Day 23. Tuesday, July 9

Day 23. Tuesday, July 9.  Rapid City to Wall, SD

Following the pace line

Today was a relatively short day, only 58 miles, so they let us sleep in until 6:30 and we didn't leave until 8:00.  A beautiful day in Rapid City. Not a cloud in the sky. Temperatures worked their way into the mid 80s. The winds were not too bad most of the day, blowing across our path.
The first 25 miles were really smooth, riding on a service road parallel to I-90.
The terrain gave way from the Black Hills to a rolling terrain, mostly hay fields for the cattle. We had about 15 miles of what cyclists call "rollers," just up a hill and then down the back side. Up the next hill and down - for miles. It was like riding a roller coaster. These rollers are a bit bigger than what we might think of in central Ohio. So after several miles of these, the upside of the hill could present a challenge.
For the last 20 miles, we were back on the interstate - I-90 this time. It's still a little spooky when a semi comes whizzing past (most give pretty wide berth to those on the shoulder of the road). You do get some wind effect that pushes you around.

We rolled into the town of Wall, home to the world famous Wall Drug, about noon. Thankfully the rooms were ready and the luggage was waiting to be unloaded. A quick shower and it was in to town.
On Hazel's recommendation (she works the front desk here at the Econolodge Motel) we went to the Red Rock Restaurant for lunch, where they had a decent salad bar and a great piece of apple caramel pie!  To some cyclists, pie is the perfect recovery food, especially after a short day when the ride was not too challenging.


Inside Wall Drug
 

Then to Wall Drug. If you've not been here, well what can I say? They have almost every piece of kitch known to the human race. Ted Hustead and his wife Dorothy bought the drug store in Wall at the end of 1931. At the time, there were only 326 residents of wall (Hazel told us the population has grown to nearly 800 today, with 600 hotel rooms!). Keep in mind, in the early 30s, there had been a drought and we were in the middle if the depression. Wall is right next to the middle of nowhere, not far from the Badlands. After nearly five years of not being too successful, they came upon the idea of roadside signs, advertising free ice water. And that started to get people to stop at Wall Drug. Coffee is still five cents a cup. For a buck fifty, you get a pretty good donut as well.
Not much else here in Wall. We did wander into the Lakota museum and saw some pretty fascinating hoop dances.
Well, it's after 9 and lights are out for a 5:45 start tomorrow.

Be well. Do good.
Don