Rapid City, South Dakota

We got an early start from Rawlins this morning and headed north toward Casper, WY.  We stopped at Independence Rock to take some pictures.  However, when I reached into my holster for my phone to take some pictures, I realized that it was not where it was supposed to be.  It was then I realized that I had left it on the bed side table at the Best Western.  Tried calling them with Vi's phone, but Independence Rock is in an area where you can only make emergency calls.  Since I was pretty sure what I had done with the phone, we had no recourse but to drive an hour back to pick it up.  Guess I need another item on my checklist :-).

Independence Rock is the location in Wyoming where the pioneers were on the Fourth of July if they started from St Louis in April.  Huge rock in the middle of nowhere with a great rest stop (no phone service, but nice restrooms).  Made it up to Casper where we hit I-25.  Believe it or not, the way to Rapid City required us to go south on the interstate.  Doesn't make sense but there are a limited number of roads which traverse the state. 

Finally got to see lots of antelopes out in the fields - not sure where they were in the southern part of Wyoming.  Lot of wide-open country with no towns and lots of ranch land.  The Pathfinder Ranch covers miles and miles of territory.  Passed through Hot Springs which looked like it would be well worth a week-long visit.  Just past Hot Springs is Wind Cave which Tom and Carolyn were going to stop at on their way north. We didn't stop at Mt Rushmore but did try to go to Crazy Horse Mountain.  Found out that our National Park Service pass did not work there, so we just took a picture and continued on to Rapid City.  Crazy Horse is not a national park, but rather one funded by a non-profit organization.

Because of our detour back to Rawlins, we were a little behind schedule but got to Ellsworth AFB at dinner time and checked in to the Aspen Lodge. Went back downtown for dinner and now home for the night.