Thursday 9.7. (Badlands)

The evening program in camp was canceled because of the storm and strong wind. Therefore, instead of listening to rangers, we climbed up the rock and watched as the storm was getting bigger above the eastern horiyon. At night, the wind intensed and we were glad to be able to keep the tents on one place. At last, we slept pretty well and after 9 am we set for the 12 km trip through the Badlands National Park. It is a land of the rattlesnakes, so that besides admiring the nature around we had to pay a great attention. After few hundred meters we got to the dry waste land and we were glad not to leave the jurney to the afternoon -- it was scorching and the light reflected upon the white sand. For a while we went through high grass (one could not see where he was putting the foot), on some places, nothing grew. The rocks in Badlands are colorfull (mostly white to grey but also yellow, red and purple) and spiky as well, for a Mideuropeans completely alien land. In the morning, we met only few people (not many people here are willing to make more than few steps from the car), till the afternoon, only few tourists appeared. No rattlesnakes so far. Around one o´clock, we set forward to Rapid City, went through other smaller part of the park with a few views, then took the interstate. In Rapid City, we had a snack, bought some reserves and followed the road to the west. We camp at Sturgis in Elk View, where allegedly had had to be a wifi but it seems for now that we will have to wait for the connection a day or two. But luckily, we can finally have a shower, after three days :).