The van had stopped rocking some time during the night and I woke to relative calm, or so I thought. There was still a few determined gusts every now and then but I think the worst was over. I enjoyed a slow start to the morning, again making breakfast inside the van, only cereal this time to save the hassle. The dishes of the previous night were still stacked on the passenger seat so I worked Japanese style, sitting with my knees folded and feet underneath my bum.
Still not ready to exit the van, I decided to have a go at installing my sentimental items on the ceiling, something that had been on my to-do list for a while, but I hadn’t quite figured out an attachment method. Using sewing pins, I found a way. A short while later and I know have an array of photos, cards, notes and a canvas painting that remind me of a favourite person or favourite place (this is where you try and spot something of yours!).
My interior decorating done and my music lifting me up, I was ready to brave the outdoors. Turns out I was camped right at the trailhead of Storm Mountain so even better I didn’t have to drive anywhere. I kitted up with a few more layers than I had on Monday and rode off in the wrong direction on a nice trail before reversing and starting on the real loop. It was nice from the get-go. I’m learning that the Black Hills has a distinct style. Trails covered in pines and natural rocks. It was hard work, but beautiful. At a few spots I got some sweet views of the Rockerville Canyon and I was constantly chasing white-tail deer off the trail, much to my delight and their fear.
I ditched my top layer after a few k’s, but my feet never got feeling throughout the whole ride. It didn’t help my skills, I just couldn’t feel my pedals very well! The riding was distracting though, concentrating on the trail took my mind off my frozen feet. I think the maximum temperature was 0oC today so I should have been plenty warm! Compared to the Victoria trail of Monday, this was short and didn’t require as much granny gear and the downhill sections were sublime, they only needed to be slightly longer!
Once I looped back around to the car, I parked my bike alongside the van and got straight inside to warm up. I had a hot lunch and contemplated my next move. I decided to skip Wind Cave National Park since Jewel Cave had been a let down and they were only offering shortened tours. I was considering riding the Needles Highway through Custer Park, which is apparently very scenic but closed to cars in winter. I decided to head for Needles and decide on a ride once I got there so I kept my riding kit on. I nearly drove off with the bike still alongside the car, then figured it out last minute and secured it to the roof before I set off.
I drove past the mountainous presidents again. I was happy I’d seen them when I did, they didn’t seem as impressive against a clouded sky. The drive through Custer Park was pretty and I was happy the road was open through at least one tunnel.
When I got to the road closure, I stepped out to have a look at a beautiful lake with needles protruding out of it. This was all I needed to convince me I didn’t need another ride. It was much too cold.
I settled for driving east through the park towards Hermosa, where I could start aiming for Badlands National Park. On the way I stopped only once at a historic guard stock where some gold miners housed themselves while hunting for gold in the valley without much success. I can only imagine how freezing they were.
At Hermosa, I filled up with petrol and water. While I was using the back sink to fill my water, I made conversation with the servo attendant who advised that I should not drive to Badlands via highway 40, like I was planning to. After the highway, there was a 20 mile dirt road (which I knew about) which she told me was not pleasant and that there wasn’t much to see in that area anyway. I was glad for the advice! She told me to go up to Rapid City instead and head east from there.
I happily followed her advice, especially when I passed highway 40 and saw no signs at all to Badlands, indicating that it is not a normal route to get to the park. She’d also explained that I should stop in at the Wall Drug Store, which sounds just like a pharmacy, but it’s a complex north of Badlands that has lots to look at in terms of historic artefacts etc. Her having told me that made me peruse my tourist map more closely for other gems and I discovered the South Dakota Air and Space Museum, which is just outside Rapid City and totally free! Thinking of Jon, I changed my plans so that I could go there tomorrow before heading to the national park. Free stuff is fun stuff!
This meant I would make camp in Rapid City. It is finally time, the moment has come, for me to camp in a Walmart carpark. I’m sitting in the adjoining Maccas now, enjoying their free Wifi and having just witnessed a blinding orange and pink sunset from my window seat. When I’m done here, I’ll take the opportunity to do some shopping to get me through to next week, then retire to my newly decorated home.
The signs that say “no overnight truck or RV parking, offenders will be towed” clearly do not apply to me because I am neither of those things, but I will try to be incognito so I stay out of trouble.