Sioux Falls, SD Oct 9 – 10, 2024

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Spent the day in Sioux Falls, SD, and it was “interesting”! First stop: the Butterfly House & Aquarium, which was what I expected - lots of butterflies and some marine creatures. There was about 25 visitors there and a weekday afternoon, which wasn’t too bad.? Next I visited Falls Park and hence the city’s namesake. Ended the day with a walk through the SculptureWalk. The sculptures were very basic. Like someone in art school made them. After exploring, I had dinner at R Wine Bar & Kitchen. The reviews were good, and the portions were huge, just like every restaurant I’ve eaten at on this trip!! I only spent less than 24 hours Sioux Falls which was enough! 

Our Lovely Hosts in Miller, SD

This lovely group of church ladies prepared a wonderful vegetarian meal for us during our first evening in Miller SD. A major perk of cycling cross-country in late summer is the bountiful fresh produce from our host's gardens. Yum and healthy!!

Sun Flowers - Miller, SD

I didn't get a picture of it, because it occured during the early morning hours. We arrived in Ft. Peirre SD and set-up camp in the local city park. Our host in the city was new to the area, but make sure that it was okay to camp in the city park, and it was, but not in the area we camped. About 3 AM in the morning the sprinklers started. I was glad that I choose to sleeping in my tent that night instead of under the stars.

Grain Dryers, Miller, SD

We encountered our first day of riding in the rain. We woke up and it was raining, but the rain didn't deter us. We garnished our rain gear and head eastwards. I must say, however, the rain didn't deter us, but most of us got wet while cycling and had to set our shoes and a few article of clothings in front of fans that evening in order for them to dry for the next day.

Toilet - Kadoka, SD

Last year while traveling, as some of you know, I kept a toilet diary highlighting the different types and salient features of toilets around the world (I you haven't seen them, you can check them out on the November 2004 archives - right panel).

This year while traveling in the U.S, the toilets are very homogenous, and none of them would warrant a post, however, I did run across one except. The toilet also is unlike any of the other toilets previous featured on the toilet diary. The toilet is located in Kadoka SD's city park. Its unique feature is that the water from the sink drains directly into the reserve tank and then the same water is used to refill the toilet bowl after being flushed.

Badlands National Park, SD

The following expert is from national parks website "Established as Badlands National Monument in 1939, the area was redesignated as a National Park in 1978. Over 11,000 years of human history pales to the eons old paleontological resources. Badlands National Park contains the world's richest Oligocene epoch fossil beds, dating 23 to 35 million years old.

Located in southwestern South Dakota, Badlands National Park consists of nearly 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blended with the largest, protected mixed grass prairie."

Check out link below for additional info and pictures about the park.

Badlands National Park, SD

Additional pictures

Strong Winds - Rapid City, SD to Kadoka, SD

Today we had our worst head winds yet - about 30 miles per hour. Lucky we were only facing into the wind for a couple of miles during the day. The remainder of the day the wind was indirectly at our backs. The cattycorner backwinds were much better than the head winds, but presented a different challenge that of keeping the bike on the road while moving forward.

We later learned that parts of eastern South Dakota and southern Minnesota experienced tornados on the same day.

Mt Rushmore - Rapid City, SD

Today was a rest day, but spent it cycling to Mt. Rushmore. From our Rapid City host's house the round trip excursion was about 30 miles. Mt. Rushmore is something I always wanted to see and I was most impressed upon seeing it from a distance, as I approached the site on my bike, but once I got into the park area I was less impressed, nevertheless I was glad to have seen it. I also checked out the museum and watched two films on the construction of the monument showing in the museum's theater. Hey, at least I learned something about U.S. history today. My biggest complain about cycling touring is the lack of intellectual stimulation.

Hosts Bob and Loy - Rapid City, SD

Hanging-out with our Rapid City SD hosts, Bob and Loy, on their back deck.