The Great 2025 Road Trip - Day 5

Neither of us slept great.  The wind was nuts.  We were thankfully in a small tree grove so we were spared direct wind but it was loud. Which is all the time here.  No thanks. 
It's really is beautiful here but so eerie.  The constant howl and desolation of the land.  
One the way out of town we made another cool stop at a Roadside attraction.  

http://portersculpturepark.com/

Absolutely amazing.  

We crossed the Missouri river.  Made a quick stop at the famous Chamberlain rest stop.  Bit of a museum there and this amazing statue
After crossing the river the landscape immediately changed.  It's really very beautiful here.  Reminded us a little of Ireland. 


As we drove the land got much flatter and increasingly brown and more and more desolate.  Having read all the Little House on the Prairie books many many times as a child, it was kind of nice to see the areas where Laura Ingalls wilder grew up.  It really is like an ocean of prairie.

We finally rolled into the Badlands and we both just absolutely fell silent in awe.  There are just no words for this place.  I'll add some photos but they won't even come close to doing it justice.


We got to the park a little later than wed hoped and finding backcountry camping was going to be tricky so we bit the bullet and got our first hotel for the trip. I wasn't thrilled about it, but it was the best option.  And a real bed does sound appealing but I'll miss the sounds of nighttime outside. 

I really can't believe like 2 days ago we were at the House on the Rock.  We have seen so much in 5 days.  And we still have so much more to go!


Miles driven: 1455
Miles hiked: 6
State Count: 7

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