Custer, SD...rain and relaxation

We started our journey on Sunday and after 3 1/2 travel days we arrived in Custer, South Dakota. We will be exploring the Black Hills for about a week. Internet service on the road has proven to be unpredictable. First, the wi-fi wouldn't connect. Next, there was absolutely no cell service. And on the third night with cell service available, I had connection problems! In Custer, we are at Fort Welikit campground and the wi-fi is working!

Our first leg of the trip on Sunday took us through Northeastern Arizona and into New Mexico where we stayed at the USA RV Park in Gallup. This is a clean, American owned park with level sites.
Day two brought us to Raton, New Mexico. We exited I-25 and headed to Sugarite State Park. Sugarite has two campgrounds. The one with electricity and hook-ups was full so we proceeded to the Soda Pocket campground, which is first-come first-served. As we pulled onto the drive, a state park sign said "steep grades, winding road, use lower gears". Up, up, up we pulled on a gravel road. Up, up, up some more. The climb paid off with "million dollar views" from the campground! Wildlife was also abundant! Bear boxes make themselves at home next to the firepits. Those bear boxes weren't for decoration either. Chris saw a mama and yearling at the edge of the woods as he walked the shepherds. Deer and wildflowers also graced this beautiful location. We would have liked to spend some more time at this park, and at $10 a night it was hard to leave.

Day three included travel through the state of Colorado up I-25 and into Wyoming. We were ready to call it a day when we reached Cheyenne, but weren't willing to stay in an RV park by the highway. So we headed Northeast and stayed at Hawk Springs State Recreation area. Three miles down a sandy, dusty road was a lake! There are 24 no hook-up RV sites that the locals seem to favor. The lake served as a great swimming hole for Caleb and the dogs. Non-resident fees were $12 a night. Better than the highway for sure, yet not a place we'd probably return to.
So today we had a short drive to arrive in Custer. The find of the day? We stopped in Lusk, Wyoming for coffee. We didn't want to set up the generator this morning to get a pot brewed. So on the road searching for coffee, we came to a truck stop/cafe. Two travel mugs and a thermos full of freshly brewed java for 94 cents! Ahhh coffee. We got parked into our spot at Fort Welikit as the rain has started to gently fall. It will be nice to stay put for a couple of days!