But first, we stopped at a rest area around Wasta to look for two letterboxes. We first tried for Prairie Dog by mt walker. There was three attempts logged in but since there was another box at this location we decided to at least look. We didn't find it!!! So we moved on to the next box . . . SD - Leaving the Hills Behind by wandaandpete. This one we found. Only a stamp glued to a rock, no logbook. So it was quick logging in. Once the stamp was hidden again we continued our drive along I90 to Exit 131.
We left the interstate here and made our way to Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. I first got my cancellation stamps and some postcards. We then asked about the tours at Delta-01 Launch Control Facility. They were booked for the day (actually for two weeks out). So we watched the film and walked through the musuem. After about 40 minutes here we left and made our way to Badlands National Park.At the fee station we showed our America the Beautiful Pass and made our way into the park.
As we drove we admired the beautifully different landscape. We made stops at a couple of parking areas and took some short walks along boardwalks and then into the landscape. I took some pictures and we just took our time enjoying the views. Then we made our way to the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. I got my cancellation stamps, some postcards, a patch and some t-shirts. Then we drove the Badlands Loop Road. We made stops at Fossil Exhibit Trail and walked the boardwalk; Panorama Point and took pictures; Burns Basin Overlook & Homestead Overlook and took more pictures; Yellow Mounds Overlook and we walked a couple of trails and took pictures; and then we made one last stop at Pinnacles Overlook where we did another walk out to a great vantage point and took pictures. 
We were glad we were at the end of the loop road because it was about 12:30pm and we were hungry and hot - the temperature at this time was at 101° and it was humid. We were cooked and done for the day. Well, not totally but done with Badlands.So we made our way to Wall. Some friends were in the area last year and recommended a restaurant for lunch - Red Rock Restaurant. The reviews on Trip Advisor were so-so but we decided to try it anyway. They had recommended the fried chicken (actually broasted chicken). And that is what we got. It was delicious and the reviews were overly exaggerated - the place was clean, there was good service and the food was good. The people next to us both had burgers and they enjoyed them as well. After we finished our meal we made our way to Wall Drug. An obvious tourist trap but an icon of the area so we just had to go there. You can read more about Wall Drug at Roadside America. We walked around through all the areas and just before leaving we grabbed some ice cream. Before leaving Wall and heading back to Rapid City we made one more stop for a letterbox. There is an 80' green dinosaur with a billboard advertising Wall Drug that overlooks the interstate.
We made our way there to find Wallasaurus by RIFamily. There were six other cars there when we pulled up so I had my doubts about being able to look for the box. But by the time I walked up to the dinosaur and took a couple of pictures all the other people had left. Woohoo! It was clear to grab the box and thankfully it was there. So I took it back to the car to stamp in (remember it was around 100°). When I was done I returned the box to its hiding spot and we drove back to Rapid City.Once back in Rapid City we stopped for gas before heading to the hotel. At the hotel I organized the car and we got it ready for our drive north tomorrow. Back in the room we got some things packed and organized and I took care of pictures and this blog. Time for some sleep - we leave early in the morning. The Black Hills and Badlands are amazing and I hope we can return for another visit.
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