BAD

Today was a big one. We started out early heading to the Badlands without knowing what to expect. What we saw exceeded whatever notions we'd had. It was stunning. I wasn't sure if we'd stay a week, a month, or just pass right on by. It turns out that the Badlands got their name for a reason. It's hard terrain and spectacular sights galore, but not much to live on. And hot as hell! We ran around (sweating like mad) and even climbed some steep terrain. I'd advise against that. I got pretty beat up sliding down the face of a slope, but it wasn't too bad. Then we stopped at some nice viewpoints, took tons of pictures, and rolled straight on through.

On a side note.. Desperado zoomed in like Mary Lou Retton and did a handspring to BACKFLIP with an alien landscape backdrop. I need to write this down now so that in a couple years I won't mistake it for a dream. He's been saying that he could do it for the five years I've known him and I just thought he was re-living some past glory. When I'd press him on it he'd say "Nah.. this isn't the time or place". I'd shrug it off with a chuckle. His form was perfect. He sprinted, popped, sprang, hit a perfect backflip and landed with a lil thug spring in his step. All style. I've wasn't sure if I'd ever stop laughing. It was just too much.

On another side note.. we still haven't recorded anything in the studio together on this trip. We'll have to do that soon. Maybe tomorrow.

After leaving the Badlands, we'd just discovered that Mt. Rushmore has their firework display on the 3rd of July, so we hustled on over in hopes to check out the show. I had my reservations as every local I spoke with said that the whole area was overcrowded, traffic was crazy, and that people showed up days in advance for the festivities. The bus doesn't like tight spots or tricky maneuvers. Well.. we said "scratch that.. let's get as close as we can". So that's what happened. We parked the bus as close as we could, walked a couple miles, and witnessed something special. I'm so glad we made the effort. At this point in the trip, we're feeling like we can make the best of difficult situations and that everything will work out. Just like the poineers.

Tomorrow is the 4th of July. We just have to find something to get into.