The whole decor is done in corn ...
Despite that, I woke up at 7:45. Not sure why. But that's good since I really wanted to get on the road to South Dakota. I went to the office to try my e-mail one more time (it looks like everything is fixed -- I lost some e-mail, but it's almost all there), then packed everything up and was on the road by 9am. Packing up was a little tough though, because it was cold! I was wishing that I had gloves.
But it wasn't long before I realized that I was still running a fever (I was shivering big time) and that I was really tired. And my body ached, mostly my neck and back. I really didn't feel all that hot. Not great for a long drive.
So, I stopped at almost every rest area for the first 150 miles or so, and caught 15 minute naps. They always helped. I also took some Tylenol, which eventually seemed to do the trick.
The big problem was once I turned onto I-90 heading west, there was a significant northerly wind (i.e., direct cross-wind). The radio kept calling it a 15-20mph wind. In the motorhome, it doesn't take much of a cross-wind to make driving less than fun. I had to go pretty slowly, and it was exhausting constantly correcting for the wind. Each overpass would require a big correction, as the wind would go away for a moment. It really didn't quit until I was about 150 miles from the end of my trip.
It seemed like a really long day. When I crossed into the Mountain Time zone, it was actually really depressing. I realized that after I saw the Black Hills part of the world here, I was going to turn around and just do this same drive (or almost the same drive) in the other direction -- and it felt like a long drive.
Other than the quick cat-naps, I only made one stop -- at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. My destination was a campground (any campground) near the Badlands National Park. I called ahead and made a reservation at one that was right on the freeway, but when I got there I decided to look elsewhere. It was absolutely empty, and right next to the highway (i.e., loud.) I called the Badlands KOA and they had space, so I headed that way. Turns out that you have to drive *through* the National Park to get to the campground. It was gorgeous in the setting sun, but I was too tired to stop and take pictures. I'll take some in the morning. But I don't it'll be the same with the sun higher overhead (no, I won't be getting up at sunrise).
Tomorrow is the big day -- a quick hike through Badlands, then further west. First stop: Wall Drug. There have been signs for this place for the last 400 miles. It's ridiculous. Then all of the cool things around Mt. Rushmore. There's a long list. More details tomorrow. I need to get some sleep!
BTW, This is the first place I've been where I have no cellphone service. It's *very* remote.