Nebraska

Valentine, Nebraska

July 27-30, 2021

Rode the Cowboy Trail out of Valentine, Nebraska.  A great trail, well maintained gravel.  With my skinny tires, my road bike sank in a few soft spots, but mostly a great ride, if you discount two flat tires.  My own fault, as my rear tire was old and couldn't contain the high pressure inner tube.  A new tire and tube from a local bike shop in Norfolk, NE resolved the problem.

My rig parked at the trailhead in Valentine, Nebraska.

The trailhead is at a small park in the town of Valentine.

This is a very long bridge over the Niobrara River,
well over a quarter mile in length.
It's less than 2 miles east of Valentine, NE.

The state of Nebraska is proud of their trail and has
this "Selfie Station" to encourage photos!
#outdoornebraska (my first hashtag,
Patrick Murphy will be proud) in Valentine, Nebraska.

That white cow/bull is a longhorn. I've seen a few this trip,
but there aren't very many of them.

Found a small pond near the trail at my turn around point.
The Cowboy Trail is a major trail which runs
over 200 miles long. I rode 10 miles from Valentine,
then turned around here.

This was the short stretch I had to
walk after my second flat tire.

For Facebook post, Click

South Dakota

July 20-26, 2021

The Black Hills of South Dakota.  The Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore are awesome sights.  And there were many beautiful, scenic hikes. 

Campsite at Custer State Park

George Washington's bust on Mt. Rushmore, viewed from
the Presidential Trail at the mountain's base.

This little fellow scampered near the trail at Mt. Rushmore.

On the hill above Custer, SD.

These painted bison were all around downtown Custer, SD.
for many pics of these fun art pieces, Click.

A view from Stockade Lake Trail.

The view of Stockade Lake from the trail of the same name.

Along the hike around Legion Lake, Custer State Park.

This 1/34th sculpture displays what the mountain
will look like after another several decades of sculpting.
That's the actual Thunderhead Mountain
being carved in the distance.

The impressive Nature Gates of black & gold,
designed and built by the original sculptor of the
Crazy Horse Memorial, Korczak Ziolkowski.

The laser light show at the Crazy Horse Memorial was excellent.
The finale, above, shows what the finished memorial will look like.
For video of the light show, Click.

Fighting Stallions at the Crazy Horse Memorial.

This sculpture has only one support
to the ground through
only one foot of one stallion.

One of many gorgeous views enroute to the wildlife road
in Custer State Park.

Wild donkeys have no fear of people in Custer SP.

Wild donkeys in Custer SP.

Custer State Park

Photo by Karen P.

Photo by Karen P.

Photo by Karen P.

Photo by Karen P.

Photo by Karen P.

Photo by Karen P.

Smokey sunset

On the horseback trail 
at the Rockin' R Trail Rides.

On the horseback trail at the Rockin' R Trail Rides.

Sylvan Lake

Sylvan Lake panorama, Click

Hidden waterfall on Sylvan Lake hike

On the Mickelson Trail

Another hike on the
Mickelson Trail

Hike & Canoeing at Sylvan Lake

Legion Lake and Badger Clark Trails

Stockade Lake Trail

Legion Lake and Badger Clark Trails

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