The Penmaraliter Campground is family-owned and the campground is well-manicured.  The best part is the surrounding trees which make one feel more with nature.  The host ran the campground as her father did before her- no computers, no credit cards.  It was most refreshing.

We ventured to Split Rock Lighthouse.  It was built by the federal government in 1910 in response to the treacherous 1905 storm that destroyed or damaged 29 ships.  The lighthouse mainly navigated freighters hauling iron ore in and out of the harbor.  Currently, the lighthouse is a state historic sight.  The most interesting tidbit was the lens.  It was built in Paris, France, and weighs 6.5 tons.  The guides at the lighthouse and keeper’s home were informative and friendly, and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit.  Afterward, we walked on Iona Beach, known for its pink rocks shoreline, instead of the usual sandy beach.  It was said that when the water hits the shore, it creates a song.  We must be deaf since we never heard any songs, only the water cresting on the rocky shore.   We couldn’t finish the day without a stop to Betty’s Pies.  They even offered gluten-free options on some.  I chose the apple-cinnamon.

Gooseberry Falls has three tiers.  The first tier is the most crowded since it is only a short walk from the parking lot.  From there, it is a hike to the second and third tiers.  On our trek to the third tier, hikers started to thin out, and by the time we reached the top, we passed two couples.  It was a great day for a hike, and this waterfall did not disappoint.

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Mitch has been running with our friend Noora for over 20 years.  By runner’s standards, she is a beast.  She has completed so many races and accumulated more medals that it would be difficult to list them all.  She participates in ultra marathons in various countries.  Mitch has been her crew leader on several of her Badwater races.

This race is 135 miles through Death Valley and has earned its reputation as one of the toughest foot races in the world.  The road temperature is 140’.  It starts at the lowest point (285 ‘ below sea level) and ends at an elevation of 8360 ft at Whitney Portal, the trailhead to Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the United States. The race has to be run when there is a full moon.  This year, the race began on July 4^th.  Racers have 48 hours to complete the course, and those not finished are disqualified.

This is Noora’s fifth time competing.  Her best time was completing the race in 35 hours in 2007.  About twelve weeks before the race, she incurred a stress fracture.  She contemplated whether or not she should compete.  The week before the race, she was given the OK to race by the doctor.  All hands on deck, she and the crew headed for Death Valley to get supplies, prep, and get psyched.

Noora’s start time was 9:00 pm, and off she went.  Unfortunately, this race didn’t have a victorious ending.  From the beginning, she had difficulty finding her pace and felt the pain of her injury.  A difficult decision had to be made – continue the race and possibly risk having permanent damage or listen to your body.  At mile 42, she disqualified herself.  That decision was devasting for her, but for the average person, she deserved admiration for going 42 miles with an injury.

Her crew decided to do a twelve-mile hike up the mountain to the descent of the Whitney portal.  That walk took Mitch 4 1/2 hours in the sweltering heat.  Yes, I am married to a man who pushes himself in almost every situation.  What did I do, you ask?  I stayed behind in Minneapolis to guard the trailer and await his return.

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This stop kept us busy for the duration of our stay. One instance where the hype did not meet our expectations was Deadwood. This town was filled with mini-casinos in each store. It should have been nicknamed the mini Vegas of the Dakotas. This town fell short of our expectations.

The national park has a south and north part to it. Our campground, Boots Campground, was closer to the south. Our ride to the south side included spottings of feral horses and some turkeys. The smell of sage bushes was prominent as we stopped to take pictures. The north side had a detour which was a 60-mile car ride to get there. The north side held more appeal for us. The terrain was more impressive as the hills were more majestic, and the terrain varied.

The town of Medora impressed us with how proud they were to celebrate Theodore Roosevelt. The Medora Musical was held in a stunning amphitheater with a tribute to the president and his accomplishments. It was an excellent way to spend the evening. We had a unique experience when the Town Hall Theater presented an evening with President and Mrs. Roosevelt. On stage were two actors portraying the Roosevelts sharing their life stories. I learned more about President Roosevelt during that short time than I had in my school years. Afterward, they answered questions from the audience, and it was as if the people they were portraying came alive. Their knowledge was impressive. The town was small but had the feel of a bygone era.

Our last hike was to the Petrified Forest. We had never been to one, and it was interesting to see how wood can morph into stone. The wood in wet sediment takes 5,000 to 10,0000 years to turn to stone.

This was a much enjoyed stop, and we would suggest a visit if ever in the area.

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Our morning began early as we wanted to beat the crowds that would soon transcend this beautiful Lake Sylvan. We were lucky to find a parking spot to launch the kayak. The lake is surrounded by rock formations which adds to its appeal. It was a beautiful morning for a kayak ride and finishing before the crowds descended to enjoy picnics and walk around the lake.

From there, we eagerly started our car ride thru Needles Highway. This is a windy fourteen-mile drive through pine and spruce trees peppered with birch and aspen along the way. The story of the construction of this drive is impressive. Governor Peter Norbeck and his friend marked out the course on horseback. He intentionally wanted the road to be filled with switchbacks so visitors would need to go slow and take in the beauty of what lay before them. Initially, Mitch was apprehensive as there were two highly narrow tunnels. The second one is more narrow than the first. Should we risk taking our dually truck through? Of course, Mitch hesitated for maybe a few minutes and then gave me the “look.” The one that says, “Let’s do it.” Just in case, I got out of the truck on both to watch. In the second tunnel, Mitch slowly crawled to the other end as cars lined up to wait their turn to go in. Happy to have made it, I and some bystanders watching greeted him with cheers. When we looked up at the rock formation, we understood why it was called Needles Highway, as the hole looked like an eye of a needle.

How else would we end the day? You got it – a hike. We went for a two-mile hike called the Cathedral Spires Hike. If you have been following us for the previous vlogs, you can understand our infatuation with the Black Hills and hope we can visit again one day.