6/18 - Sioux Falls to Rapid City

Truck-wise, today’s drive was the same as the last four days.  Check-engine light came back on after 115 miles, heavy exhaust smoke and enough jerking transmission shifts to give us both headaches.  We’re staying at Ellsworth AFB outside Rapid City for ten nights so will have a chance to see if driving without the RV back is less of a problem.

Last night’s storms over Sioux Falls started around 8:00 pm and lasted until at least until after 11:30 when we went to sleep.  We had some pretty ferocious wind and lightning but didn’t see any damage around the RV park this morning.  It wasn’t bad enough to have to bring our slides in which was a very good thing. 

Storm over Sioux Falls last night.

We started out at what I thought was a reasonable time this morning but I’d forgotten about changing time zones again.  We needed to add about 50 minutes to our trip so we wouldn’t get to the campground too early.  This worked out well because there’s a great rest area/overlook on I-90 at the Missouri River.  We had time to walk around, take in the views and peruse the Lewis and Clark exhibit without rushing.  

View of the Missouri River from the I-90 rest area/overlook.

Goblin wanted to look out the window.  He ended up sitting on top of Gwen in her carrier.  He’s 14 lbs so is not an insignificant weight.  We heard no complaints so she apparently didn’t mind.

There are masses of hay bales within view of I-90.  This isn’t a good picture of them, but farmers are also baling hay in the strip between the fence and the highway.  A great way to make use of this space.

Many miles of I-90 are being rebuilt.  Lanes are being removed down to the ground with new concrete and rebar being laid.  This stretch had mounds of broken up concrete which is waiting to be reduced to smaller pieces.

More miles of concrete reduced to small pieces.  We’re guessing they’re recycling the old concrete to make new material to put down.  We wish the road rebuilding was already complete.  Today’s drive was much more stressful than we’d anticipated because I-90 is so rough.  It’s not as bad as I-40 in Oklahoma and Arkansas but it’s still something we won’t forget.

The campground at Ellsworth AFB is good.  It has decent wifi which we weren’t expecting.  We never have a good opinion of anything when we’re too hot but this place will probably have a much better feel when the temps cool down.  The office is closed till Monday morning but we were able to get the wifi code from a neighbor so we’re good to go.

We’ll be here for ten nights.  There’s a lot to see in the Rapid City area…..Black Hills, Badlands National Park, Minuteman Missile Site, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, Deadwood, Sturgis, Devil’s Tower (day trip to Wyoming) and more.  Haven’t decided in which order we’re going to do them so tomorrow will be a surprise to all.