Badlands South Dakota.

We decided to check out the area known as "The Badlands" today.  It had received mixed reviews from people we heard talking.
While packing our bike downstairs an American asked "Where y'all headin today?" When we told him he said " Nuttin there but desert, whatha doin going there?"

Oops hope we aren't wasting our time.

The day began with a fairly long haul up Interstate 90. Maybe an hour or more at 80 miles per hour indicated. Our Garmin GPS tells us that is 76 miles per hour. The speed limit is 75.

We stopped in Wall for a look around. Wall Drug Store is a huge place covering a block square, where most bikers and travellers stop in for a gander. We did that and had a large breakfast.

Outside we spotted a couple of tricked up spyders.

Flames and chrome Mr Loveday?

With tummys groaning we headed towards the Badlands. 8 miles to the gatehouse where we flashed our National Park Pass and headed in.

The previous parts of the journey gave no indication of what was just around the corner. Quite dramatically we hit the first visable parts of this strange landscape.  It's like nothing else. Moon like, Desert like, Canyon like- I dont really know how best to describe it. At times its rising high around you, others its below, sometimes you ride through prairie. Have a look.

Then as happens regulary a thunderstorm threatened. We stopped off at a cafe for a cold drink and waited it out. 30 mins later we decided to do the Badlands again and head back to Wall for a lunch stop. We did this and the sun came out. Beautiful.

This meant doing the Badlands three times which suited us fine, we were having a great time. Finally we took the longer scenic 44 route home. Very nice.

Tomorrow we think we will visit Sturgis and a few surrounding little towns. Spearfish and Deadwood.

Dwarf throwing amoungst other things not as tasteful is held at the Full Throttle Saloon so we have a date there as well.