Hot Springs to State Game Lodge, Custer State Park

Prairie dogs, bison, and burros oh my

We are still on the hunt for good coffee.  We had another fail at a coffee shop in town.  The best we’ve had was the pot of coffee I made at the Airbnb.  The next few nights are lodging is on site at Custer State park so the morning coffee will be what they have a breakfast.  As I write this I am having a lovely cup of coffee in the lodge.

The riding was beautiful and much more adventurous.  We road dirt roads to Wind Cave National Park.  The scenery was amazing with rolling hills.  We finally got some good down hills.

When we entered the park we crossed over cow guards (used to keep the buffalo in) and saw a sign warning us about the buffalo.  Restaurants may serve bison burger along with beef but that is where the similarity ends.  Buffalos will charge you and you should stay clear (especially mommas and their calves)

So my head was on a swivel watching for a herd.  When we first entered the park, there were tons of prairie dogs.  They were so cute and popped in and out of the holes.  I tried to get a picture of some but they kept popping into their homes too quick, like a wacomole.   We turned on to a pretty rough road and climbed a hill.  Once we crested the hill that is when we saw the herd.  They were off in the distance and spanning the road.  

So what next?  We knew not to get too close (which is why the picture has them so far off) and slowly rolled to about 100 yards from the herd.  It was mommas and their calves.   Mommas are very protective and we sat and watched the herd for a while.  The herd moved further away from the road so we slowly moved along the road watching the mommas.  There was a car coming the other way.  We stopped it and asked it if it would turn around and take us through the last part of the herd.  They were very helpful, road with us the rest of the way, and we were back on our way.  Joel had done his research and we took the advice we had been given to get through the herd.   Be safe out there!

As we left the park we had an opposite experience.  There are free roaming donkeys called the begging burros(https://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/blog/2018-09-13/special-friends-custer-state-parks-begging-burros-beckon-you-back-slobber-and-all).  They are the ancestors of the pack animals that used to get tourists to the Sylvan Lake Lodge (our stop tonight).  The animals were released when they were no longer needed and now they beg for food from passing cars.   A much safer encounter than a herd of buffalo.

The rest of the ride was smooth roads on the beautiful Wild Life Loop in Custer State Park.  We had some intense climbs with some amazing descents.  Not gonna lie, I prefer the speed Joel keeps us at when we descend with packs.   

Because of a combination of a late start,  buffalos on the road, the lodge not taking bags early and Joel taking pity on on my tired legs we stopped at the lodge and didn’t do the whole Wild Life loop.  Instead we had a great late lunch, befriended the bartender and walked the grounds.  We had every intent to look at the stars but were sound asleep by 9pm.  We are such partiers 

Next stop Sylvan Lake Lodge.  We are trying to get an earlier start so we can see some sights today