Monday 9/23/02
Day Twenty-five / Day 3 of 2nd leg
Starting mileage 93145 / Ending mileage 93645
It was a quiet group of campers in the KOA, so we slept well. We woke up @ 1:30am just because, but managed to go back to sleep. The wind started picking up and by 5 am was trying to pick up the tent. Decided it would be wise to remove the light that was swinging wildly above my head while hanging from a string. We calmed the dogs down by bringing them next to us, and Tessa crawled under the covers next to me. The air was cold, in the 50’s, but our sleeping bags do a great job. By 6:00, David decided it was time to go out and brave the wild wind to see if our folding chairs had blown away (no).
It took a while to break camp because the tent and rain fly were acting like sails. I was laughing but David was all business so we weren’t a very good match this morning. 7:50 am we hit I-90. Tig has been sitting in my lap a lot on the drives lately and I enjoy having him near. Stopped at 9:00 in Mitchell, SD for coffee and a breakfast booster (David had cereal at camp & I had ½ a bagel).
Drove until 10:45 then stopped at a rest area near “Oacoma”, right next to the Missouri River.
Hot dogs sounded good at the time. But after two dozen boxes & “things” to get to the needed supplies, David ran out of patience and now is miserable company. Tina is driving now – truck bounces so much that pop goes flat in 5 minutes. The cramped quarters of the truck are making D stress out too easily. (bouncing is not T’s fault – truck too “truck-like” for these highways. Crossed into MST in Murdo @ 12:30 (11:30 MST)
Fuel: Murdo, SD / 16 gal $25.06 209mi
I drove for 3 hours after lunch, determined not to get sleepy. It helped that I was a little peeved at my companion… Bypassed Wall Drug and most of Rapid City so we would have time to visit Mt Rushmore.
Mt Rushmore, 2:12 – 3:00, mileage 93512. The early afternoon light provided nice shadows on the “faces”.
After that we took the route to Custer, and located David’s aunt & uncle’s former home. Shopped for a couple grocery items at the “Dakota Mart” then set off again with the aim of Gillette, Wyoming. Saw a lot of *fire damage outside of Custer, just as we did near Mt Rushmore.
Arrived Gillette at 6pm. Checked into the Econo-Lodge (dogs a-ok), unpacked, and ordered a pizza. Watched the CSI-Miami premier (give it a B-) before our nightly read and sleep routine. (The dogs have their own bed tonight).
582 miles
*fire damage: The "Battle Creek" Fire burned approx 14,000 acres of
Black Hills forest land in mid August.
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