Road Trippin

[MannyIsGod]

Since Tuesday we've been driving from SA to Yellowstone. I thought I'd share some pictures on some of the things we've seen. Its been a pretty neat trip so far.

Giant roadrunner in Fort Stockton. I've driven through this place before and never noticed this.



Drove up into NM and stayed in Albuquerque that night. Next day got up and went to Santa Fe and Taos before driving to Colorado Springs. Saw the Rio Grande and the gorge it cuts out into the land there. Also saw some big horn sheep of which there are only like 300 in NM.





Next day got up and tried to do Rocky Mountains National Park but the weather was just crap. We were going to take the road that goes up along a ridge in the park but the visibility at 12,000 feet just became non existent. We couldn't see more than 10 yards in front of the car so we turned around and went back down. Pretty much all the overlooks were pretty meh because of the clouds. We saw some elk here too. Ended up just going to Fort Collins early and checking in and resting for the evening.

[MannyIsGod]

Next day drove from Fort Collins to Rapid City, SD. We went through Wyoming (was pretty but didn't stop) and then into South Dakota. Drove through Wind Cave NP, Custer state park, and out to the Badlands National Park. We saw a ton of animals in the first 2 and the entrance to the fourth longest cave in the world. Its not much bigger than a basketball but the reason its named Wind Cave is because depending on the air pressure outside and inside the wind will either be blowing out or in. It felt like an AC vent blowing pretty hard when we saw it.

The Badlands are desolate as . We were there around dusk and it was eerie as . Also, they sneak up on you. I literally didn't see them until we pulled up to the first ridge.





Saw a ton of bison in Wind Cave and Custer






Saw a ton of prairie dogs too. The giant one was outside Badlands at some touristy store. Oh and a couple of random wild turkeys.





Here's the cave opening. Hundreds of miles of cave after that small hole.

[MannyIsGod]

Yesterday we left Rapid City and drove to Bozeman, MT. Stopped to see Rushmore and Devils Tower. Tried to stop at Little Big Horn but got there about 20 minutes after closing. Also stopped in Deadwood, SD to get some stuff for a friend who loves the canceled show.







I'll be in Yellowstone for the next week. I fly back on Saturday, but Jess will be here the entire summer working at the research library. I hope to have more pictures to post but I don't expect to have internet access after tomorrow.

[duncan228]

What a great road trip. Nice pics, thanks for sharing.

[leemajors]

nice pics!

[Bender]

great pics...!

I wonder if there are plans to put Obama on Mt. Rushmore, either next to Washington, or Lincoln...

[Summers]

How fun! Thanks for sharing your pics. My family camped in Yellowstone when I was 12 and it was an amazing and beautiful place. I remember the mineral pools the colors of gem stones, animals I'd never seen before (had no idea ravens were 2 feet tall!), and breath-taking scenery. Would love to see your pics from there if you have a chance to share them. We also stopped at the Badlands adn I remember really being intrigued as to how the earth got carved up like that. Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip.

[CuckingFunt]

Badlands are pretty awesome. As is the area around Mt. Rushmore. When I did a road trip through there in, I think, 2001, I was particularly taken with a little town in the Black Hills called Hot Springs, SD. The rest of the state deserves its boring reputation, but that area is insanely beautiful.

[Kori Ellis]

Wow, what an awesome trip. I'm glad you got the opportunity to do it.

[PixelPusher]

I suddenly have the urge to whip up some mashed potatoes...

[FaithInOne]

seriously, wtf did they cancel Deadwood

Mormons and Queen Kwanzaa get more action? Oh cruel world.

[Summers]

I suddenly have the urge to whip up some mashed potatoes...

Doo-doo-doo-doo-dooooooooooo.

[PakiDan]

Wow that's great that you got to do this... My brother and I toured the country by truck a few years back. Hit 46 states, the only thing we missed that I truly regret is Yosemite. If you get a chance, hit HWY 70 through Utah and see the arches. Beautiful, beautiful stuff. Have fun and be safe!

[Bukefal]

Cool!! That looks amazing

[Bukefal]

My brother and I toured the country by truck a few years back. Hit 46 states.

That is something which i have high placed on my 'to-do-list'. I would love to do that sometime. I will!!

[blizz]

awesome

[MannyIsGod]

How fun! Thanks for sharing your pics. My family camped in Yellowstone when I was 12 and it was an amazing and beautiful place. I remember the mineral pools the colors of gem stones, animals I'd never seen before (had no idea ravens were 2 feet tall!), and breath-taking scenery. Would love to see your pics from there if you have a chance to share them. We also stopped at the Badlands adn I remember really being intrigued as to how the earth got carved up like that. Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip.

DUDE WTF WITH THE RAVENS. THey look like they could carry off a small child. I had no idea they were that ing big. We saw one in NM and we've seen several since getting here. Seriously creepy birds. I got to the hotel and googled everything I could about the badlands when we finished there. It was pretty nuts.

I'll post the pictures from Yellowstone when I can. I hope to take a ton. I took some yesterday but we didn't get to see all that much although we did see some waterfalls and a blue hot spring.

Badlands are pretty awesome. As is the area around Mt. Rushmore. When I did a road trip through there in, I think, 2001, I was particularly taken with a little town in the Black Hills called Hot Springs, SD. The rest of the state deserves its boring reputation, but that area is insanely beautiful.

We spent quite a bit of time driving through there and we actually ate lunch in Hot Springs our first day there.

Wow that's great that you got to do this... My brother and I toured the country by truck a few years back. Hit 46 states, the only thing we missed that I truly regret is Yosemite. If you get a chance, hit HWY 70 through Utah and see the arches. Beautiful, beautiful stuff. Have fun and be safe!

When the summer comes to a close the plan is to drive back through Utah, Nevada and Arizona to see the National Parks in those areas.

[angel_luv]

I'm glad you are having such a nice time.

[LnGrrrR]

Thanks for the cool pics! I was going to put up my Disney ones... but I don't think seeing my wife and I palling around with Donald Duck would be as interesting.

[BacktoBasics]

Nice trip richer.

[JoeChalupa]

Great pics. That is a trip I hope to make one day with the family.

Congrats Jekka to working there all summer.

[MannyIsGod]

Here are a few of the good ones from yesterday.

This is Lower Falls - biggest waterfall in the park.





Beryl Springs - the steam was nice and warm but god damn it stunk.




Tower Falls and part of the Yellowstone River Canyon.




One of the peaks - I can't remember which.



We've been rained on almost every day of this trip but I think today might be better - Internet access will probably be nonexistent after today so see you guys in a week.

[JudynTX]

Beautiful pics, thanks for sharing.

[Jekka]

Nice trip richer.

Dude, we've spent less than $400 on this whole trip including gas and lodging - if there's anything we know how to do, it's travel on the cheap. Manny is the best Priceline Negotiator ever

[baseline bum]

Dude, we've spent less than $400 on this whole trip including gas and lodging - if there's anything we know how to do, it's travel on the cheap. Manny is the best Priceline Negotiator ever

Nice. My motto with hotels is they all look the same in bed when you have your eyes closed. Still, you gotta get at least a couple of days camping in being in such an amazing place. Nothing beats it for just getting the out of the city and that mentality it brings.