Tuesday, June 2, 2009
- Start:Interior, South Dakota
- ATW: Badlands National Park
- End:Wall, South Dakota
- Day Miles: 35.0 Ride Time: 4:12 Total Trip Miles: 1848
At the Visitor's Center
Photo Credit:Jamie & Darlene Johnson
It was gorgeous on the ride through the Badlands. At times one side was the "badlands" of bare weathered earth with next nothing growing while on the other side of the road would be the green grass lands as far as you could see. It was a remarkable contrast. In the park we were pushed to many limits. A few hills nearly did us in but we were able to pedal through somehow. The lack of bathrooms and covered areas was rather tough and at times we cursed the person who'd devised the "scenic" route we were on.
On the north side of the park we were treated to a viewing of two dozen big horn sheep. I rang our little bell like crazy to scare them off but they just stared at us as we rode by. You might think it was because they were tamed down but as soon as a car came they'd take off. I guess they were trying to figure out just what we were.
In Wall we set up at the city park and tried to stay warm. The cool air and clouds were a blessing as we rode through the Badland N.P. but now they were settling in for the night and causing us a bit of grief because the heated city pool didn't open for a few more days.
Photo credits: http://www.nps.gov/badl
links: http://nature.nps.gov/views/layouts/Main.html#/BADL/welcome/ http://www.nps.gov/badl
