58 miles ridden – 1893 feet climbed.

A very welcome shorter day today made all the better by the late start and thus fully digested breakfast. The ABB team had devised a route out of Rapids City that utilised cycle paths running through a park by the side of a stream. During that first section we came across a unicycle race – bad enough for us on two wheels so respect to those who seem to excel on one.

It was a ride of two parts. The first major section was along a frontage road to Interstate 90 which was wide and flat for the first few miles up to a large Air Force base and then became a quiet undulating road which we followed for about 24 miles. Surface was good, wind was strong but most of the time did not cause any problems. Unlike yesterday we again cycled through vast open spaces with a mix of agricultural and cattle pasture.

We then joined Interstate 90. There was very little traffic but the shoulder for most of the 19 miles was very narrow (15″/40cm) so concentration was critical to avoid going off either side and also avoiding the significant amounts of debris which could cause punctures – glass, broken bits of car, shredded tyres and fragments of steel belts. 

Wall is famous for the Wall Drug store which does have a very small pharmacy area but is essentially a massive souvenir and tourist trinket market selling everything from hunting weapons through tacky photographs and of course lots of Western clothing. Package on the way home……

Tomorrow we are heading into the Badlands National Park which everyone is very excited about. It is again a short day (58 miles) but the scenery is supposed to be stunning. We will stay in the town of Kadoka and have been warned that there may not be internet so if there is a delay on the blog entry that is why.

On a purile note we did not visit the town below: