Badlands National Park, South Dakota

July 13/2014  Hot today 84 and blazing sun.  Even hotter riding thru the Park.

Nothing but rocky outcrops as far as you can see

French fur traders who explored this area in the early 1800's dubbed this land mauvaises terres - "bad lands".   The scenery is truly awe inspiring.   You will drive thru moonscapes of ridges, crumbly spires and canyons stretching as far as the eye can see.  244,000 acres.  

the scenic hwy 240 thru the Badlands Nat'l Park

 Now how can you imagine that magnitude of land.   Here is my best sense of describing the size.... We road on hwy 44 which borders the Badlands for over 83 miles, that was around 2 hours on the motorcycle.   Which was down a portion of one side.   It seemed like forever....... there was nothing.  It was almost creepy.

We pulled into this Ghost Town of Longhorn after 1 hour.... on hwy 44

In fact we were both becoming nervous if something happened out there we only met about 3 other vehicles.  No cell phone towers.  Nothing.    Then we came across a ghost town which was not reassuring. 

looks like the moon

Eventually we came to the National Park Loop that takes another 38 miles through  the unbelievable landscape.  

then spires of crumbling rock

And then 6 miles down the road after leaving the Badlands a vast oasis of ........ Wall Drug!  The story goes that in 1936 the proprietors put up signs that all the travellers in cars passing thru the hot dusty prairie would be given free ice water and the rest is history of this tourist trap little town.

inside Wall Drug - Tourist Shops or tourist trap?

The Blackhills of South Dakota .... Riders Paradise

July 12/2014 Saturday Beautiful sunny warm day 82, night in the 60's.  Another T Storm late afternoon.  We seem to be timing it just right and heading out early since and just in when the thunderstorms hit.  This is the 3rd day in a row.   Our stay here is in Rapid City at Rushmore Shadows RV Resort.  It's a good campground for location to do all the riding in this area. 

There are motorcycles on every turn and bend, it really is a riders paradise.

Spearfish Canyon

along Spearfish Canyon

The 180 mile loop today took us to Hill City then north to Lead and Spearfish Canyon then around to the famous gold mining town of Deadwood (I am hooked on the TV HBO series of Deadwood, it brings Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and Sheriff Seth Bullock to life)

main street in Deadwood

and on to Sturgis where the infamous Biker Rally has been held for over 70 years now, then south back to Rapid City.

Rosey trying to read the map to find our way back to the campground

Only 1 drink  - promise :)

Pigtails and Presidents - Iron Mtn Rd & Mt Rushmore & Custer State Park

Friday July 11/2014   Hot 87, T Storm late afternoon, then cool at night 65.
It is Mountain Time here so we are 2 hours behind our body clock from Ontario.  We were up at 6:11 am this morning.  And that felt like we were sleeping in!!!!
Oh well it was bright and sunny and warm.  By 8 am we were on the bike and ready to ride The Black Hills.  Appropriately named for the colour of the cedar trees.

We chose to take one of the most scenic loops in America.  Mount Rushmore is so impressive. WOW.  Carved in granite from 1927 to 1941.  We had went in and toured it before so today we just road by but it is one of our favourite attractions, you really have to see it.

the presidents

There are picturesque lakes, towering granite formations, six picture-perfect tunnels, tight hairpin curves, spiral “pigtail” bridges, and the wildlife ranges of Norbeck Wildlife Preserve, Black Elk National Wilderness Area and Custer State Park.  We encountered steep grades, sharp curves and tunnels with height and width restrictions definitely not a place for a motorhome!

8ft tunnel - must honk horn before entering

pigtail bridges - the road winds around itself

You can expect a traffic jam here caused by tourists watching a herd of buffalo, or burro, deer or mountain goat.  We stopped for the jam and got caught in the middle of the buffalo.

in the distance that brown line is a herd of buffalo

now right in front of our bike

Phew good thing we had our windshield on, that made us feel very safe!  Ha ha.  "Billy don't move"........ here they come right at the bike.  So many young.  We shut off the bike as we heard the Bulls do not like the noise.  Yikes!

Wall Drug Signs - South Dakota Interstate 90W

July 10/2014  70's to 80's today, low in 60's; Thunderstorm when we pulled into our campground at 2:30.

Anyone that has ever drove West or East on Interstate 90 can tell you about the marketing job that the little town of Wall Drug has accomplished.   We saw the first sign just inside the South Dakota border from Minnesota.   It said "Wall Drug 366 miles".   Then a few miles down the road we saw another sign.  And so on and and so on.  If you come anywhere close to the Black Hills you will be so curious that you simply must stop.   The mind just won't let it go.   I once was told by someone that the farthest sign was in Japan.    Really?  I think he was pulling my leg.   But I have to admit.  It's effective.

Wisconsin & Minnesota

July 8, 9/2014

barn quilt

Weather has been cool, in the 70's and 50's and rain at night.  Actually great for traveling and camping.    Today started in the 70's and as we drove west it ended up in the 80's.  We are actually headed into a heat wave in the Rockies (high 80's) according to the weather network..... 
Even the travel days are fun:)  Of course it doesn't take much to make us happy.
Wisconsin is a pretty state to drive through.  We headed south towards Green Bay then cut across due west to hook into interstate 90.  Hilly and lush scenery.  The farmers all have silo's with their barns.   Lots of dairy and yes Wisconsin Cheese.  I think it's the best in the USA.  Tuesday night we stayed in Tomah at Oakdale KOA. 

Now depending where you are in Minnesota the scenery changes.... there are 15,000 lakes and the northern area is trees and rock and lakes.  Paul Bunyan country.  Sadly we did not make it there this time.  Put that on the bucket list.   We went across the southern end which is pretty around the Mississippi River but as you head west it is known as the plains so it is basically flat farming land.  Tonight we are staying just inside the South Dakota border at Sioux Falls KOA.   The cool thing that we were chatting about all day today was the John Sanford novels that feature Virgil Flowers from Minnesota.  

Virgil Flowers based in Minnesota

We have read about 6 of them just recently and they all take place in remote places in the state.  (Detective stories - we rate 4 out of 5)   As we drove I found them on the map.  Of course Virgil has a favorite beer brewed in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin - Leinies  Leinenkugel's.   When we stopped for gas guess what I brought back to the RV????