. OnHiatus.com > Journal 1 > Day Index > Journal Entry: June 14, 1997

Saturday, June 14, 1997
Murdo to Custer, South Dakota
US's FlagSD's Flag

Map
Custer, South Dakota:
Latitude: 43° 45' 55" North
Longitude: 103° 36' 14" West
Altitude: 5255 feet
From Seattle: 947 miles
Lodging: Hotel - Rocket Motel, SD

Map
Today's Travel:
Country: United States
Region: South Dakota
Route: I90, SR240, I90, SR16
Start: Murdo
Stop 1. Wall Drug, Wall
Stop 2. Badlands National Park
End:Custer, South Dakota
Road Miles:266 miles
Linear:182 miles
Weather: Sunny / Rain

Available Photos:

Me and the Badlands Badlands National Park, SD

Where the prairie ends Badlands National Park, SD

A golf course in hell? Badlands National Park, SD

Badlands vista Badlands National Park, SD

'61 Corvette (from WA!) in front of the visitor center Badlands National Park, SD

Trees and rocks meet the skyline Badlands National Park, SD

Arches / skyline Badlands National Park, SD

All photo images © 1997-2000 Anthony Jones - Images may not be used without prior written approval.

Click on map to Zoom in...
Map
Trip Stats to Date:
Day: 65
Miles Driven:14396
Linear Dist: 55412
Countries Visited: 2
Regions Visited: 32
More stats...
Hotels: 28
Friends / Family: 19
Camping: 11
Hostels: 7
Beers: 171
Hide...

Journal Entry:
Today I had the complete great plains experience: Endless prairie, Hot sun; Thunder storm; Hail; Flash flood; Tornado. Ok it wasn't that bad, I crossed about 80 miles of perfectly flat, golf course like prairie, had breakfast at Wall Drug (if you have to ask you won't understand), went for a hike in Badlands National Park, all in the hot sun without a cloud in the sky. As I was headed for Jewel Cave National Monument, I got the emergency broadcast signal right in the middle of a song, (I'd never heard it as anything other than a test). "Torenado warning, everyone in these areas go to your shelter". Two questions: 1) What shelter, I don't even have the top up; 2) Where are those areas (ie Am I in one)? Next cross road I figure out I'm in the middle of it. I can see a storm ahead, but it's still 80 degrees and sunny, and there is nowhere nearby to take shelter, so I keep driving, thinking that if I see something coming I'll pull under an overpass. I never saw a tornado, although I heard on the radio that it did touch down. So after the tornado warning expired I had a flash flood warning, an extreme thunder storm warning, a hail warning, and a tornado watch. So far the only one I've actually seen is the extreme thunder storm, which is extreme, and still going on. Anyway I decided these were not conditions conducive to camping, so I'm in a hotel. I didn't make it to Jewel Cave in time, so tomorrow morning is Jewel Cave, Wind Cave, Mt Rushmore, and Crazy Horse...


Paging: [⇚ Jun 13] | [Jun 15 ⇛] OnHiatus.com > Journal 1 > Day Index > Journal Entry: June 14, 1997