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Overnighted in the cowboy town of Sheridan - great meal at the Chop House
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Painted steer at a place we didn't buy gas
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Another state line crossed
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This is where we stayed in Rapid City - really nice resort
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The kiddie train at the resort is pulled by a golf cart
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Prairie Dog Village at the SD driver's license office
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Went to the Badlands. They be bad . . .
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The natives called this area a "bad place"
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Early trappers said they were a "bad area to cross"
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So the name stuck
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One of the badnesses hereabouts
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Not a prehistoric Starbucks logo
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Most of the area was formed by erosion of the volcanic rock
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Everywhere in South Dakota, groups of motorcyles touring
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Skeleton of a prehistoric pig-like creature
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There's an ongoing archeological project at the "Big Pig Dig"
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An upper jaw (inverted) of one of those ancient pigs being dug out
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They call them the "Rainbow Hills"
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These arid places are interspersed with lush prairies
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But the "bad" parts are the impressive parts
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Local animals include bison, snakes and ground squirrels
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We saw a rescue vehicle by the road, and rangers out on a mesa
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The stratification makes for some beautiful patterns
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Where there are rocks, there are kids to climb them
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Some are really castle-like
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One exhibit shows fossils of animals that used to live here
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Now that's a balancing act
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The exhibits in the visitor center were enlightening
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Every light change gives a whole new view
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Yes, we stopped at Wall Drug. So did everybody else
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Places to tie up your Harley
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We like caves that don't involve crawling around
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Inside, a "Map of the US"
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The caverns are almost completely lined with quartz crystals.
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It's like walking around inside a geode
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There are only three crystal caverns in the world open for tours
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They say this is a fossilized mollusk
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This is the only tourable crystal cavern in North America
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The crystal formations look like upside down chrysanthemums
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The "Indian War Bonnet" - seems like kind of a stretch to us
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This guy was working on the intercom system in the cave
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Birdhouse outside the cave attracts constant visitors
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Picking up what fell from the birdhouse
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The Reptile Gardens is a very popular attraction
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A cute reptile
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A not-quite-so-cute reptile
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Flowers inside the habitat were spectacular
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He carries his jewelry on his back
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A happy couple
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Marvelous pattern on this guy's back
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The star of their bird show, she's over 60 years old, and holding up well
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There are two snakes here, entwined
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One head.....
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Another head
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Hot and muggy - gotta sleep
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This little guy has amazing coloring
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I'm alert - notice me!
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Veiled Chamelion behind glass
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Stone croc
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Eastern Diamondback Rattler - largest rattler in the country
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Skeleton cast of an ancient gigantic sea turtle species
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Lance, the croc & gator handler, and "friend"
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You calm the beast by covering his eyes
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He can't see in front of him, so you can sneak your hand over his snout
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...and pull his jaw shut!
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Chicken parts for everybody
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At the bird show, two audience kids help the handlers feed the birds
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This beauty can talk - hello, there! The girl talks, too
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King Vulture - gorgeous plumage
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Handling the bald eagle
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They don't look scared, but we wouldn't wanna do it
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An African rook (like a raven) collects money for conservation programs
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My right side is even more photogenic
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Somebody close the door!
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Please don't feed the prairie dogs
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If I pose, will you throw me a tidbit?
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This is my best side
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A fastidious eater
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A legless lizard with expandable grooves in the side, for heavy meals
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Yes, it's a lizard, not a snake, and we like him!
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Lance also handles snakes - an albino Burmese Python
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The hook lets him handle the venomous snakes safely
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African Rook in little bell tower
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Giant tortise - shading the important parts
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Cool lizard
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Komodo dragon - world's largest lizard
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Green Wood Frogs - what else?
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Poison Dart Frog
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African Bullfrog. That's a 10 inch bowl
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About as skinny as we're likely to ever be
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Jeeze - that looks almost normal
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Do you get the idea we like animals?
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This was on a branch about 10 ft above the floor
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We toured the heads last year
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This year we settled for pictures across the valley
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In Custer State Park, we were ambushed by wild donkeys
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They are accomplished beggars
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And they'll eat almost anything
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This youngster hasn't learned to beg . . . yet
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We always see the sign on the way out
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Prairie dogs are fascinating and fun
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Mama wasn't far away
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They were all alert, but not skittish
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Our only pronghorn sighting at Custer
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We toured Crazy Horse last year, so pictures from the road
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Marks show the position of the future horse's ear and eye
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This is where we "reside" in Rapid City
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We went to church at First Pres - even with the road closed
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We hadn't seen any of these R2D2 mailboxes before
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Judy cozys up to Martin Van Buren. Bronze bench is a VERY hot seat
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The bronze of FDR in downtown Rapid City
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Big guy outside the Stamper Gold Jewelry factory/store