We are 2 time zones west so waking up is easy. I rode the bicycle up the abandoned county road next to the hotel and passed a couple women walking and gabbing, and then passed another younger woman jogging and was impressed with what a fit town this must be (It was 5:30am), showered then went to the hotel lobby (such as it was) and it was closed. It was only 6am and the sign says open at 6:15. What they meant to say was the restaurant next door opened at 6:15. So back to the room where Dave had a conference call (and another after that). Jeff and I tried the restaurant and it was indeed open. Us being strangers in town, they made the correct assumption that we were staying in the motel next door and said the continental breakfast was in the back, but we could eat at the restaurant for a 15% discount. After seeing the continental beakfast selection (more like a state or something you might find on buffet night at a prison camp), we decided to spring for the real breakfast. Two young women ran the place, one certainly still in high school and the other might have been her older sister. It was actually a great little place with knotty pine (I love knotty pine, my grammas kitchen, etc) and 50s stuff hanging on the wall (old gas station stuff, Elvis posters, 57 Chevies, you get it), but also what looked to be regulars. A retired guy and his wife that I saw leave the restaurant last night on their GoldWing, came rolling in for breakfast. This place had the regular locals in it. Very relaxing. The town of Kadoka SD is pretty small but they have their own high school. I asked the younger woman about the school (she was wearing the Kadoka Track & Field t-shirt) and she said the kids funnel in from all the farms around there. So this is a very extended community.
Dave finished his calls and we hit the road. We took the county road west until we hit the road south to the Badlands. We bought passes and drove through Badlands. These places take your breath away for the first 20 minutes and then they grow familiar on you. The road was being repaired so we had some waits, which was just fine given the surroundings. After Badlands we went to Wall but did not stop (been there, done that) and then to Rapid City on the interstate. Pulling into Rapid City some big ugly clouds dumped on us (just after I put my rain stuff on thank goodness) and we stopped for lunch to wait for the rain to pass. The sky was blue but these rogue clouds were moving around, dumping on people. During lunch it came down in buckets and threw some hail in to boot. The waitress' son was doing jumping jacks and pushups outside our window in the pouring rain. He was 12 and having a blast. When the hail came I went outside and got him a handful of ice. Wonder comes easy to 12 year olds..
The rain let up and we suited up and went to find cheap sleeping bags. Dave reserved a cabin for tonight, but there is no bedding so we have to bring something to sleep in. So now we have sleeping bags (to carry the rest of the trip...)
We left Rapid City and headed to Rushmore. It always looks smaller that you image so we took some pics and headed south through Custer park. Beautiful day by the way with more wind knocking us around, although not as bad as yesterday. We found the cabin and it is the cutest thing with 3 beds, communal bathroom, etc, next to tenters and campers on a beautiful reservoir. Nice spot. Back into town (Hot Springs SD) for dinner, then back to the cabin. Pretty tired so sleep should come quick tonight (in my brand new Chinese sleeping bag).
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