Post date: Aug 8, 2016 3:15:23 PM
I parted ways with my former stepdad in Denver. He headed home, and I headed north towards the renowned Sturgis Black Hills Rally.
The ride north was fairly uneventful except for Denver, Longmont, and Ft. Collins traffic. Colorado drivers like to run 5 mph below the speed limit in the fast lane, and they don't believe in driving right. I had to stop in Cheyenne, WY to put my jacket liner in because it was a bit nippy. After that I was toasty, but about 100 miles down the road, I had to stop again and take it off because the temperate had warmed up to 80.
The landscape north of Cheyenne isn't called the Great Plains for nothing. It's flat grassland for as far as you can see with virtually no trees. This is actually my second visit to the Plains and Wyoming on this trip. I was here in mid-June as I trekked towards Yellowstone. The view is almost the same in North Dakota.
Eventually the road began to ascend and wind around some sweeping turns. Grasslands gave way to timber and huge boulders abound. Then, all of a sudden the Crazy Horse Monument came into view.
It is a privately funded project that began in 1947 at the behest of Chief Jon Sitting Bear to, "Let the White man know that the Red man has great heroes too." He charged a sculptor who worked on Mt. Rushmore to construct it, and it soon became his life's work. Today, his family continues to work on the collosal monument. It is truly spectacular.
By then, it was well past lunch time. The bike needed fuel too, so I rode into Hill City. At the gas station, there were a few bikes fueling up. Beyond there though, man, the place was hoppin'. Bikes everywhere. People everywhere. Bands jammin'. I'm here for the party. After attempting to get served at one establishment, I walked across the street to Hill City Cafe where I discovered a decent buffet.
After lunch, I headed back to the asphalt and ended up making a wrong turn that took me to Mt. Rushmore. I had intended to ride what's called the Needles Highway, but as it turns out, it was actually the right thing to do. Mt. Rushmore provided a moment to reflect on some of the great leaders of our nation: Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, Lincoln. Each man leaving his indelible impression on our culture: Independence, Enlightenment, Perseverence, and Freedom.
I turned south and headed towards Custer State Park where I made camp for the night. South Dakota's park facilities are very nice. I took a swim in the lake, relaxed, and slept like a rock.