The ride north to Sioux Falls felt interminable; I needed to feel like my goal was in sight. After I stopped for lunch I realized I had lost my drivers license somewhere! I always travel with my passport, and my two pieces of plastic have my photo on them...it could always be worse. I would deal with it when I settled for the evening. I rounded Sioux Falls, lots of construction on the roads, but after the 80mph speed limit from St City to Sioux Falls, the 55mph was a respite. Once I hit 90 west, I felt as though I was finally 'on my way' in spite of the fact I had been traveling for five days!
If anyone thinks it is too crowded with humans where they live, they just need to visit the Great Plains states. So many wide open spaces that stretch to the horizon and beyond. Vast farmlands as far as the eye can see; the scrumptious smell of fresh cut hay. I make the decision to travel only as far as Mitchell SD, less than 350 miles. The only 'attraction' is the Corn Palace downtown; obligatory but boring. I scored a bag of caramel corn for later so all was not lost. My riding gear needed laundering desperately, so I spend the eve writing and doing laundry. Nothing exciting.
Bessie and I get an early start; there is a lot to see in the Black Hills area. The air was blissfully cool, requiring two jackets, full gloves, and my face mask. It's over 300 miles to the Rapid City area. 240 cuts off I90 before Wall SD, looping through the Badlands. I feel at peace among rocks, there is an energy that emanates from the prehistoric formations that crop up out of the South Dakota plains. I have visited the Canadian Badlands in southern Alberta as well. The park wasn't too crowded at all on a Monday morning; I cruised the loop, stopping a couple of times to admire the view and snap photos.
My stop at Wall Drug was a little disappointing; way too touristy for my choosing. I had lunch, bought a magnet and headed down the road. I followed the signs for Mt Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Monument located in the Blackhills. Great ride and more rocks! Outside of the little town of Keystone, the road winds up into the Blackhills, then !boom! You round a curve and there it is, four carved faces in the stone. There is a pull out to take photos, I wish I would have stopped there to snap my selfie, but instead, I forked over $11, circled the lot looking for parking, trucked up stairs and jostled elbow to elbow with tourists to get an unencumbered view of the mountain. That's it, and the line for ice cream was intolerable. I'm not a fan of crowded, touristy areas. I headed out to see the Crazy Horse Monument, which has intrigued me since I first read about the Lakota Tribe. No federal funds are accepted and the private land is considered sacred by the Lakota. Rocks, sacred, but was drawn to the site.
The property houses the Indian Museum of North America, plan to stay awhile if you visit. The monument itself is not much to see, although the sheer size of the stone outcropping where the sculpting is taking place is a leviathan on the landscape. The museum is packed with memorabilia, original manuscripts , beautiful beaded authentic clothing, jewelry and photos of what life on the plains was like. I spent too much time in the bookstore (duh), and as I made my purchase I heard a crack of thunder. There had not been any clouds present when I walked into the museum! I headed toward the parking lot and the heavens opened up; cold , heavy rain that hurled pea size hail down upon us. I unlocked my saddlebag and fished out my rain jacket as I'm getting pelted. I pulled my other jacket out and threw it over the camera pack since I didn't have time to put covers on my packs, then ran back to the museum. Once it stopped, I dumped ice pellets out of my helmet, packed the soggy jacket, and sat on a very wet seat. As luck would have it, Bessie and I got about 5 miles down the road and came right back into the hail storm again! Thankfully there wasn't a lot of traffic on 16, because there is nowhere to pull over, and I was blinded by rain. Ten miles from Rapid City, the sun was shining fiercely and I started to dry out!
Great Riding through, I vow to come back when my Wingman can join me.
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