Start Location: Mandan, ND
Ending Location: Rapid City, SD
Miles Today: 311
Trip Miles: 1835
States Visited: 5
National Parks Visited: 2
Low Temp: 60.0° F
High Temp: 87.8° F
Min Elevation: 1658'
Max Elevation: 3734'
Route Map:
2019 Trip - Day 08
While much of the nation sweltered in a heat wave our ride from Mandan
to Rapid City was cold and rainy. Most of the time the temperatures
were in the low 60's and it was very windy. It also rained from about
the South Dakota border for the next 100 miles. We road on some of the
emptiest roads I can recall. We would go for mile after mile without
seeing another vehicle. There also weren't too many gas stations along
our route today so we had to be pretty careful about stopping for gas
when we could.
Since
the Sturgis Rally is coming up in 2 weeks we thought we would ride
through Sturgis and see if preparations are under way and indeed they
are. There were already tents and vendors set up and selling tee shirts
and other gear. There were also a lot of motorcycles around - nothing
like during rally week but more than I would think would be normal. We
are currently planning to attend the Rally next year along with Mike
and Karin, Jason and Lindsay, D.J., and my brother Mark. This will be
the 80th anniversary of the Rally and 20 years since we last attended
one. It should be great fun. We are planning to stay much closer in
this year. Last year we stayed in Rapid City and it was a long way to
go each night.
Tomorrow we are heading for Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse and then on to Buffalo, Wyoming for the night.
