Saturday, July 1 – Day 62 – Wandering Retirees

Badlands, SD.

Our journey today took us to the Badlands National Park about 60 miles east of Rapid City. It’s an amazing preserve that combines many characteristics of the Grand Canyon (but not on the large scale) and the petrified dunes we saw in New Mexico and the southern Colorado Plateau. The land is really dry except for the occasional small stream, so there is a lot of brown vegetation. And it’s striking to ride/drive/walk along gently rolling grassland and suddenly come upon canyon walls that plunge steeply to a narrow defile carved over the ages by water and wind erosion. We learned that the face of the Badlands has changed quite quickly in geological terms, and will continue to do so. In 500 years it will not resemble its present shape. The rock lacked the red of iron oxide we have come to expect: it was very light tan, grey and white that stood out in stark contrast with the vivid blue of the sky. Austere and pretty.

Along the way we saw several colonies of prairie dogs who seemed to like putting on a show for silly humans; big horn sheep who couldn’t have cared less, and a rough-legged hawk who was being harassed by a couple of smaller birds. Some birds of prey.

The ride was a lot of fun. Apparently this is a popular ride during the rally in Sturgis during August when 200,000 bikers come from all over North America. The roads are fun and relaxing, so, we can see why. Frankly, we’re just as happy to miss the crush of traffic.

We covered about 180 miles today and returned to the AirBnB in time to do some laundry and have a cocktail with supper. We’re happy with the fruits of the day. Tomorrow it’ll be Mt. Rushmore and the Chief Joseph/Crazy Horse monuments, and a ride on the Needles Highway. In the mean time, have a great night. We will.

Interior, SD – a little town with a big heart.