We called City Hall who connected us to the Chamber of Commerce who connected us to Parks and Recreation who connected us to City Hall (did someone chop off a wing of the government and tell it to fly?) Eventually they agreed to let us camp at a park called Roam Free. Google it, its awesome!
After exploring the town and asking everyone we could if they knew where the park was we had all but given up since it didn't show up on my blackberry. We met three guys who had toured before (I'll call them Harry, Larry, and Brad) and they said to just camp off somewhere out of sight. We were ready to do this until we decided to go to a motel on the river. I'll admit that part of me wanted to be like William Shatner and negotiate for a last minute room at rock bottom prices but instead we simply asked if they knew of the park and finally we got directions.
By this time it was pretty much pitch black out so by the light of our bicycle lights and the stars we climbed up a bike trail headed up a cliff. I barely made it without stopping but I suppose the darkness helped distract me from the grade and distance. Eventually we made it to the top of a cliff overlooking the beautifully swollen Missouri River and town of Chamberlain. We could see the lights reflecting off the water and the crystal clear starry night made all the headwind and climbing worth it. Its amazing how God works, assuming this to be the work of God. Had the day been easy we would have pushed to Presho and breezed through the river valley and even if we had decided to stay here, had it been an easy day I don't think we would have appreciated it. Joy does not come without a cost as I've learned from Donald Miller's book. The camp site we found was top shelf and worth every penny.
We woke up early to the most beautiful view of the river valley as it was waking up to the sun. Unfortunately we weren't quite ready to do the same because it was rather cold outside so we stayed in bed and didn't get going until 8am.
Because of the flood we had to go over to Interstate 90 which we were hesitant about at first but we immediately took a liking to the well paved shoulder and may stay on it awhile.
It also brought us to Al's Oasis, a total tourist trap but a cool place anyway. They actually sell $.05 coffee and our waitress Amanda hooked us up with free sausage gravy because she was trying to put the moves on Jared.
As we headed off from Al's, I couldn't help but day dream about Jared staying with Amanda to settle on 500 acres of useless grassland so I wouldn't have to deal with him anymore, but after a lovely breakfast together Jared just couldn't commit, typical Jared.
Then we began a day full of hills, long, gradual, and even sometimes steep hills. We're glad we took the interstate because the country roads had to of been worse.
Despite making arrangements with a church for the night we decided that it wasn't going to be far enough for the pace we were carrying. I don't think we realized just how boring this area of the state was but we weren't really in the mood to stop and smell the roses because there aren't any, just tall grass and dead crushed turtles and owls.
We came up to our first highway rest area today where we met Nancy and Bob. They are from Wisconsin and heading to Spokane, WA to see Nancy's father who is battling cancer. It was nice to chat with them about our trip and our thoughts and prayers go out to them in this difficult time of mourning what seems the inevitable while celebrating a life in its last season.
Out of the rest area we tackled some more hills while having RVs blow by us. It seems most everyone we see is a tourist out here and with July 4th close its no wonder.
Eventually we came to a "town" called Vivian. They had advertised a coffee diner 24 miles prior so when we arrived to find it was being remodeled we were deeply saddened. If I'm a business owner in this part of South Dakota on I-90 I'm definitely remodeling in the other 9 months of the year when nobody probably comes through but what do I know about running a truck stop really?
Instead we sat under an awning at the diner next door which was closed while we ate peanut butter and other delicacies.
And then more hills. I may have gotten high hopes a bit soon for cranking out high miles because around 7pm I just got tired. Saddle soreness reared its ugly head and I found myself yawning, not a good sign. I could have kept pushing but fatigue got the best of me and I knew I was one bar of a Coldplay song from swerving out into traffic so I decided to stop at the exit for Murdo, a tourist trap by all accounts with an automotive museum and little diners and hotels for weary travelers who like to quit down the home stretch instead of finishing the drive like champions (like the Chicago Cubs of drivers if you will).
But Murdo is also home to some and we saw evidence of this in the presence of a high school and a swimming pool which I saw as a beacon of hope. See I've worked at the pool in my hometown before and I know that most pools are run with a relatively easy going attitude so after riding for days without a shower I suspected that it might be our lucky day. A bit of batting my eye lashes at Megan, the guard at front desk, and Jared and were lathering on all the soap in the place, doubling as both a shower and laundry mat.
I felt refreshed after a great shower and figured people might be slightly more likely to like me. Come to think of it, maybe Megan was just trying to do the world a favor by letting us shower, but either way I have fantastic eye lashes so let's remember that.
Turns out I was right about people liking me, but apparently a well showered me attracts self proclaimed high school hick boys (eye lashes, blessing and curse). Ben, Kyle, and Steven were really interested in my trip and we got to chatting and learned quite a bit about each other. I taught them about the price range of gear while they taught me that hicks chew tobacco and spend all Tuesday trying to find a way to score beer. There was a lot of learning going on but alas I had to get going as Jared had run over to a church to see if they would let us stay there only to come to find that it was the very same church we spoke with early in the day. So after making a Chef Boyardee canned dinner along with Rice Sides I lay here ready for bed.
In case you're wondering, yes I do make up almost all the names in these posts. Hosts are usually the only ones I remember unless I write it down right away.
Hope you're ready for the Badlands, be there before you know it!
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I think you should tell us what meals you are planning so we can cook along at home.
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