The morning was foggy and cool (64 deg.) We checked the radar and decided to wait until after 8 a.m. to leave. We didn’t feel like riding through rain today.

Notice that black bikes show the dirt.

We stopped for gas about 30 miles down the road and discovered that both gas stations carried only 87 octane. (Our bikes need 91.) We went back 2 miles to the previous exit where the “travel center” had all varieties of gas and diesel.

Once our tanks were filled up we were ready to do some touring for the first time on this trip. Our senior passes got us into Badlands National Park for free, of course.

We pulled into a viewing area and took lots of pictures. The badlands are such a contrast to the surrounding grassland.

We stopped at the visitors’ center and read many of the displays. We learned that the layers of rock were washed down from the Rocky Mountains. Millions of years later, rain-fed streams eroded the rock. We had assumed, incorrectly, that the rocks were pushed up by tectonic plate activity.

Because I’m always behind the camera, I took this picture to validate that I’m also on this trip.

When we’d had our fill of very beautiful, crumbling rocks and slow campers, we headed out of the park for the obligatory visit to Wall Drug. When I was here with my folks in 1959, there were a few store fronts adjacent to a real drug store. Also, there were dozens of “Visit Wall Drug” signs along the highway. Today it’s a monstrous square block of shops, displays, and a cafeteria. We were able to park with the big boys.

We did have hot dogs and fries for lunch there. I was wearing my USS Saratoga hat, so I got free coffee and a donut as a veteran. Sorry, no lunch pictures.

From Wall we rode to Rapid City and picked up a few groceries (beer, yeah!) at Walmart, then headed to our campground. Wild Bill’s Campground is about 8 miles south of Deadwood. We’ve booked 3 nights here so we can explore the famous roads nearby.

Statistics:

Miles – 200, Time: all day.

FYI – We are now on Mountain Time.