Day Three:
Our first stop of the day was at Mitchell's World's Only Corn Palace, a unique and amazing mid-western display of artistic talent using local multi-colored corn and native grasses to make scenic western and news-worthy panoramas. Known as "the world's largest bird feeder", the Corn Palace has drawn millions of visitors , since it originated in 1892 as a way to show off their agricultural bounty and the fertility of the region's soil.
We have now become aware that a low rumble permeates the truck's interior, despite the F-350's quiet cocoon. Bikers are everywhere-riding, hauling their rides on trailers and in trucks, and taking fatigue breaks at the side of the road-the majority sans helmets, sporting scarves and do-cap or scarf headwear as their statement of freedom to ride.
Herds of cattle roam the prairie, while corn, potatoes plants grains and sunflowers wave in the wind. Flat lands give way to the Missouri River valley's rolling hills and lush bluffs that bank this waterway and major flyway, where ducks and geese wing the air and float on stock dams and small ponds.
Native American and wild-west history come alive as we pass the Crow Creek Tribal Headquarters and the due-south route to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and see the ruminants of abandoned prairie homes, barns and outdated farm equipment adding and air of nostalgic art to the landscape. A restored prairie township, set off by cut outs of Indians chasing a stagecoach, also make the list for the next road trip.
We note an impressive fuel economy calculated on the ''nfo button readout, when we check to see the estimated miles-to-fill readout, after stopping at two large fueling stations with no diesel. Despite the weight penalty of this Super Duty truck and its open bed, as well as speeds that at times tipped near the three-digits, we managed to achieve an average of 13.8 miles to the gallon!
Nearing our base camp in Rapid City, located at the gateway to the Black Hills, we detour south to see the Badlands, motoring a loop through the stark beauty carved over thousands of years of wind and weather. The park is made up of more than 240,000 acres of sculpted spires, silt washes and pastel-colored land forms.
Strands of bikers have joined in this look-see and we suddenly feel part of the crowd, a feeling that's heightened when we navigate to the famous Wall Drug, in Wall, South Dakota, an impressive tourist concern born out of a small business that handed out free water to thirsty travelers. Today, water is still free, coffee is five cents a cup and you can buy everything from western wear to sculpture and jewelry, as well as gaze at hundreds of paintings and photos that depict the history of this region, along with a collection of brands from the area's ranchers and farmers.
Road fatigue vanishes and we soon find ourselves in historic, wild west town of Deadwood, along with thousands of our new, best friends where bikes rule the streets and bikers sport every type of body art and braided hair-and-beard style known to modern-day man. Despite the Hell's Angels' image that many imagine prevails at The Sturgis Rally, there are riders of every age and size, paired and single, and with women now taking the handlebars in increasing numbers.