Hi Everyone,

Packed our family - wife, mom, grown-up son, cat and myself into Tonka and set off for the Black Hills last week. Tonka handled the 1200+ mile seven day round trip over hill and dale, through single lane road construction and in some really blustery gusty wind conditions without a hiccup. This was our first ever visit to the Black Hills. Thanks to the incredible country, friendly and helpful folks and our steadfast Barth, we had a truly great trip and wonderful time.

Here are a few photos.



Rafter J Bar Ranch Campground - Hill City, SD
We loved the open spaces.



Speaks for itself.



George by himself.



Chief Crazy Horse. This monument is funded entirely from donations and is making gradual but steady progress toward completion. They have some wonderful and ambitious long range plans for the facilties at the base of the monument.



Needles Highway - Most Barths including Tonka need not apply.



Custer State Park Wildlife Loop - We might let you pass if you give each of us an apple. Otherwise, we're just going to stand here and take a nap.



Who goes there - friend or foe? You wouldn't happen to have an apple? Mountain Goat Guarding Mt. Rushmore



Badlands National Park - Tonka friendly and exciting Badlands Scenic Loop.



Deadwood Trolley - Special Vehicle Manufacturing Corp, Freightliner Chassis. I was hoping it was a Barth!



Saloon No. 10 Deadwood - Wild Bill's ghost or one of the locals?

Great trip and wonderful Barth.

Thanks,
Wally

Great Photos!!

Nice.
I need to venture up that way.

Beautiful, thank you for taking us along
It has been 17 years since we visited with George and he does not look a day older unlike the two of us

Loved camping in Custer State Park, Buffalos outside the door when we woke up in the morning. Panned for gold in the ditch outside Lead smelters.

Wow, we might have to add that to the list.

I think we have the start of an other GTG. South Dakota has Mt Rushmore, Spearfish Canyon(Dances with Wolfs), Badlands, Custer State Park, Corn Palace, Deadwood, Lead, Souxi Falls,Ect Ect Ect. Tow or three days from the East and two or three days from the Left Coast. Plenty of places to see on the way there and back. Any takers for 2013,14,15???? 1031 Mi. Milford, 1388 San Diego, 2044 Van Couver Bc, 1641 Appling Ga., 1794 New York, 1554 New Orleans.

We're in.

Be an easy drive from Denver. Were in..

glad you had a great trip. It is always fun when stuff works. Good pixs, keep it up

1248 from here. Were game for it. Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain a days drive.

Seeing a few Bison in Yellowstone, We came around a curve in Custer to the words from then 6 yr old son "Holy Sh**"as he see a heard of several hundred. He stills laughs about it to this day.

quote:

Rafter J Bar Ranch Campground - Hill City, SD

Is Rafter J Bar Ranch campground suitable for a GTG?

I did a little checking and have found two other RV parks that could work.

Wolf Camp @ http://wolfcampkeystone.com

Horse Thief Campground @ http://www.horsethief.com

There are others but these three had good reviews.

Fantastic pics

Looks like Wolfcamp only has 30 amp service???

Here are a couple of links to the Rafter J Bar Ranch, which is the one Tonka stayed at.

http://www.rafterj.com/amenities
http://www.rafterj.com/sites

They will give a group of 15 - 20 RVs the off- season rate of $38.95 per night plus 10% off for Good Sam members through to May 2nd, not including Memorial Day Weekend.