The Chronicles of Wrennie: Road Trip USA, part the third, 8/21/05

Today we went from Independence, MO, to Rapid City, SD. It was boring until we got past Sioux Falls. We collected a lot of bugs, too. ("Was that bug made of mustard?" "SHUT UP AND DRIVE.")

Everything was FLAT FLAT FLAT until we crossed the Missouri. It was actually really shocking. Everything was zooming along all straight and flat (did I mention it was flat?) when all of the sudden we were going downhill and there was an overpass. In front of us was flat, but in the overpass area there were these HILLS. Black soil with rich green foliage, and cliffs of shale along the Missouri (which was actually BLUE. All the water in South Dakota is BLUE.)

So in the time it took to cross a river we went from farmland to gentle hills. Things got pretty wild, exits got few and far between, and we had to keep a good eye on our gas meter. Since most of the towns were this size (yes, that is the ENTIRE TOWN of Vivian, South Dakota), few of them had gas stations.

Eventually, after about 250 miles of Wall Drug signs (I lost all will to go there after the first 100 miles...) we hit the Badlands.

Once there, we decided we had time to get out and stretch for a bit, so we took a short walk. The sun was starting to go down when we started so the lighting was really good, and we made it back up the path just in time for sunset.

Then we got to the hotel and realized that we have three days to do about 1,200 miles. So we're sleeping in until 11 and tomorrow going to see a wildlife park, mount rushmore, and Devil's Tower. More pics are to come.