What a perfect start to the day. We woke up at 6:15. It was pitch black out. But we went outside and the temperature was fantastic. By 6:30 we were on the cowboy trail, an abandoned train track that has been converted to a run/walk/bike trail. We started at the hotel and ran an easy 4.5 miles to a gorgeous train bridge that has been rebuilt to accommodate foot traffic. We took some incredible sunrise pictures. It was then that I knew why I started running. It is to see that kind of thing. If I wasn't a runner I'd've been in bed sleeping the beautiful day away.
We got back to the hotel for a breakfast that was totally decent for a budget lodge in Valentine, SD, but seriously lacked fresh fruit, or any fresh items. The proprietor was a chatty man. I learned all sorts of things in the 10 minutes of conservation I had with him.... Two weeks ago there was a hail storm, there was a huge wedding in town, there is road construction going on all around and be on the look out for road workers! He was a talker!
After breakfast we set off for the Badlands. It was not a far ride from Valentine. Once we arrived in the Badlands the scenery was amazing. It was not really what I expected. Although, I'm not sure what I thought it would be. It was much smaller, but still, what geological formations do are incredible. I took 100 pictures, literally. But all of them are on an old school camera and I will upload them when I get home. One of the cutest things we saw was the millions of prairie dogs all over the area. They are the preferred food of the black footed ferret, and their multitude have brought the ferrets out of extinction. It's a shame they are just there for food because dang they are cute.
As soon as we exited the Badlands National Park, the first sign we saw was for Wall Drug in Wall, SD. I'd never heard of the store, but apparently it is a marketing marvel. We had time, so we stopped. It was an emporium for all things roadside kitsch. I had a blast. We had a lunch and milkshake from one of the three different restaurants inside the store
After Wall it was a quick ride on I-90, just after a thunderstorm, which cooled things considerably, through Rapid City and then to Sturgis. Sturgis was empty! We are two weeks past the rally so there is nothing going on. But we got some great deals on t-shirts and saw the town. Oddly, there were about 20 European folks in Harley Davidson Sturgis. It was unusual to here something other than English being spoken by most of the people in an HD shop in the midwest.
After Sturgis we made our way to Belle Fourche, SD for the night. (the "r" isn't pronounced. it is bell foo-shhhh) It was a short day of riding, but much needed as tomorrow is the longest day of our trip.
Tonight we are staying at Wyatt's (no relation to the Earps) hideaway campground in a shelter half provided by the Army. It is close quarters. We'll see how it goes. Tomorrow is lots of riding and no sightseeing.
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