Our South Dakota Adventure

August 17, 2009
Day One:
295 miles from Hwy 58 & Viking Road, Cedar Falls (8 am), Iowa to Parker, So. Dakota…plus 20 miles to Freeman, So. Dakota (5pm).
Interesting things along the way:
1. Storm Lake has a Lighthouse (and a beautiful lake)
2. Cleghorn isn’t a good place to get something to eat or find a restroom.
3. Saw 3 arms of a wind generator being transported….huge!
4. Saw a wind farm of at least 75 generators
5. Saw an older wind farm that had bases more like a traditional windmill but blades similar to the current ones.
6. A bird nearly hit me in the head.
7. Saw a crop duster (or two)(or three)
8. Very few motorcycles on the road today
9. Some folks just love to talk to motorcycle riders :o)
10. Freeman has a 72 year old man who rides his bicycle around and around town, talking to strangers (us). We asked directions to the liquor store and he beat us to town and met us at the corner to show us the way. Speed limit 20 mph: he passed me and went around Dave at the stop sign, then pointed to the street for us to leave town again….
11. Gin & Tonics with real limes, summer sausage & sharp cheddar cheese…yummmmmy

Day Two:
Interesting things today include:
1. Highway 44 is the best way by far. There were miles I could only see Dave and me on the road.
2. Winner, South Dakota is the seller of the winning ticket equaling $232,000,000 (give or take…) to a 21 year old man. They haven’t seen him since winning about 1 week ago.
3. The smear of bright yellow in the far off landscape? Fields of sunflowers. Vibrant yellow sunflowers, tilting their faces to the sun.
4. Miles and miles of farm land, like Iowa; then you top a hill and the rolling hills, cattle, horses……
5. Grasshoppers feel like a hardboiled egg when they hit your shins.
6. Grasshopper guts are gross.
7. Grasshoppers are really juicy.
8. Rode across the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Incredible country.
9. The Missouri River had to look IMPOSSIBLE to cross 130 years ago.
10. I want to see the United States on a motorcycle, with Dave, of course.
 
Dave says:
11. Luckiest cat in the world. Don’t know how I missed him… Just going into Wanblee, SD on the Rez
12. We came about 300 miles today from Freeman, SD to Wall. There were times we rode 10-15 miles and never saw another soul. Ya gotta love the two lane blacktops. 65 mph speed limits and towns are about 40 miles apart. Interstate travel time without the traffic and hassle.
13. No McD’s, no WalMarts, no Applebee’s – ate a hot beef sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy at Joie’s Café in Winner. Sure beats the heck out of fast food. Made a couple of new friends in Winner – a really friendly little town.
14. We just rode over one of dozens of hills – and we went from prairie to Badlands in a hearbeat.
15. The Badlands are incredible – almost like being on another planet.
16. The Badlands Loop is a great ride – I feel sorry for the poor caged people in their cars and RVs – they’re missing ¾ of the show.