Cross Country with Cardi: Day 6 - Hill City, SD to Yellowstone, MT

Day 6

May 27^th, 2012

Hill City, SD to West Yellowstone, MT

“Unexpected Adventures”

The day started well with the sun peaking through the Super 8’s curtains. The fog was gone! Time to get rolling. We were up an at ‘em by 7:30 and in the weird breakfast room soon after. Everything at this Super 8 was weird. Just to give you an idea there was a tanning room across from the breakfast room and this was all on an isolated basement floor. Kyle had his fruit loops and cinnamon doughnut while Ali opted for the fiber 1 super strength cereal. Some lady was jealous Ali had brought her own cereal...

You can see the morning smokers sitting outside, posted up with their cigs.

Thankfully Travis’ birthday and the plus size dance party were done and the morning started peacefully.

It did not stay that way.

Upon recommendation from our waiter the previous day, Ali got behind the wheel and started for the scenic Needles Hwy loop towards Mt. Rushmore. The loop was an easy 30 miles and had spectacular views in store for us. Kyle was the navigator/photographer extraordinaire and Ali was carefully winding and cutting the narrow mountain road turns. We got a few great long distance views of the legendary and elusive Mount Rushmore now that the fog was long gone. Besides the fact that we got stuck behind a mini van that refused to go over 25 mph (we blame our sub par mpg stats for the day on the mini van), all seemed to be perfect and sunshiney.

Then the gas-light went on. Ding! No big deal, we have a 35 mile range and we are about 20 miles from the nearest town with a gas station (Keystone). Just in case, Ali begins to drive very conservatively; i.e. essentially staying in neutral the whole down hill stretch behind the infamous mini van. The range actually increased from 35 to 50 miles on the downhill allowing Kyle to nervously breathe a temporary sigh of relief. With 10 miles to go however, the uphill road back toward Keystone quickly shrunk Helga’s range from 35 to 15-20 miles. Ali's censervative driving was then essential. Luckily we popped out of the Needles Hwy and cruise down to Keystone with 10 mi range left. Pshwhew.

We coasted in neutral into the one and only gas station in Keystone. We quickly realized…. THEY DON’T HAVE DIESEL. Nerves kicked back in on how low on gas we then were. Not only that, but we had to get up and out of Keystone for the next diesel station. Excuse my French but SHIT. We tried not to panic, but Ali knew that running a diesel car out of gas is extremely harmful for the engine and poor Helga had been doing so well all 2000 miles.

We busted out the iPhones and check for the surrounding gas stations on both GasBuddy and iExit (great Apps for all those road trippers out there). One station in Hill City 7 miles away and one station on the way to Rapid City 9 miles away. We chose the Rapid City one because after looking at an elevation map Kyle realized that Rapid City was nearly all down hill from where we were. Ali went into ultra conservative MPG mode in the slow lane and is cruising at 65 in neutral for the majority of the 9 miles. We turned into the gas station, pulled up to the diesel pump and sighhhhhhh with relief. As Kyle fills up the tank we broke a new record for Helga’s biggest fill up – 13.64 gallons on a 14 gallon tank. We were really cutting it close. Real pshwhew this time. Pictures from the Needles Hwy are below.

Kyle at Sylvan Lake. Smiles as the gas-light has not turned on yet.

One of 5 rock tunnels one-lane wide. Annnnd the imfamous duct-taped-brake-pedal mini van

A brief moment of acceleration for the poor fella

as we head through tunnel number 3

A peak at Mount Rushmore from Needles Hwy

Relieved but still a little shaken we decided, since were about 20 miles away from Mount Rushmore at this point that it’s not worth it to go all the way back because we were already on our path out and since the day before was foggy and today was a holiday it seemed like everyone and their mom was headed to the monument. Crowd fest.

Off and running to Yellowstone. Checking off a few more states!

Drive Highlights:

1. Basking in the fact that we didn’t run out of fuel.

2. Realizing that Wyoming and Montana are INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL.

Red roads were due to the local slate rock used

The clouds look fake but they provided a great view

throughout the 10 hour drive.

