Air mattress status: good. We stayed up late last night doing laundry and trying to get some work done. It was so nice to have clean sheets. Our repair kit held another night and we woke up late but refreshed. Devin replaced the spring hinges on the trailer with chains to make it easier to get in and out of while I packed up camp. We went into hill city to gas up and buy a few more items which turned into a small shopping trip. We split a small turkey sandwich there before heading north towards devils tower. On our way we passed through Deadwood and after getting into MT through Sundance. Deadwood was jammed with bikers.
In true science fashion I was amazed at the geologic evidence all through the black hills. Big layers of granite and sandstone...a rainbow of colors. They have been pushed and moved, anteclines everywhere. Hard caps that have kept some parts from eroding away.
We took a very long and scenic route all the way up to Devils Tower. There were literally thousands of bikers everywhere. We used our parks pass to get in free again. Once we got to the top of the road the Christian Motorcycle Association was directing traffic and kept parking under control. It was really really nice. They were giving out water and had a mist station going too.
The tower is really impressive. We went a very short hike near the base of the boulders. You can climb up the boulders to the base. You can also rock climb the tower face itself all the way to the flat top (with the appropriate gear and training of course). We overheard a park ranger say there are rangers on top of it daily and they climb up there. The tower is the remnants of a volcanic plug that once sat deep within a volcano. The surrounding rock eventually eroded away and all thats left is this. The native Americans see it as sacred ground and have prayer bundles and cloths all around. Their legend about the tower goes (in short form) some children were trying to escape a bear, the earth told them to stand in one spot and the earth rose far above where the bear could get them, but the bear kept trying to climb the sides, leaving the marks in the sides of the tower.
On our way back down we stopped at a prairie dog field. We got some good pictures because a family with hethen children were feeding them even when the sign said "dont feed the prairie dogs". They are funny little creatures. Mini-B liked to see other "dogs".
We continued west towards Yellowstone. We took the interstate because it was a good road, fast, and about our only option. Usually the interstate beats you up and spits you out. There weren't hardly any semis so it wasn't that bad. Up to this point we've really done very little interstate. The limit here is 75mph, but we dont go that fast. Riding into the sun is tough, primarily because our faces are burnt and peeling. We stopped along the way at a gas station and ate our pbjs, cheez its, and cherries and a pepsi.
The water hose is doing good. I bought a little purse to hang on my belt loops. I can keep the hose hooked onto it, and it holds my phone and chapstick, and has zippered pouches for money. It's really handy. I otherwise have to sit on my phone which is annoying. Anyway, in the wind today the hose part blew out long and looped down real low. When I went to pull it back up it caught on the saddle bag. When I checked later it looked like it had grazed the tail pipe, there is a little melted part on it. Lets hope both the water hose and mattress make it out of this trip alive! Devins glasses repair held too...until we stopped for a short break. He tossed them on a table and the OTHER lens broke, after riding in them all day:
Guess we'll be going back to DG for another pair...
We finally stopped for the night in Sheridan, WY. After setting up tent we talked with nice people in the spot next to us. They are doing the next several stops the same as us. We got to talking because the tent site on the opposite side were smoking pot and we were all complaining together. Devin went to the front but they didn't do anything about...said WE could move. We enjoyed our good neighbors so we decided to stay in our spot. We ran into town and got fast food. Then I got lots of work done...overall it was a good day.
Today we traveled 318.5 miles for a total of 2,577.6 miles across America.
In true science fashion I was amazed at the geologic evidence all through the black hills. Big layers of granite and sandstone...a rainbow of colors. They have been pushed and moved, anteclines everywhere. Hard caps that have kept some parts from eroding away.
We took a very long and scenic route all the way up to Devils Tower. There were literally thousands of bikers everywhere. We used our parks pass to get in free again. Once we got to the top of the road the Christian Motorcycle Association was directing traffic and kept parking under control. It was really really nice. They were giving out water and had a mist station going too.
The tower is really impressive. We went a very short hike near the base of the boulders. You can climb up the boulders to the base. You can also rock climb the tower face itself all the way to the flat top (with the appropriate gear and training of course). We overheard a park ranger say there are rangers on top of it daily and they climb up there. The tower is the remnants of a volcanic plug that once sat deep within a volcano. The surrounding rock eventually eroded away and all thats left is this. The native Americans see it as sacred ground and have prayer bundles and cloths all around. Their legend about the tower goes (in short form) some children were trying to escape a bear, the earth told them to stand in one spot and the earth rose far above where the bear could get them, but the bear kept trying to climb the sides, leaving the marks in the sides of the tower.
Mini-B made the hike too. Can you find him in the above photo?
On our way back down we stopped at a prairie dog field. We got some good pictures because a family with hethen children were feeding them even when the sign said "dont feed the prairie dogs". They are funny little creatures. Mini-B liked to see other "dogs".
We continued west towards Yellowstone. We took the interstate because it was a good road, fast, and about our only option. Usually the interstate beats you up and spits you out. There weren't hardly any semis so it wasn't that bad. Up to this point we've really done very little interstate. The limit here is 75mph, but we dont go that fast. Riding into the sun is tough, primarily because our faces are burnt and peeling. We stopped along the way at a gas station and ate our pbjs, cheez its, and cherries and a pepsi.
The water hose is doing good. I bought a little purse to hang on my belt loops. I can keep the hose hooked onto it, and it holds my phone and chapstick, and has zippered pouches for money. It's really handy. I otherwise have to sit on my phone which is annoying. Anyway, in the wind today the hose part blew out long and looped down real low. When I went to pull it back up it caught on the saddle bag. When I checked later it looked like it had grazed the tail pipe, there is a little melted part on it. Lets hope both the water hose and mattress make it out of this trip alive! Devins glasses repair held too...until we stopped for a short break. He tossed them on a table and the OTHER lens broke, after riding in them all day:
Guess we'll be going back to DG for another pair...
We finally stopped for the night in Sheridan, WY. After setting up tent we talked with nice people in the spot next to us. They are doing the next several stops the same as us. We got to talking because the tent site on the opposite side were smoking pot and we were all complaining together. Devin went to the front but they didn't do anything about...said WE could move. We enjoyed our good neighbors so we decided to stay in our spot. We ran into town and got fast food. Then I got lots of work done...overall it was a good day.
Today we traveled 318.5 miles for a total of 2,577.6 miles across America.
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