Out to the Dakotas

Another online journal, passing through Badlands!

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John's Journal

Day Thirty

Mileage- 304

Route- Hwy 75 South, I-90 West, Hwy 377 South

Finally, heat, again. Now turn it down a bit, ok? I was actually sweating while packing up camp. There were only a few clouds in the sky and not much wind, so I figured it was going to be a hot one. I crammed everything in, for the 20th time or so, and did a few chores. I seamed the seals on my Gore-Tex gloves I bought in Appleton, WI so that it wouldn't rain any more. I figure that since they are really not going to leak as they had been (how was I supposed to know you had to seal the seams?) it most likely will never rain again. We'll see about that.

I opted for cruising out to perhaps get to the Badlands and maybe Mt. Rushmore this evening. Although, I took off late and got on the road at around noon. It is pretty flat out here. Nothing more than a few clumps of trees off in the distance where you can see a house, silo and a barn poking through. It is funny to watch and see the clumps of these trees scattered all around for miles in the distance. Breaking up the boredom, though, is road construction. For 10 miles at a time. That's fun.

I'll tell you the billboard business is booming along I-90! Man, oh man. Every tenth of a mile there is a sign for something, which does breakup the boredom and gives you something to read. I don't know for sure, but I think that Wall Drug may be trying to claim the "Most Billboards for Single Establishment" award. Of course the owner of that award now is "See Rock City."

Road Sign of the Day (maybe of the trip):
Dick's Body Shop- 24 Hour Toe Service

I laughed at that one for a few miles, then I saw a second one and couldn't believe it. Typo? Doubtful. It's really great, though - I was wondering where I could get a pedicure at 4 a.m.!

The Missouri River. There is a great rest area here with a scenic overlook. I wonder if this marks the change in scenery from the flatlands to the hillier parts? There are these familiar white fluffy clouds up in the sky, but they are different. These aren't moving at all. And they are mixed with some higher light cloudy haze.

Boy, am I glad I am about 20 or 30 miles south of what I saw to the north. I thought I saw a storm unfolding, and it looked like rain ("particularly nasty weather," sorry, inside joke), but then there was that lightening strike. Since I was riding, I never saw the lightening for long, I should have pulled over to watch. Watching storms develop off in the distance is way cool. The best part was that it was isolated. I was riding in direct sun, every now and then hiding behind big white puffies (I made this word up, it sounds like an Australian word for clouds). I did pull over eventually and tried to take some pictures, I imagine they won't convey the sweeping majesticness of it all.

OK, the state tied for first in "Most Bugs In A Square Mile" with Texas is.....South Dakota. Man! I even had to stop just to wipe the dead bugs off. And I had a few go inside my leather jacket and inside my t-shirt, gross! Oh, well, it is worth it for the amazing views. As I thought, eventually, but not immediately after crossing the Missouri River, the terrain changes. Wow! I pulled off to go through the Badlands, maybe stay at the motel there and boy did the terrain change.

Right away the ground almost gave away. It looked a bit like the Grand Canyon, and western New Mexico all at once. I really don't know how to describe it. I paused for a few minutes trying to figure out how. They are almost eerie the way they look almost handmade. Built up of sand and rocks into formations that are monumental in style and almost whimsical at the same time.

I pulled in to the Cedar Pass Lodge and found a vacancy. For $44/night, I have a teeny cabin the size of a hotel room ? hotels are actually bigger) all to my self. It is free-standing and this one is kinda by itself. There are bigger ones, too, and all of them are smack dab in this amazing terrain.

During dinner, I was watching the sun slowly begin to set. I thought that I would try to find a high place to watch it set, but there some low clouds to prevent a clear view. Suddenly, there was a CRACK of a thunder clap followwed by some great lightening exactly opposite from the sunset. My heart sank thinking that the storm I saw was coming my way. But all the clouds seemed to be very content just hanging right where they were. After dinner, I hopped on the bike (how nice to not be in leathers and without all that stuff!) And went up to a great trailhead to watch the free fireworks show. There was even a rainbow for a while, too.

I walked up to the edge of a drop-off where I could get an unobstructed view of the wonderful lightening show. Man, I have not seen one of these for a long, long time, if ever. The odd thing was that there was no thunder to go along with it. Unlike the first one at dinner, all these were visual only. Some would arc from the clouds, come part-way down to the ground and then go right back up, creating a circle of lightening. Others would begin with a bright flash high up behind the clouds, then about 4 seconds later a huge bolt or two or three would flash. Some bolts would arc straight downward, some at an angle, some would have many together going all different ways.

I came back to the bike and laid back on it taking it all in. After a while, I rode back the 1 mile without a helmet to feel the sort of cool evening air through my hair. After a day in the hot, hot sun in leathers, it felt really good. When I got back, I chatted with some of the kids who where on this yearly bicycle ride here from Rapid City. They were fun to talk to and I gave the guy of the group the URL for this website. I hope they check it out and like it! One lone girl stuck around and talked AT me for about a half an hour as I tried to get away to write this. It was great fun!

With thanks to the Grateful Dead, "what a long strange trip it's been." And there's more to come.