67: Badlands and beyond

We had such a great day riding that scenic loop on Monday that we decided not to mess it up with anything less of a ride on Tuesday. Plus, we were expecting rain again, and none of us was eager to ride on the twisty roads in the rain another day.

Gary, Joanne and us

So we visited the Mt Rushmore Memorial, and then we headed to the Badlands. These are national parks that many visitors do in a day, as we did. But again - on a bicycle, we would have had several very rough days to reach the Badlands. And you really don't want to ride through there on a hot summer day!

Wall Drugs

On the way to the park, we went through Wall, and so of course we had to stop at Wall Drug Store. Other than the fact that it now measures a full city block, and must have more tchotckes in it than all of China, it's basically just a manifestation of American marketing - if you advertise it, they will come.

Badlands is spectacular, and a ride through in a car satisfied me.  Did not want to be climbing those hills in the heat, with no source of water.
 

Badlands National Park

Then on to Pierre (pronounced "peer") where our friends will leave us - about 500 miles further down the road than before.  We'll take it!