Day 19
Billings, MT to Rapid City, South Dakota
   Miles today = 365
Total miles = 4900		  
     
   
   
   
     
     
   
     
I had finally decided that it was time to do something about my tire. It actually wasn't as bad as I thought, but the tech at the dealer in Sturgis said it would be a close call to get to St. Paul on it. Though its not like they had a vested interest by selling me a tire. It cost a tad over $200. To put that into perspective, I can get a set for my car for that price and they last 10 times as long. I know what you are all thinking; it’s a small price to pay for my safety and wellbeing.
So the ride from Billings to Rapid City was relatively long. The route I chose went right past the Custer battle site. Which is kind of odd because its right next to a reservation and I'm sure they have differing thoughts on the whole thing.
About the first 2/3s of the route was not much to look at. I was moving fast enough so that I was able to get to Sturgis, yup, that Sturgis, and get the tire changed today instead of in the morning.
There was one point that I was passing a truck pulling a camper and coming from the opposite direction was a semi trailer coming though with plenty to spare. While the truck and I were neck and neck a cute and fuzzy young deer comes up off the side of the road and stops dead center and was watching us approach. I'm sure 3 headlights was a bit unusual and just stood there. Both of us slowed down and waited for the deer to get the idea that perhaps it wasn’t the safest place to be and that it was time to move along. I wasn't too concerned about being in the opposing lane unless the deer decided to actually do something to make things a cause for concern by creating confusion and disarray on the highway.
But it finally moseyed along, I passed the truck and the semi passed the both of us and I kept a bit more of an eye open for deer as I continued onward. The live deer are harder to spot than that the ones sleeping by the side of the road. Those emanate an odor that cues you in to a sleeping deer ahead. That way I guess I am prepared for the deer and not be caught unawares if it happens to wake up and get into my general path. I just don't understand how they can sleep like that, with their hooves up in the air. Though they do look like they have had a lot to eat since their bellies are all nice and round.
I got a good look at Sturgis since I pretty much rode around the whole town before I found the BMW dealer near the second exit off the interstate. They tempted me with the new BMW motorbikes but the one I had my eye on was over $18,000 and I think was as big as my car. I am sure it rides better than my car and certainly better than my motorbike but the price is a wee bit out of my range. Though they had 		 

a little 650 single cylinder that was much closer in price. They were out of stock of the new BMW dirt bikes that BMW just came out with. Now those cost over $20,000. For a dirt bike! Not even designed for pulling down the highway miles. But it is a sweet looking ride all with its angular edges and engine.
Anyway, after getting the tire got put on I took a quick spin around in the Black Hills before getting into Rapid City that night. Toward the end there was a ton of deer and the sun had set so I nixed the idea of seeing Mt. Rushmore all lit up in the night sky. It was a cold cold day so I just went into Rapid City and got a room.
In that little route I went through serene Deadwood and I think a tidbit of Spearfish. Though it was Sturgis that lives for 50 weeks out of the year mixed with closed buildings awaiting the arrival of the next bike week that I thought was odd. Which to me is a long time to look at those boarded up buildings scattered about town and the souvenir tee shirt shops trying to get rid of left over shirts, 5 for 30 bucks no less.
Thursday is a bit of a spin around the Hills maybe, though I am more interested in the Badlands so I'll have to check it out and see what’s where. I am still a day ahead of the increasing temps and I keep riding back into the wind so how it all bangs out is left to be decided. After Rapid City it is quite the flat route and tons of miles into St. Paul. The way I'm feeling I can't put on all those miles as quick as I’d like to. After wrestling with the high winds into Rapid City and more forecast for tomorrow I know there is going to be some pain on the other end of the route. I’ve just about had more than I can handle and hot showers ain't quite cutting it any longer.
Last night in Billings I broke the most hallowed rule of all—I had a Pepsi. Oh don't cry out like that, I've had more than enough agony of my own doing than I can handle over it. A Whiskey Pepsi doesn't sound any less like a kiddy drink than a Shirley Temple does. So maybe I'm learning a bit about what matters and what doesn't. I don't know, because a guy has to have some standards and maybe not drinking Pepsi is one of those things that should be lived up to. Perhaps I just chalk it up to self-examination and reaffirmation of morals and how Pepsi should continue to be avoided. It is clearly the work of the devil only to be drunk by Shirley Temple and other 8 year olds. After all that stuff will rot your stomach.
Sayonara until the next time my public.

Route: I-90 east to East Highway 212, to South highway 85 to I-90, Highway 14A west to Highway 385 south to Highway 44 to Rapid City.
 
 
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