Big Sky and the Badlands

We got our first taste of the 'big sky' effect while traveling to Dakota, it really felt as though the sky was much larger and like we were perched on the top of a globe (which we are but it doesn't usually feel like it). Thinking about why this was it seemed to be because the air was very clear (after all there is nothing here) and that you can see the clouds all the way to the ground - check out the second picture below. The separation between the sky and land, which we're used to seeing is gone and the clouds wrap all the way around.
After a hundred miles or so we got to the edge of the badlands, a really bizarre formation of sedimentary rock that the Lakota Indians called Makhóšiča, literally 'bad land'. There are actually numerous badlands in the states and other countries, all sharing a common look of very steep ridges and crumbly dry and arid rock.

There were signs to watch out for rattlesnakes and there was one in the sunflower patches above too although it has hidden when I went to take a look (not sure how sensible this was).

One of the other perils of long distance driving is the incessant noise from the smaller passengers, this can be somewhat alleviated by using the Dolby B(ucket) noise reduction system.
The other thing we brought with us was some very unusual rain. Straight after this we took an unpaved road for about 30 miles and our car turned entirely mud coloured. Andy was so embarrased that she wanted to get it washed, I used a somewhat tightfisted philosophy that if we didn't get it washed and it rained that that would wash it off and we'd save money, if it didn't rain then we'd be pleased that it didn't rain and we could get it washed when we got home - so either way we'd do OK. As it turned out it didn't rain until we were driving home but by that point even the torrential downpour we had didn't get it all off.

The area is also famous for fossils, although the one that the ranger is holding comes from nearby tar pits rather than badlands.