There are other more relaxing but, time wise, longer routes eg. State Highway 14 through Huron, the state capital Pierre meeting up with the interstate at Wall for the final leg into Rapid City.
The scenery, basically prairie, is the same.
We had tried this last year but were thwarted by bad weather and diverted to the interstate directly south of the capital.
This time the 14 was enveloped in fog the whole way to Pierre and we saw nothing but the tail lights of the cars/trucks in front of us.
Thankfully the capital is home to one of the best steakhouses, The Cattleman’s Club, and again it didn’t disappoint.
Next morning the weather forecast didn’t look good so we (again!) abandoned our Route 14 trip and headed for the interstate.
All was fine for a while, then the temperature dropped to -8°C and our surroundings turned white.
Ice!
And the road became a skating rink. We were down to speed of under 60kmh on a road with a speed limit of 130kmh.
There were county trucks already dumping salt and gravel but on the passing lane only and there were jackknifed transports in the ditches both sides of the road.
Was a sweaty back drive to Wall and a relief to have a break, gas up and consume a buffalo burger at Wall Drug.
Then it was another slow careful drive through an icy landscape to our family accommodation at Edelweiss Mountain via Rapid City.
That evening it snowed.
After two days relaxing there we moved onto to Custer via Hill City.
Family had ‘borrowed’ a friend’s nice cabin just out of town and we took the opportunity of exploring the town, visiting Custer State Park (absolutely stunning) and the Mammoth Site (extremely interesting) at Hot Springs.
Tatanka is the Lakota word for bison
The animal is essential part of their culture.
Being there out of season avoided the crowds but we faced closed businesses and restaurants. Thinking back, this didn’t affect us a whole lot.
Then after a few days it was back along the I90 and across the Missouri in perfect weather to the Sioux Falls area.
A great week away.
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