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Where is Mike?
7/09/02 - 7/10/02 - Sioux Falls to Badlands Park

Travel Stats:

Starting Mileage Sioux Falls: 64,334
Ending Mileage Badlands: 64,632
Distance: 298
Duration: 4 Hrs with 1.5hrs at Corn Palace/Mustang Museum
No Gas Needed

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Once again the open road is calling to me to go fast, like sirens.

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I can't resist! Just for fun I decide to see how fast the vette will actually go. With 200lbs of luggage and the air conditioning on I roll on the gas in 5th. At 150mph I let off the gas because I started to get scared. The car had more in it (I'm guessing north of 160) but I didn't. So I set the cruise control and made my way across the SD.

Oh, by the way. I got my first speeding ticket for 93 in a 75. I asked the cop what's the fastest he's ever given anyone a ticket for on these roads and he said 112mph. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself.

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For miles and miles all I see are signs for something called the Corn Palace. I had to stop and see what this thing was. By total chance I see a tiny sign that says Shelby Mustang Museum. I drive into this residential area and find this small house with several garage like buildings. I'm met by a man who has been rebuilding Shelby mustangs for 30 years. He then takes me on a tour of his private collection of 20 mint totally restored with original parts mustangs. This guy had over $2mm dollars of cars in a garage that was nicer than his house. He even had an original AC Cobra worth $250k. Dad, you would have loved this.

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Ummmm, yea, the Corn Palace. A building covered with corn in a new theme every summer. Hello people!!! Now you are really stretching it to get tourist here. At least I got to see those Shelby's!

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Boom! Out of nowhere I hit the Badlands National Park. Absolutely, spectacular! I catch a 10pm Prarie walk with a part ranger and see the most incredible sky. I also learn that this was once an ocean and as the Rocky's pushed up the water ran away and the area became a lush tropical forest. Tons of fossils are found here. Then as the Rocky's grew higher they would force all the precipitation out of the clouds so by the time they hit the Badlands very little water was left. Hence the current dry almost desert feel. How homesteaders survived here I have no idea.

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I stay in the town of Interior, population 60 and I'm lucky to get a room. When I get there they are serving all you can eat homemade beef and veggie stew for $3.50. No phones, no TV's.

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I was up at 7:00am to pack the car and catch a guided hike through the Badlands. There I was able to meet another hiker named Paul and he and I decided to do another hike after the tour. Really amazing as you hike and awesome views when you reach the destination. You can totally free hike anywhere in the Badlands. You are responsible for your own safety. Some of the hikes were pretty aggressive and not for everyone.

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It finally cooled down and I was determined to get the top off that car even if I had to leave bags behind. As you can see I was successful and the ride from the Badlands to Mt. Rushmore was absolutely unbelievable. The top off just made it even better. Amazing!!!!

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More signs! Wall Drug, Wall Drug... what the heck is Wall Drug. Being a total sucker I had to see it. Well folks, it a drug store in the town of Wall. Granted, it's huge, but a total cheesy tourist trap. They got me again.