Day 24 Wall-Kadoka

Miles:  57.33        
Terrain: Fantastic Rock Formations in a National Park
Depart:   7:40 AM      Arrive:  1:28 PM
Riding time: 4:14:06
Average Riding Speed:13.5

            Today’s Garmin Download and Map (for cycling data junkies)

Today's Ride

Last night when we were told that today we'd be riding through Badlands National Park, many of us thought "oh great, another National Park."  Little did we know about the fantastic views that awaited us as we passed into the park about eight miles south of Wall.  The rock formations that created both deep valleys and towering cliffs, the grasslands and the big horn sheep all created a morning of riding and stopping to look at the views that elicited adjectives like fantastic, amazing and incredible.  There didn't seem to be a single rider who wasn't awed.  Many called this the best day of the tour, even surpassing Monday's ride to Mt. Rushmore.

Pictures do not do justice to the incredible majesty of the geologic formations.  It's easy to figure out why this area is called the Badlands.  Imagine the reaction of the early settlers coming through South Dakota running into the massive towers and canyons of rocks that we saw today.

There certainly seemed to be a reaction from people we met today at the overlooks in the park.  We seemed to be asked about our tour by so many more people than usual.  Most people are amazed that we are doing this.

Unlike the other day in Wind Cave Park where I failed to see any buffalo/bison, today I got a good closeup look at some Big Horn Sheep.  Below are an assortment of today's park pictures.

Big horn sheep just outside the park gate.

Prairie Dogs

The Badlands

 

Big Horn Sheep Close Up

Not sure if this sheep is molting or got into a fight.  Look at its coat.

Today's ride was pretty easy, but there were a few climbs up and down in the park--one fairly steep one late in the park was a 10% grade.  Then the last 20 miles were on a frontage road to Kadoka that was straight with a few rollers and generally favorable winds.  As I got to the finish the skies to the west looked like the forecast late day thunderstorms might materialize, but they never did.

Tomorrow we will reach the halfway point of the entire trip at mile 20 of the 115 mile route.  The day also marks our passage into the Central Time Zone which effectively takes a way an hour of time to cover that distance.  Hard to believe that this tour is half over!