The 102 miles from Rapid City through the Badlands National Park can be an easy ride, or a hard ride. If the wind is blowing the wrong direction, a good satisfying century ride can turn into the ride from hell. Today, we had temperatures above 100 degrees, those 100 miles to ride through the Badlands and a very slight favorable wind.
We had pie at the A&M café in Interior just after 10 am with 75 miles already under our wheels. We’d had a long sloping ride down from Rapid City and a large group of us rode together flying through the countryside. After our snack, we entered the main part of the Badlands. There was a good climb up into the park and views of a very desolate landscape.
After leaving the park, we headed over to the Interstate, past the helicopter tour, the homestead sod house preserve, and the largest prairie dog in the world. We turned on to the frontage road and bounced our way over high rolling hills the last 15 miles into Kadoka.
In Kadoka, we are staying at the town pool, and many of us spent the afternoon floating the day away in the 105 degree heat. Tomorrow is another long hot day with wind as the big question.
Today’s ride was a display of how far we have all come as bike riders and as friends. In the morning, we bunched up on and off in big groups. We’re faster than we were a week or two ago. We’re better at dealing with adversity than we used to be. A few had bike trouble either at the start or on the way. They were well taken care of by Allen, but then either caught up with others, or finished on their own.
We rode a long hard hot day. Some of the better riders helped slower ones. The Big Ride is functioning well as a group, working hard, and having fun doing it.

See how there are so many were riding together early in the day? We're passing through isolated farm and cattle land east of Rapid City. Ahead of us are the Badlands.