Day 24 – Badlands and Missiles

July 11, 2018

Day 24 – Rapid City to Kadoka, SD – 58 miles, 2,090 feet vertical

“Just, WOW!” could have been an alternate title for today’s post.  In fact, I’m tempted (and tired enough) to just let it go at that and say, please enjoy the photos.  

So, I’ll be brief because we have a BIG day tomorrow (more on that later). 

Today was an ABB “featured” ride with a 25-mile ride through the Badlands National Park.  Some of us have been itching to use our Senior Lifetime Passes for entry, but ABB arranged for us to bike in with just a signature at the entry gate.  Those of you who have already been here know that the geography, the geology and the vistas are simply spectacular.  (And if you haven’t, please get out your bucket list and make an entry – NOW.)  

Because it was a short day (only 58 miles), we were allowed to cruise along and stop at will at most of the viewpoints for pictures and awe.  Speaking of pictures, I’ll let them do the rest of the talking for Badlands. 

A second treat awaited us after exiting the park, and with a little half-mile or so detour, many of us visited the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site.  Great Plains or Ground Zero?  This area of the country once housed 1,000 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) targeted primarily at the former Soviet Union (now Russia).  Hundreds are still housed here.  Sobering.  Indeed. 

Tomorrow is a BIG day for us on several fronts.  First, it’s big on mileage at 115 miles.  Second it’s big on start time.  Early rollers set out at 5:20am and the main group starts pedaling at 5:50am.  Third, it’s big on time zones – we cross into Central Time and lose an hour of sleep tomorrow night. 

But MOSTLY, it’s big because at the 20-mile mark, each and every one of us will stop at a specific marked spot on the road, get off his or her bike and take a photo marking the official HALFWAY POINT OF OUR JOURNEY.   Who would have thunk it?  

Be sure to check back tomorrow for my post, entitled:  When the Extraordinary Becomes Ordinary. 

And as always, check out my map at Where’s Jeff at jeffblye.com