Custer, SD -- Interior, SD, July 1

Spent the morning at Custer State Park. Started with another lake hike, and then a drive that was supposed to offer wildlife viewing. Found two (female) bighorn sheep before we even started the"official" drive. They were in the road licking up some salt that apparently was still there from a snow on May 1. The coat looks so ragged because they are shedding some of it for the summer warm weather. We did see more bison and pronghorns as well. We also saw the "begging burros", feral descendents of burros that were once pack animals carrying tourists up Black Elk Peak

Then a scenic drive through the Badlands. Amazing colors, and otherworldly landscape. Got to our motel in Interior (population 94)--there's a bird's nest over our door. You can only (barely) see two babies in the picture, but there are at least 4, maybe 5. We think they're cliff swallows, but aren't sure. We'll try to verify tomorrow (or if any of you reading this knows, please tell us).

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