I woke up early to begin my ride through South Dakota. Prior to this summer my furthest journeys west were a pair of trips to the Colorado ski country with buddies from college. We would leave late, all pile into a car, and head west on I-70 through Kansas. Flat and still, we would barrel through its moonlit fields emitting waves and disturbing all tranquility. Kansas is the fast before the feast and we scorned its very existence.
I expected South Dakota to simply be an extension of Kansas. I was pleasantly surprised, however, as I rode through rolling hills and steep flat-topped buttes. It wasn't long into my route east that I came across the Sturgis Rally which was just starting up. As I passed through and rode on, it was clear I was the anomaly. Everything on two wheels was in the other lane headed to Sturgis.
While I chose to forgo a stop at Mt. Rushmore, I did take the time to drive through the Badlands. The scenery is a bit difficult to appreciate returning from the west, but I did enjoy the drive. The highlight of the day, however, came in Wall, SD, where, after probably 40 miles of advertising billboards, I stopped at the very famous Wall Drug for a fresh doughnut, 5 cent coffee, and the world renowned free ice water. I found this picture of a Typical Wall Drug billboard online. Looks like they start advertising in the South Pole.
From there, I pushed on riding east to Spirit Lake Iowa. My friend, Keith, who will be traveling with me to Ecuador at the end of August was vacationing with his family at their family cottage on the lake. I arrived with the trip odometer reading 12479 miles and was graciously invited in as family and enjoyed a few days on the boat and jet ski.
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