Day 38 - Rapid City to Sioux Falls

I'm so lucky

Today I hiked a 4 mile trail around the grasslands in Badlands National Park and guess how many people I saw? That's right, none. Not one.

For the last couple of days I have been worrying about this trip - wondering whether it's what I should really be doing. A lot of my Olympic colleagues are getting jobs (oddly all at the same time) and yet I'm here bumming around burning a serious hole in my savings.

Today as I walked I looked around and was overwhelmed by the sheer space I could see. I had acres and acres to myself. It was by no means the most beautiful National Park I've been in and yet it's the first time I've really looked around and thought how lucky I am to be here. So what if when I get back I don't get a job straight away or I'm in some debt? Today I had a corner of South Dakota to myself, when is that likely to happen again?

I did hear a rattle but it turned out to be my bag!

Weird to see snow and cracky floor together

I saw this creature in a tree

Any idea what he is?

Wall Drug

There is a tiny town called Wall which is famous for its drugstore. For hundreds of miles as you approach it you see signs by the side of the road advertising it, its famous 5 cent coffee and its free ice water (as well as a host of crazy other things they claim to have - a shooting range, a dinosaur, etc). When you get there it is a shop that takes up most of the main street and they sell any kind of American tat you can imagine. I loved it! I even filled up my thermos with the 5c coffee (only to tip it all down the toilet by mistake but it only cost me 5c to refill!)

Cross state drive

Today I successfully drove across a whole state (South Dakota) along what the Lonely Planet describes as "easily one of the least interesting stretches of interstate highway", the I-90. It was ok actually, not even that straight - I heard somewhere that roads like this have to turn occasionally to allow for the curvature of the Earth. Or to keep people awake. I stayed awake and didn't end up in Mexico so I guess it works!

Late night chat hosts

Before I came to the States I was really excited to finally see some of the most famous chat hosts in the world. So far I've seen David Letterman and Conan O'Brien and I think they're both terrible. They're patronising, self-indulgent and seriously seriously not funny. As well as over-coiffed and caked in makeup. Toma ya!

Accessibility

Living in England where everything that is possible to be made wheelchair accessible has a ramp, I have been surprised to see how unaccessible what I've seen so far has been. Today, however, I was really impressed by the ramps in Badlands NP. They were more than just a token parking space, I followed one that went really far into the rocks and gave you a really good view, different to anything you'd otherwise get to see. Good for you South Dakota!

One more thing...

This is something I do every time I stop so I don't turn into a complete car vegetable. Having photographed it  I realise it feels way more graceful than it looks...