I'm leaving a little later than usual Butte, MT and follow the various rivers like the Jefferson Slough, the Bolder River, and Madison River, and climb my way up to the Continental Divide at about 6,500 ft. I descend down to Bozeman, MT and wind my way up and down through the mountain ranges and National Forests to Livingston, MT, following the Yellowstone River into Billings, MT, always staying at about 3,000 ft to 4,500 ft elevation. I see some hot air balloons drifting in the morning breeze against the slowly rising sun and the mountains as their backdrop, what a great way to start the day. I'm now in the High Plains, and in the territory of the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Nation. I continue following I-90 to Sheridan, WY and over Buffalo, WY and Gillette, WY into Spearfish, SD. Sturgis, SD MC valley is on, and the Highway gets more and more crowded with motorcycles heading this way. Close to Rapid City, SD it's almost a mad house, and besides all the warnings about the COVID-19 pandemic, Sturgis visitors are immune against it. Social distancing, face coverings, likewise riding without protective gear (hot pants, bikini top and flip-flops at 80 mph, an ER's nightmare) nothing can happen to a Sturgis visitor. I don't have to do that to myself and continue my way through the Black Hills into the Badlands. Being out here one shall definitely not miss Wall Drug Store, established 1931, and a tourist attraction ever since.
One gets pointed to it 100 miles before already with huge billboards, and repeated every so often until one reaches the exit. Once you have survived that, 1880 Town is coming up, a recreation and tourist attraction as well.
I have seen both before in 2014 on our Alaska trip, and leave them left handed, continuing toward Sioux Falls, SD. Starting in Murdo, SD I'm stopping at the usual hotel/motel names to find a bed for tonight, but with Sturgis going on, I have no luck until I finally find a place a little outside of Sioux Falls. Along the way I came across the Dignity Statue in Chamberlain, SD, a native woman standing on a bluff overlooking the Missouri river receiving a star quilt. A great statue, and I couldn't think of a better place than that.
A lot of miles today, but great country and lots of history here. But for now, and it is 10:30 PM when I finally find a place to lay my head down, for now I close the day.
"Hear me, my chiefs! I'm tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever." - Chief Joseph, leader of the Way-lam-wat-kain band of the Nez-Perce tribe (Pacific Northwest tribe)
Never been to this part of our country and always wanted to go
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