Excited to get off the hill, I packed my tent and ate the last muffin stuffed in my pannier.
In the daylight, my hill looked a lot different - the trees more sparse, and a much better route down than what I ascended in the dark.
And less than a mile coasting down the hill from the summit, I discovered a beautiful camp area lining a creek. Complete with picnic tables and flat grassy areas to pitch a tent.
Go figure.
I'd like to think that if I pursued a better spot last night, pressed on just a little bit further, I would have found nothing. My morning coffee campground only exists because I didn't find it last night, instead suffering through a sleepless night on a hill.
It makes me feel better.
I cruised down highway 385 towards Hill City. The shoulder was mediocre, but the drivers were courteous. And the view: stunning per usual.
The Pactola Reservoir.
The Black Hills of South Dakota is winning in the scenery contest.
Along the reservoir, the road runs along a the top of a dam, where the other side is equally stunning:
Just outside of Hill City, I stopped at the Miner Brewing Company - their brews are fantastic.
Inside I met Bill and John from Philly. They gave me a bunch of suggestions of things to see in Philly when I get there - including three locations to sample a real Philly Cheesesteak. One of my favorite things to eat, I can't wait to try a real one.
With wiz.
That is how you're supposed to order it.
There were several hours left in the day, and I knew I could make it to Mount Rushmore. In fact, Bill and John also suggested I try to see it both at night, and in the morning.
Thanks guys!
On the last hour stretch to the national monument, I payed extra attention to spots along the road to wild camp. I didn't want to get stuck like last night.
And there were plenty, due to the road passing through a National Wildlife Area. Roughly every mile there was a gate, closed to motorized vehicles, with ample places to setup camp beyond.
Just before the monument, the road narrowed with mountainous rocks on one side, a cliff on the other.
Finally, the profile:
Due to the low sun, I couldn't get any good photos of the faces from the front. I'll stop by again in the morning.
Unfortunately, I wanted to setup camp while it was still light out, so I bailed before the lighting ceremony. Apparently it is supposed to be very specatuclar.
I backtracked a mile or two to the camp spot I scouted earlier, setup the tent and enjoyed the rest of the sunset while perched upon a rock overlooking a massive valley in the Black Hills.
Joe