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Today we started our day Hung Over and not happy. We went to IHOP for breakfast neither of us had an appetite. Amazing considering we were both lacking in calories at this point. Today was a driving day. Subey left a mark in Minnesotta in white paint, and Minnesotta left an equal reminder in the wheel wells. We made plans to stop for lunch in Sioux Falls, SD. We found a place called Granite City which is a micro brew chain in the mid west similar to John Harvards.
After reviewing their very intricate menues we both ordered their flat bread pizza. Our bartenders name was Josie, and it was the first time I had ever had a bartender introduced themselves and ask my name. Great sales strategy. She was also an amazing bartender giving us mixer samples of their beers, and even gave me an IPA from the first round of brews.
We learned that in South Dakota the residents split the state into 'east river' and 'west river'. But when we asked what the river was nobody could tell us. They asked servers, the kitchen and still nobody knew what the river was. As it turns out it is the Missouri river which the owner of this franchise location came out to tell us.
We then jumped back in the car and and drove across South Dakota. MB read me all of the 'Walldrug' signs while I made a playlist of 193 songs. Route 90 is flat and straight. So flat that MB still holds the record for the longest time not touching the steering wheel, .5 miles.
We arrived in the Badlands at night. Because it is so open and arid it was very hard to see to the left and right of the road. We creeped through the winding roads that lead to the campground and out of nowhere we end up in a landscape that could easily be mistaken for Mars. Large sandy mud piles that look like jurasic sized ant hills created a skyline that was backgrounded by an incoming lightening storm.
One thing I didn't know is one of the reasons why it is called the Badlands is due to the 35 mph winds. I f***ing hate constant wind. Setting up the tent was a definite challenge. Its a whole new ball game trying to set up camp in the wind. MB decided to go to bed early, and I played with my camera, drank a few beers in the car enjoyed the full moon.
Then from out of nowhere I hear:
"Kim, I am going to have to sleep closer to your side because the tent is folding in on my face"
I get out of the car, and tye down another guy wire to try and stop the tent from blowing over. Another 20 minutes go by.
"Kim, if your planning on sleeping I wouldn't bother coming into this tent. It's impossible."
She was right. We took a series of 3 minute naps as the tent cracked like a flag ALL NIGHT LONG.
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