Leaving Wyoming was hard. The brilliant landscapes of the Yellowstone region are very easy to fall in love with. Knowing that the Mid West is flat I thought about staying for a while. ...but, the show must go on!

Moving next on the route was South Dakota. There isn't a whole lot out there, so man created most of the tourist destinations.

(FYI, if you're unfamiliar of the highlighted blue words, they are clickable links.)

Have you watched the western show on HBO, Deadwood?  I've been watching the series not knowing it was an actual town.  It's real, complete with the Gem and the Wild Bill Bar!  Yeehaw! — Have you watched the western show on HBO, ***Deadwood***? I've been watching the series not knowing it was an actual town. It's real, complete with the Gem and the Wild Bill Bar! Yeehaw!

This is a monument in progress dedicated to the Native American Crazy Horse.  The story is tragic, the US Federal Government betrayed and murdered him.  You should read about it to make your own opinion on the topic. — This is a monument in progress dedicated to the Native American Crazy Horse. The story is tragic, the US Federal Government betrayed and murdered him. You should read about it to make your own opinion on the topic.

This project started before 1950, and this is the planned look upon completion.  ...lots of work still to go. — This project started before 1950, and this is the planned look upon completion. ...lots of work still to go.

Nearby was another famous monument, so I cruised to pay respect to those dead presidentz. ...only had a buck tho. — Nearby was another famous monument, so I cruised to pay respect to those dead presidentz. ...only had a buck tho.

Real mature, I know.  This took me way too many tries to get this perspective, getting super funny looks from the other tourists. — Real mature, I know. This took me way too many tries to get this perspective, getting super funny looks from the other tourists.

Here is Mt Rushmore in all it's beauty.  What a feat the artist achieved, such an amazing sculpture. — Here is Mt Rushmore in all it's beauty. What a feat the artist achieved, such an amazing sculpture.

It turns out there actually is a hidden gem out in South Dakota that the Earth made on it's own, and it lives up to the title- The Badlands. The scene is surreal, it's like another planet.

Obligatory self-portrait at Fossil Point.

I don't know what was in here, and I wasn't going to find out.

Of course I stopped at the tourist trap Wall Drug as well. Being it was freezing out, I passed on the "free ice water" and got a homemade donut and a 5¢ coffee.

Day 61 / Mile 6905  Discover the Spirit! — Day 61 / Mile 6905 Discover the Spirit!

I'm a sucker for sculptures, especially when there isn't anything else around more a jillion miles.

This is my impression of all of North Dakota.

I bet somebody in LA would hang this on their apt wall.

This for sure will be added to my "Postal Personality" series.

The only other thing out here on my shot list was some unique powerlines like 100 miles out in the middle of nowhere.  The map didn't note the road was dirt and ice. — The only other thing out here on my shot list was some unique powerlines like 100 miles out in the middle of nowhere. The map didn't note the road was dirt and ice.

So this is the only crossing point of two HVDC overhead powerlines in the Northern Hemisphere. ...little fun fact for ya. — So this is the only crossing point of two HVDC overhead powerlines in the Northern Hemisphere. ...little fun fact for ya.

For how hard it was to get here and since my fingers nearly got frostbite, you get another angle!

Now I'm rolling into a familiar zone that I spent some good time at when I used to be a pro snowboarder, a mecca of handrails- Minnesota! It's gonna be real good, you betcha!