Could this really be "Badlands?"

After leaving Ft. Robinson we stopped briefly in the Toadstool Geologic Park, so called because of the sandstone caps that would stand on top of eroded clay "stems" looking very much like toadstools.

Then we were off to Hot Springs, SD where we intended to get our new driver's licenses...we didn't have all the right paperwork--needed 2 proofs of address instead of just one and we were not going to get more mail until the end of the week..  As we loaded up to head to the Badlands in the interim, JoyFull was giving Treasure grief about getting in the trailer by putting her nose in Treasure's space.  So I did something I almost never do...I tied her.  She threw a royal tantrum...
completely left brain, but no less damaging.  Thirty plus stitches and several hours later we were on our way again.

We arrived at a free campground in the Badlands National Park...Sage Creek...with paddocks and...buffalo!  Since
JoyFull was recovering, I did not ride her for several days.  Each morning and evening I would pony her down to the creek  and back for water, treat her other little cuts and scrapes and keep an eye on her swelling.  I got to ride Treasure in search of a water trough and, the next day, with Barney and Morgan who were veterans of the area who showed me around and schooled me on buffalo etiquette.

On Sunday Dave and I took a short ride, with me on JoyFull.  At first she was quite energetic, but quickly she didn't feel right.  We turned back and when we got back to camp, I found she had a fever in spite of the antibiotic shot the vet gave her.

We decided to leave the Badlands and head for a boondock in Letcher, SD, closer to the potential for a vet. Our hosts, Cindy and Clay were awesome and provided what the girls must have thought was heaven...5 acres of knee high grass!  Fortunately the next morning, JoyFull's fever was gone, and by the next day (today), much of her swelling had also improved dramatically....Thank God!

Interestingly, it was not until we were leaving the Park that we finally saw a bit of the REAL

Badlands.  Sage Creek was grassy and still somewhat green, but the spires, peaks and plateaus we got to see from a distance will have to be saved for another trip.  We could easily spend 2 weeks at Sage Creek and barely touch the adventures still waiting for us in the REAL Badlands...that's one for my bucket list!