Our route leads us through the center of Rapid City - on to main street. Here my woman gets a bright idea: "Let's rob a bank... I need some paper money." Her plastic card is gratefully accepted by the machine. It munches on it, making a lot of sound ... and it takes its time... "Woman, this is not good! Your card is eaten and now you do not have your card anymore!", I tell her. She starts to panic a little and she's already making up a plan to stay behind (tell Cycle America staff). "Oooo... ", she says "The bank doesn't open until 9 AM!" Finally, the machine has enough and expectorates the card again - with a note that there is not enough money available. Along Main street I notice different men sitting or standing on each corner. Curiously, I ask one what he's doing here, but he doesn't answer!
The next stop is the post office. And then we can finally leave Rapid City. We cycle on a nice road with a good shoulder, bringing us past the airport. I know already which people we will see a lot today: Ann and Dave ( a couple now living in California), Alan Bubna and the 70 yr old Eli from Texas. Those are the smells I will learn today! The store (and bar) in Caputa is a jewel: inside some men are having their morning coffee. The owner is a talkative woman. She tells us the movie "Dances with Wolves" was filmed on her land - right across from this building. Inside a wall is decorated with posters and newspaperclips about the filming.
When Ann and Dave show up, they buy the rest of the birthday cake which was just sitting there in the store. I must say: dogs do love birthday cakes and I had a piece too!
Along hwy 44 I suddenly smell something old - something very old - something prehistoric old:
this guy is the last inhabitant of the town Creston. He probably ate everyone! Let's get across the Cheyenne River and up to the bluff where Eli is cycling! It's another 10 miles to the very very small town of Scenic. Believe it or not, but a Philipino Church bought this ghost town for 800000 dollar! Just recently! There are a few people living here in this place. The woman in the Trading Post Tatanka is a very good story teller and she will not move to another town!
Once my woman has cooled herself in the trading post, she finds the courage to go on cycling. The route is now taking us through a very small part of the badlands. A sign along the road worries me and tells me to stay put in the handle bar bag - no playing with the other dogs today!
My woman finds this scenery fascinating: it's very barren and not many cars pass us. Behinds us, clouds are gathering to form a huge pack of black clouds - a thunderstorm is building. "Step on it, woman! I'd like to be home before it hits us!".
It becomes a race - which we win! The town of Interior is indeed very small too! This time, we camp in the town - not in the KOA, which is a couple of miles further. Finding a good camping spot is not so easy - there is no protection against wind or rain. But ... we do need the protection. The clouds drift away! A shower and then dinner, followed by the daily (too) long meeting (which my woman almost misses). The rest of the evening she spends her time taking pictures of the sunset in this great spot!
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