After Chicago, I headed for some family in Verona WI to have lunch at Epic, and tour some of the grounds there. That place is fantastic, and each building has a theme that it is designed and decorated around. They have everything from a slide, to an ent, to graffiti. My sister let me catch up on laundry at their home, and sent me on the road to Mount Rushmore with a full belly and plenty of food for the road. The rain really has exploded the mosquito population. I stopped at a few rest stops to be greeted by dark clouds of them! My helmet kept getting caked with the bloodsuckers. I camped that night shortly before the South Dakota border, and hit the road early the next morning.
Blazing along at high speed on I-90 was punishing, but I was grateful for the chance to get some distance covered. I've never been through South Dakota, but it is quite the beautiful and varied landscape. There are also no helmet laws, sorry Mom! My forehead was killing me. I took the loop through the Badlands, which is breathtakingly austere. It was worth every penny and I highly recommend it if you are ever in the area. I find that the best way to show patriotism for your country is singing at the top of your lungs while roaring through her beautiful landscapes.
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On the recommendation of some lovely U.S. Forest Service ladies, I camped the night by Deerfield Lake. It was down a gravel road on my street bike, but it was free, secluded, and unspeakably beautiful. I headed for Mount Rushmore the next morning after the rain cleared. It was neat to see, but I found the people there to be more entertaining. There were enough selfie sticks to build a fence around the monument.
After getting my fill of stone-dead presidents, I made a beeline through cold and rainy Wyoming for Golden Colorado.
After getting my fill of stone-dead presidents, I made a beeline through cold and rainy Wyoming for Golden Colorado.
A toast to my classy lady that takes me everywhere!