I started the day with a great conversation at the Rapid City gas station -- the owner has a Ninja and we talked about riding in the Black Hills, Sturgis, touring in general, and AMA racing (we agreed that it was unbearably boring this year). An older grizzly type came in on a V4 Sabre so then we talked twins and fours for a minute. He owns a shop and builds choppers and hot rod cars. It's fun to find bike people all over the country.

Despite being pretty close to Rapid City, the Badlands may as well be in a completely separate state. I rode through them first thing in the morning, so there was very little traffic; it's the sort of landscape that lends itself well to solitude.

Hwy 240, Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park

Wall Drug was, frankly, disappointing. I remember from that family road trip long aisles of terrifically tacky western gift shop swag and, of course, the stuffed jackaloupe. Now, the entire thing is gift stores, one after another. Even the dorky tourist photo area -- always my favorite -- seemed forced and stilted. I couldn't even climb on the jackaloupe statue! Lame! Add to this the bored Wall Drug employee who followed me around commenting on my riding gear and talking about his "leather fetish", and I was quite happy to get the hell out of there.

OK, yes, I was there. Time to leave.

Since I'm on a mission to get to Yosh and Allen's tomorrow night, there was lots of Hwy I-90 after Wall. Of course, even if I were to take another week to get to Illinois, it wouldn't be any more scenic.  Farms is farms.

The Corn Palace, along I-90 in Mitchell, SD, was truly the highlight of the day. Whereas Wall Drug forces its tackiness upon you, the Corn Palace takes itself so delightfully seriously that I spent the whole time there gleefully photographing and giggling. Plus, I think corn is just instrinsically hilarious.

This is just quality merchandise, here.

Mmm, corn.

Crossing into Minnesota is crossing into the Midwest -- everything on the menu is deep-fried, people have long vowels, and Leinenkugel's is suddenly on the menu.

Crossing into Minnesota.

469 miles today; 2127 miles total.

Next Day --> June 3: Worthington, MN - Mundelein, IL