After two days of hospitality, I have left the bustling metropolis of Rapid City and find myself 70 miles and 4:30 on bike away in a park in Interior. Population 65. I love it.
These little towns are my favorite. I will miss them when I get east of Iowa and they mostly disappear. No one here gives a crap what I do and are super friendly. There is no sheriff or town hall to ask permission from, just the Colombian dude who runs the bar and the folks at the nearby shop.
Iris's parents dropped me off back in Rapid about 8am, and I had an OK 40 mile overcast ride into the mostly ghost town of Scenic. The 2007 crew slept there because we had a short day due to Black Hills hiking with The Bike Whisperer. This time I just lunched there, chatting with a young couple who quit their university jobs to do a one year motorcycle tour down to the bottom of South America. They have dual surface tires and are trying to avoid paved roads as much as possible. Currently they are heading to Portland.
On the road to Scenic I saw other bike tourers for three first time since the L&C and divide riders in Ovando. About thirty people going the other way in small groups, riding supported (unloaded) from Atlantic City to Astoria, taking the L&C route after Missoula.
After Scenic the clouds cleared and it got hot and a little headwindy, but who cares? I was riding 30 miles on a road with almost no traffic through the friggin' Badlands. Awesome pants. The second thirty went easier than first forty for probably mental reasons. I am feeling the need for a rest day.
If I continue this pace I'll get to Iowa Thursday night or early Friday, giving me most of two days to rest! Yes!
I forgot to mention, yesterday my credit card got canceled because someone in California stole the number. I have backup funds, but damn. Lousy timing.
I'm gonna eat and play music to the emptiness of the Badlandy hills surrounding this area. Cheers! ILYI
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