The Badlands

Our journey from South Dakota to North Dakota was a scenic drive through vast prairies that seemed to stretch out endlessly before us. The small towns we passed by on our way to North Dakota were quaint and charming, and we couldn’t help but feel captivated by their unique character.

The Badlands, a place unlike any other we had visited, stood out with its rugged and barren landscape. The steep-sided mesas, deep gullies, and clay-rich soil, which turned slippery and sticky after rainfall, were unique features that added to its allure. The Lakota people aptly named it mako sika, meaning land bad, reflecting the harsh and unforgiving terrain.

Despite its harshness, the quiet, unassuming beauty of the Badlands would become apparent to me. The wind-beaten landscape was a study in contrasts, with shades of red and white streaking across the barren stones. Wildlife was abundant in both the sky and land. I began to imagine how the stillness and simplicity of this place could bring solace and beauty to anyone who visited. It was in these wide-open spaces that Theodore Roosevelt found refuge after the death of his first wife. The Badlands offered a place of healing and contemplation, where a person could lose themselves in the vastness of the landscape and find comfort in its stillness and simplicity. The longer I stayed the more I could understand that.

We decided to stay in Medora, located at the entrance of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It is a quaint town with a busy saloon even in the off-season.

We had the pleasure of meeting a couple who were touring the area on motorcycles. The husband, who had been a history teacher, shared fascinating stories about the area with us. I was grateful to have recently read David McCollough’s book on President Roosevelt and the area, and his stories sounded familiar to me.

Despite the strong wind, we decided to hike the area. It was a beautiful way to experience the countryside and to imagine ourselves living in a bygone era.

We will meander a while before heading up to Canada.

You are loved…