Today we focused on rock formations and fossils. We went to the Jewel Caves however, they were all booked, so we drove over to Hot Springs and went to the Mammoth Site. This was exciting because it is the only spot in America where the bones are in-situ (left as is). It was a sink hole where the animals entered the water but were unable to get out because of slippery sides. It was uncovered when developers were going to build on the land. They actually built a building around the spot and archeologists work at the site within the building. We walked around a platform where the tour guide stopped at various spots to explain whose bones we were viewing.

Then we went to the Wind Cave National Park and had a wonderful ranger take us 250 feet down in this cave. It has hundreds of little tunnels that make it the fourth longest cave in the world. The entrance is a little hole that the wind blows in or out of. The hole is too small for us to go through, so we took an elevator down and to the tour. We walked through narrow passages in lowly lit passageways. She said that many of the passageways curve around and come out into larger spaces. This ranger had an interest as a young woman in TN and came back years later. She explores many of the tunnels with others and gives tours. We overheard another young ranger say she majored in meteorology and climate and wants to get a full time job as a ranger. What interesting lives they must lead!

Driving home just took forever. You can't get "here" from "there". Pretty much no side streets and again, lots of prairie land with nothing but occasional cattle or a farm house on it. It's frustrating to have to circle around, but at least there is no traffic.