Mount Rushmore

Four Famous Dudes

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John's Journal

Day Thirtyone

Mileage- 318

Route- Hwy 44 West, Hwy 16 West, Hwy 385 South, Hwy 16 West (again), I-90 West, Hwy 16 West (again)

When last we left, John was watching the distant storm thankful he was not in the storm himself. Today we pick up John unpacking his rain gear once again. And it looks as though he has out his electric vest, too. I wonder if he is happy that the very hot weather has given way to the same conditions he enjoyed so much in Wisconsin. And, as he pulls away onto the road through the Badlands, the bike seems to be leaning to one side a great deal due to the intense wind. I'll bet he is really enjoying this; high wind AND rain. Well, at least there is no lightening.

(end of, uh oh, which one is it, I have forgotten, 3rd Person narrative)

That's right, I actually awoke in the middle of the night to a thunder clap and the high winds. I really thought that when I looked out the window the bike would be laying on its side. Nope. But, the white plastic chair was blown about 100 yards away. Those bicyclists I met last night were loading all the bikes up on the back of trucks and in a trailer for a nice drive back to Rapid (the kids left off the "City" portion of Rapid City). I was not particularly happy to go back out in the wet, windy and cold weather, but what choice did I have? I suppose I could have stayed the night, but then I would have missed all the fun!

Along the way to Rapid City, I took a look at the trip odometer that I use to figure out when I should get gas. Uh, oh! I should have checked when I set out, but I didn't. And I might run out before the city. Well, no choice but to press on in this major wind which won't help the gas mileage. There it goes, the ceremonial stutters foreshadowing running out of gas. It slows down as if it has no more left, then runs back up, again. This happens for about 2 miles while I scan for any sign of gas. No luck...wait...there's one...good thing, too, I think that was the last stutter. I pulled in got filled up and tell the lady inside I nearly ran out. She added that I was extremely lucky because there is only about 20 gallons left at all. Now THAT is too close for comfort.

So I started back up and headed to Mount Rushmore. I also decided to make a stop in Rapid to look for more film at a place that wouldn't charge me $8.50 for a roll. So, I ended up at a mall. The Mt. Rushmore mall, that is. It was scary, but I went anyway because I love the idea of tromping around a mall, again (in Appleton, WI, too) dripping wet and in my "chick-magnet" of a riding suit.

Ever been to Mt. Rushmore? It is quite impressive, I must say. I was actually kind of awestruck. The amazing weather had stopped for a bit and I felt a real sense of nationalism. I had my picture taken, of course, and took a few others for people. I put the obligatory quarter in the telescope to check it out up close. Amazing. And there is a 4-minute historical film narrated by Tom Brokaw that I watched. I headed back to the bike to figure out where I was off to next.

I asked the guy parked next to me what time it was and we started talking. He and his wife are from St. Louis and are on there way to Missoula, Montana. They have been on the road for, I think he said, 9 months! Whoa. I suddenly don't feel too bad about my trip. Of course, they have the entire back of their pickup filled with stuff. TV, stereo, etc. He said they have 2 tents, one for their stuff and one for them. They are heading to Yellowstone for 2 weeks. Maybe I will see them there.

I headed up to the Interstate to hasten my pace toward Yellowstone. The road there was great, but windy once, again. All around me were great, big wonderful clouds on this fast 2-laner. Since it really was in the middle of nowhere, the speed limit was 75mph and there was little traffic. I had to pull off to grab some pictures of the beauty. The mountainous terrain around Mt. Rushmore gave way to some flat grasslands with rolling hills. In the distance you could see some rises of higher elevations. There should be some great photos!

The sun was setting as I pulled into the Motel Wyo (or officially on the sign on the back of the door of my room, the Wyoming Motel) in Buffalo, WY. The gentleman behind the counter (I assume he was Del of "Your Owner/Hosts are Del and Renae Heller. Hmmm, I have cousins by the name of Heller, any relation?) had a great room and told my about his trip to San Francisco. It is nice to stop and talk for a bit after being alone in my thoughts on the road. He told me a story about leaving some food for a homeless man in Fisherman's Wharf. Nice guy.

I am now a bit worried about getting into some snow in Yellowstone. I shall call the info line in the morning and find out. I know I can't camp, seems to be snow on the ground. But, will I get into any snow and/or ice just on the roads getting to or from?? If it warms up, as the Weather Channel says, into the 50's, it should melt any snow on roads, but what about at night? If I just make sure I get in during the afternoon when temps are hottest and leave then, too, I may be OK. Then, again, do I even risk it at all. Ice on a motorcycle is REALLY no fun, I would imagine. I will let you know tomorrow...