The day started with rain. The radar showed it would pass to the east, so I waited until 10:30 to get started.

There was no rain for the first 10 miles, then I rode through 75 miles of light-to-medium rain. It was clear the rest of the day. Lunch was a picnic at a rest stop.

The speed limit on I-90 in South Dakota is 80mph, so I made good time getting into Mitchell. My roommate, Steve, was an hour behind, so I went downtown and took pictures of the Corn Palace. There’s a military theme this year.

Steve and I had dinner at a pizza buffet.

Again we waited out the rain that was passing to the east. We got started about 9:30 as the roads were drying out.

Friends, Mike and Debi, caught up to us at a gas station just east of the Badlands. We rode through the Badlands National Park together. We stopped at the first area where visitors can walk out on the rocks.

We had lunch at Wall Drug…

… and stopped for a picture in Sturgis.

… then checked into the hotel in Deadwood.

The Shark Week IX opening ceremony in the evening featured a color guard, introductions of the organizers, recognition of members who have been to all the Shark Weeks, and a tribute to Janine Hoskins, a member who passed away a few days before.

After the ceremony people hung around shooting the breeze.