So to Continue...

After Chris and I left the Park grounds we headed into Custer town proper and saw an open grocery store.  We stopped and bought large plastic cloths as barriers between us and anything our bedding might touch at critter camper...and a coffeepot, as we were not using the one they had in the camper!

Next stop fuel.

All fueled up we proceeded up the road...we are driving along and it is getting progressively darker and things are just not feeling right.  Ya know ...you ARE heading north that is the correct direction however, it just isn't looking the same...well
we were in that place.

We tried explaining it off as the dark is making it feel different.
perhaps it is just a little further...
until we saw the HUGE (well Chris saw it I can't see driving at night) sign that required proof of ownership for any livestock and brands leaving the state....THE STATE!

As we entered WYOMING..a little unplanned excursion.

To be fair Wyo. is not that far from where we ARE supposed to be in SO DAK.!  But it isn't SD and it isn't critter camper!

I have to say a Tahoe can whip around in the tightest of areas...so we get turned around and head back into Custer.
WOW...we did not notice all these places on our way TO critter camper...look at all the HOTELS I say to Chris!

Um...do we REALLY want critter camper IF we can find a room HERE...uh that would be a big NO...so we begin stopping.

After 8 stops and 8 no rooms Chris is getting a little discouraged...not me...I INTEND on finding a room that is not critter camper...we have 5 places left!
We stop at cowboy inn..LUCK we get a room!

A CLEAN room, with clean sheets, a clean bathroom, nothing on the floor, restful space of a room! SOOOOooooo happy!

Next morning we get up and head back to Custer Park.  Since we didn't have any luck finding the North viewing arena, we headed to the South viewing.

On the way we spotted through the hills the gorgeous sunrise! and veered off the line into the arena ..to hike up the hill and capture it...

After a few reflective moments to give thanks for the witnessing a gorgeous morning..we head back to car and get back in line.

We had a few greeters along the way...

A herd of donkeys! there were a lot of them too! and quite curious about all these vehicles!

We spotted the perfect critter dwelling...

Proceeding around all the curves and such up the hill to park...

We got settled and found a space to wait.

Finally! The Buffalo began coming over the ridge into the valley...

They meet up with buffalo being pushed from the other side to be turned and head over the next ridge into the corrals...

then turning them...

and taking them over the next ridge..

We head back to the vehicle and get in line to get off the mountain and go back through the park.
We take color reference pictures and stills of composition for future paintings...

Here is a nifty old bridge, it has a bit of a creek running under it and a great vista of boulder...

As we leave Custer a cool old barn with old corrals...

And we head home...

We had an awesome field trip!!!

Hope you enjoyed coming along :D