The scenery was so picturesque we decided the cabins looked like Lincoln Log cabins and golf courses blended into the surroundings and looks as if someone had simply mowed the lawn.

3. Don’t tell Jared and the rest of the Subway crew but we betrayed them and decided to go to Jimmy Johns subs cause it was the best looking option in Billings, MT.They had some great signs and made our sandwiches in about 2 mins! Speedy Gonzales.

There were a few keepers in the men's restroom!

Anyone know what language that is and what it might say?

In case you can't see this sign it says:

We'd love to see you NAKED, but state law requires shirt and shoes

4. Ali had a huge and glorious nap to miss the better part of our Montana driving.

Smurf suit

5. Probably the biggest highlight of the drive was driving out to the Jenkins’ property just south of Livingston, MT. The family of Ali’s Davidson friend Luke Jenkins (Kyle’s recent best bud) has a piece of land about 15 miles south of Livingston off East River Road.

Blue dot on the property! Proof.

Getting contemplative

House next door.

Trick or treating wouldn't be that great 'round these parts

The entrance of the ranch property next door.

Think it's called Seven Angels Ranch. Also, the picture makes it look much more foreboding than it really was. Nice place!

The property has a small stream on one side and then is bordered by the Yellowstone River on the west side. You can see snowy mountains all around it. Here are a few pictures for Bob and Luke Jenkins to enjoy! Especially since the 28^th is Bob Jenkins’ birthday! WOOOO! Happy Birthday Day Bob!

6. Entering Yellowstone. Not at all what Kyle and I expected. But full of pleasant surprises.

YELLOWSTONE (through the north entrance to West Yellowstone)

First off – there was snow everywhere and the temperature has dropped to 38 degrees. Kyle had on gym shorts. We paid the entrance fee and started driving through the park. Since we had both been to Yosemite multiple times we expected it to look like Yosemite in August or September. False. IT STARTED TO SNOW! THERE WAS SNOW EVERYWHERE.

Guess what else was everywhere? BISON.

We had to stop in the middle of the road to let this one pass

Here's the big guy enjoying a bite to eat in the snow

Not sure what would happen to little Helga if she got rammed by a

bison but we weren’t about to find out since the diesel scare

was enough excitement for one day.

We saw hot springs – cool, but smelled strongly of stinky sulfur. Lots of bison and quite a few elk. We even saw a MOOSE. Shoutout to Caitlin Allen who is deathly afraid of moose.

We hit a complete roadblock about 30 miles into the park when a whole gang of bison (10-20, does anyone know the proper word for a collective of bison… probably a herd) were just chillin in the middle of the road.

BIG ONE!

A baby bison! Looks more like a calf when they are young.

Highlight – there were BABY BISON. Kyle was real stoked about that so he took quite a few snapshots by opening the safari roof, popping out the top like it was a humvee for particularly necessary action shots. Yes, while it was snowing.

Pulling into West Yellowstone where our hotel or “youth hostel” is located. Nice town. It’s full of lodge like hotels and a few diners, Chinese restaurants, gift shops and a shaved ice place that probably gets no customers since its freaking 35 degrees out!!! Typical small mountain town with one or two main streets. Random – the town has an IMAX theater so maybe after a day of touring tomorrow we’ll have to finally see Avengers!!

Pull up to our hotel. The Madison Hotel and Youth Hostel. This place is the definition of a classic cabin lodge.

We have a private room but a public bathroom. So much better than your typical chain hotel this place is bursting with character! From the animal heads to the gift store to the two sisters (65 and 75 years old) that own the place it is truly amusing. Our room – “Room 1” at the top of the stairs is 100 years old. The place was built in 1912 and is still looking pretty damn good. Except for our window that doesn't close all the way...

Burrrrrrrrrr

But from a day of winding roads and beautiful scenery we passed the eff out in our little cabin room. Missing out on an hour and a half road nap, Kyle couldn’t even stay awake to help me write this. Although, his edits in the morning were superb.

Looking forward to more bison dodging and less diesel scares tomorrow. Hopefully Kyle will wear more than just gym shorts and we won't get any more snow!