CUSTER STATE PARK

Oct.8th

Today we visited Custer state Park-it is about 30 miles from Deadwood-
It is a really clear,but cold morning-we have decided to take the really narrow and winding hwy-the scenic route if you will! We do not have the "house" behind us-so fifure we are ok. Well, we wind up,up,up and around quite a way-and before we even get to the entrance of the park-we encounter a very narrow tunnel-10ft wide-so we put in our mirrors(this is where the auto pull in of mirrors function on the dash is sooo cool!) in the tunnel we go-and it is neat-all rock and we made it just fine. The scenery is quite spectacular-towering rock spires and beautiful aspen, oak, and tall pines. There are lots of "switchback" curves, but I am with an expert driver-so again, we are good! a little way up the road-we come to another tunnel-this one is 8'7"-eek! We had stopped to take in the view before we go thru the tunnel-we find that the other tourists also stopped in this area are a little nervous about the tunnel-and they are in small cars-again-eek! we laugh, and they say we can go first-if we make it-they will come too- ok, Mike is good-but when we are just about half way thru the tunnel-he says-"Jan, you know we only have 3 1/2 inches on each side of clearance" it is really close-but we made it-I gave Mike "nucks" and we each could again breathe!! a little way again, another tunnel-well,this one is huge! a full 9'-easy! we finally get to the park entrance-pay our fee-and away we go. We are heading toward the wildlife loop. the park has been doing a "buffalo roundup"-we are in time to check it out. the park does this roundup each year-checks blood in each buffalo,tags and gives shots to the animals who need them. It is a huge operation-and quite a sight to see. These animals are huge-powerful-and really think they are in charge-they put them in huge pens-then wind them thru a series of gates-til finally they are ready for whatever procedure they are to get-be it just tagging or shots or blood drawing. Each "buffalo cowboy" has his or her job-and they all work as a close -perfectly times union to get the job done-it was great to see!
After we leave the buffalo-we head on down the road-soon we see we have a road block-a group of donkeys! They are heading down the road toward us-and are apparently looking to be fed-Ginger is looking out the window and is for sure wondering what these animals are-they are putting their heads right up to the windows and looking at us. Next, we are treated to an escort-of Buffalo! They are walking down the middlew of the road-quite slowly, and have no intention of moving to the side-either side. So, we just slow down and go with the flow! We are past the buffalo, and we come to a group of Whitetail deer-they are beautiful, and just want to cross the road-so of course, we let them. We have seen more wildlike today than in Glacier and Yellowstone Parks combined. We have really enjoyed all of the sights of the park today-and highly recommend it to everyone to check out. The area is expecting snow tomorrow-we will be leaving Deadwood-so we are ok-maybe!