Today was Regatta Day in St. John’s. On the first Wednesday in August, shops and businesses close for the day and the whole city heads to Quidi Vidi Lake for the annual Royal St. John’s Regatta. Do you want to guess where I spent my morning?
Welcome to “The Rock”. Or Newfoundland, as it’s more commonly known. Newfoundland (technically, Newfoundland and Labrador) is Canada’s easternmost province, located some 900+ miles from Boston as the crow flies. My route today was a bit more circuitous, taking me first to Montreal, then on to St. John’s, where I’ll be spending the next 6 days exploring this rugged province.
Today was my last day in South Dakota and I spent it hiking, driving back to Rapid City, and visiting a Norwegian stave church.
I spent the morning hiking and driving the Needles Highway in Custer State Park. Tonight I went to the nighttime illumination at Mount Rushmore. In between, I enjoyed a nap, cider, and some pasta for dinner.
I ate breakfast in the shadow of the presidents this morning. Any guess as to where? If you guessed Mount Rushmore, you’re correct! I hit the road early this morning so as to beat the crowds to the monument and it worked out in my favor. There were quite a few people there before 7AM but it wasn’t crowded. I got to enjoy the Presidential Trail with very little company and take in the views without hundreds of people in my photos.
I started my day today in Badlands National Park and ended it at my third stop of the trip: Hill City, South Dakota. There are a handful of trails in the Badlands and I tackled a few of them today, stopped at some scenic overlooks, and relaxed in Hill City.
Happy Fourth of July! I celebrated Independence Day with an all-American parade in Belle Fourche and ended it at stop #2 of this South Dakota road trip: Badlands National Park.
You can see Devils Tower from miles away. Literally. Devils Tower rises over 1,200 feet from the Belle Fourche River, is 867 feet tall, and was my morning destination today.
I love South Dakota. This morning, I woke up early, got ready, and walked into town. The sun was shining (briefly) as I settled into what is already my favorite Spearfish breakfast spot, Blackbird Espresso. I’m sure I’ll be back again for another breakfast before I leave. I spent the rest of the day exploring Spearfish Canyon and a couple of local attractions in Spearfish.
Continue reading“South Dakota? Why South Dakota?” That is the question just about everyone has asked when I’ve shared my summer vacation plans. Truthfully, I was inspired by “The Awkward Tourists”, a YouTube couple I follow who spent a couple of days here on a road trip. When I watched their videos, I thought, “Why have I never been to South Dakota?”. And so, here I am!
