06:52 PM

Badlands National Monument. Proving once again that we Americans will memorialize just about anything!

RickC Sniper · 04-21-12, 06:59 PM

The Badlands are cool. You turn off the freeway, go a half a mile and the scenery is as if you left earth and are on the moon.

04-21-12, 11:22 AM	#1
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,383 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	Badlands or bust Barring any last minute emergencies, I'm off on a whirlwind tour of the central US, pivoting at the Badlands National Park in SD. I usually prefer to ad lib my route on trips like this (one trip to Albuquerque I ended up in Puerto Penasco Mexico). I will be posting a few pics and comments as I go along, depending on internet availability. *The planned* route** Day 1 will be Monday. I'm very casual about planning a trip. most of anything you forget can be picked up anywhere in the country. Thank you, Wal-Mart. But, I'll be packing the laptop (wish I had one of those small tablets now). Update 4/22/12: I'm going to attempt to draw the route as I go using Google Maps. I will update as I go in the thread. Cheers Neal Last edited by Onkel Neal; 04-22-12 at 08:17 PM.

04-21-12, 11:28 AM	#2
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,602 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	"Understood, captain. I will track your progress from right here." __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

04-21-12, 12:08 PM	#4
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	If you're doing the whirlwind tour of SD, there's: Sturgis Wall Drug Corn Palace in Mitchell that little rock carving thingy If you don't mind riding further, you could swing over to MT and see the Custer Battlefield. __________________ Last edited by nikimcbee; 04-21-12 at 12:22 PM.

04-21-12, 01:19 PM	#6
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Neal, I noticed Sturgis is NOT on the route? __________________

04-21-12, 02:30 PM	#8
RickC Sniper Undetectable Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,221 Downloads: 132 Uploads: 0	Check the weather reports before heading into that leg to Steamboat Springs. The Rocky Mountains still get some nasty snows this time of year, but the forecast for the next 5 days or so is warm and clear. Example: Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mtn Natl Park isn't even scheduled to be open until May 25th __________________ Support Subsim http://www.subsim.com/store.html

04-21-12, 11:41 AM	#3
Rilder Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Watch out for plasma storms and gravitational anomalies!

04-21-12, 12:12 PM	#5
Blood_splat Samurai Navy Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Beneath the waves Posts: 568 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	Just watch out for this guy.

04-21-12, 02:57 PM	#9
u crank Old enough to know better Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Prince Edward Island Posts: 11,744 Downloads: 136 Uploads: 0	In some ways Neal you ride for all of us. Try not to let us down Buddy. __________________ “Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” ― Arthur C. Clarke

04-21-12, 04:07 PM	#10
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,602 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Skybird Note to myself: it's not the Lyrids, it's Neal. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

04-21-12, 04:09 PM	#11
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,360 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	If you are into caves, the Rapid City area gives you the chance to go in to both limestone and crystal caves (on opposite sides of the mountain) And if spleothems are an interest, in one of the limestone caves there is a helicite which is a rarity in the US. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

04-21-12, 04:21 PM	#12
Rhodes Silent Hunter Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Figueira da Foz, Portugal Posts: 4,515 Downloads: 110 Uploads: 0	Have a nice trip! __________________ http://www.flickr.com/photos/16416646@N05/

04-21-12, 06:52 PM	#14
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,197 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Badlands National Monument. Proving once again that we Americans will memorialize just about anything! __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

04-21-12, 06:59 PM	#15
RickC Sniper Undetectable Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,221 Downloads: 132 Uploads: 0	The Badlands are cool. You turn off the freeway, go a half a mile and the scenery is as if you left earth and are on the moon. __________________ Support Subsim http://www.subsim.com/store.html