July 15, 2025 (Tue.) – Sunrise, Badlands NP, Naughty Otis

Lynn was up early at 5:15 AM, greeted by a warm breeze and a glorious sunrise glowing over the rugged Badlands landscape. Even Kirk was stirring, sleep-deprived from the night before and on a mission to flip on the inverter so Lynn could fire up the Keurig for her morning fix—best husband award secured. Unfortunately, her peaceful outdoor coffee routine was cut short by muddy ground and stashed-away chairs that were just too much trouble to retrieve. Still, the quiet mooing of cows and morning stillness made her short visit to the cliffside worthwhile before retreating inside to tackle some long-overdue blogging. Kirk snuck back to bed but surprisingly reappeared by 8:15 AM—an early rise by his standards.

Breakfast was a swing and a miss: scrambled eggs with chicken and sausage, somehow falling flat for both of us. Kirk spent the morning calling multiple campgrounds near Sioux Falls, only to find everything booked thanks to a major weekend concert. Eventually, he landed us a spot in Mitchell, SD—home of the famous Corn Palace and a manageable 70 miles out. We locked it in and officially set our exit plan from the Badlands.

At noon, we made our way to the one-and-only Wall Drug, a roadside spectacle we hadn’t seen since 2020. Lunch at their bustling café didn’t disappoint—Kirk went for their signature beef sandwich, while Lynn grabbed a classic burger. And yes, we couldn’t leave without one of their legendary donuts. Then came the surprise highlight: in the camping store, Lynn finally found the elusive foldable footstool she’d been hunting since Custer. After ant bites and buggy ambushes, she needed something to keep her feet elevated, and for $16, it was a total win.

After a quick nap, we headed out to explore some new corners of Badlands National Park, taking the Sage Creek Road turnoff toward Prairie Dog Town and Sage Creek Overlook. Despite the heat and gusty winds, Lynn insisted on stopping at every viewpoint, and the rewards were stunning. At Prairie Dog Town we left Otis in the car.  We already know his penchant for prairie dog chasing and he’s proven to be untrustworthy.  However, at Sage Creek Overlook, Otis got a little too adventurous—catching a prairie dog scent, bolting down the stairs, and completely ignoring Kirk’s commands and not waiting for his leash like usual. Like a rebellious toddler, he ran wild through open fields until the moment Kirk turned his back and Otis panicked, sprinting back with a grin, clearly proud of his mischief. Thankfully no rangers appeared, and we avoided any fines or lectures.

Dinner at The Salty Steer in Wall wrapped the day nicely. From our table, we had a direct view of Otis hanging out in the truck—watching Kirk through tinted glass staring him down as he ate his steak. While cruising around Wall post-dinner, we stumbled upon a new Dahl’s Chainsaw Art location, featuring the world’s tallest Jackalope at a whopping 40 feet tall. It’s a new addition as of August 2022, and naturally, Lynn climbed the balcony to take it all in. Free to enjoy, with a humble donation box at the entrance—her $5 contribution felt more than worth it.

From sunrise coffee rituals to Wall Drug scores and prairie dog chaos, the day was full of unexpected highlights and small victories.

Weather – High 80*, Low 62*. Winds 3-17 mph with gusts up to 26 mph.

Traffic – None.

Food – Wall Drug, Salty Steer – both good.

Notable – Sunrise, Lynn’s foot stool, Otis chasing prairie dogs, Badlands NP