Yesterday as I anxiously awaited the new GPS from Garmin and went for another ride through the Badlands after a short burger break in Wall, of which I've written in an earlier post. I entered the Badlands from a different route further east than the Wall gateway. This meant that I got to see a section which I had not visited before, and also retrace the route I had taken earlier. I believe this way of going through the Badlands is better because you move from the lower elevation from which you can better appreciate the spires and mounds to the higher plains portion from which you can look into the gullies and ancient river beds. It's an amazing scenery from whichever angle you view it.
And just when you think there can't be any possible life in this barren space you find
a different form of solitary beauty.
Well, the GPS did arrive and I spent the better part of the evening, after having a delicious seafood risoto at Minervas, setting it up, and installing it on the bike. My temporary wiring arrangement isn't pretty, but it works. yeah!!
Today started off poorly. Dark clouds produced such a downpour as soon as I started on the highway to Sioux Falls a 350 mile journey. The rain was so strong that I pulled to the side of the road under an overpass where two other bikers, one on a Goldwing and the other on a Harley, had already sought refuge. As we waited out the rain we began to chat. As it turns out, Jim (Goldwing) Parker and Derrick (Harley) were on a second memorial of a good friend of theirs bike ride and were on the return leg of their trip. Jim who retired from what I take was a senior position at Walmart, having been there at the start of the chain, gave me some brochures of Arkansa his home state. Derrick is a chaplain with the USAF. After having given me a bunch of Arkansas motorcycle related brochures and as the clouds and the rain blew by Jim asked if I would like to ride with them, given that we were going in the same direction and all. I accepted their offer and am very glad I did. We stopped for gas a few times and enjoyed each others company over lunch. Being bikers we talked about rides and bike stuff. As it turns out Jim and I are the same age and have both taken to doing long bike rides in retirement.
I’m very happy I met these two new friends and as we split up at a gas station about 10 miles east of Sioux Falls we wished each other Godspeed; it sounded and was most appropriate.
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