Brian Richardson
We took today off in Interior, SD to rest our bodies, explore the nearby Badlands National Park, and prepare for the next week in the saddle. I’d say we were mostly successful even in the face of significant obstacles.
Our first challenge was to avoid contracting the Bubonic Plague. The local prairie dog population is plentiful and has had several recent confirmed cases of the Plague. So far we’ve stayed safe. Our second challenge was the air pollution blowing south from the Canadian wildfires. We awoke to a thick haze obscuring our previously clear views of the Badlands.
Air quality map for today showing the effects of Canadian wildfires in South Dakota
We also had serious and persistent wind to contend with. By breakfast the gusts were strong enough take the oatmeal off your spoon before it reached your mouth; by lunch, strong enough to break your tent pole and tear your fly.
Michael deals with a broken tent pole and torn fly
Tomorrow we’ll bike straight through the Badlands, but today we took some time to hike around and explore away from the road. Along the two-mile “Notch” trail, we climbed steep terrain through the park’s characteristic pinnacles and buttes.
The Notch trail in Badlands National Park
After a failed attempt at eating lunch in the wind, where any unanchored food items were immediately swept away, we retreated to the safety of the campground store. Over tortillas and off-brand Cheetos, we reviewed next week’s map.
My general strategy for planning on this trip has been to have a concrete plan for one day ahead and a sketch of the following five days. The one-day plan includes a destination town, grocery stores and water stops along the way, and a hopeful camping spot. The five-day sketch considers where we might stay based on terrain, services, weather forecasts, and points of interest. For example, we try to keep daily mileage between 60 and 90, and we try to avoid climbing passes late in the day when heat and thunderstorms are more likely. Our next main point of interest is Minneapolis, 600 miles down the road where some friends of ours live. On days like today I spend time tinkering with the five-day sketch, knowing that it will inevitably change as the week goes on.
Usher reviews the map during a break day in Interior, SD
If tomorrow’s wind is anything like today’s we’ll be fighting 50 mph gales by the afternoon, so we plan to hit the road at the crack of dawn. That means it’s off to bed early after another incredible South Dakota sunset tonight.