Today was a lot different than the previous two days. It was still a "travel day" but the weather was another story. It started off okay. We pulled out of St Joe's around 9:30 headed up I-29 picking up where we left off. It was mostly overcast with some bright skies breaking through ....for about two hours. Then it all changed. The forecast was for a 50% chance of scattered thunderstorms, so we expected to hit a few rain pockets. What we hit was four hours of rain with temperatures in the sixties....which on a bike can only be described as wet and cold. It started out lightly raining and increased in intensity until it was a very steady rain. Not a downpour, but just a steady rain. Every time we thought the skies were brightening up a little it would rain a little harder. We were into Iowa when it started. It was still raining when we crossed into South Dakota and passed through Sioux City. We stopped between Sioux City, IA and Siuox Falls, SD for a late lunch and to warm up. We wasted as much time as we could at the diner, but when we got back on the bikes it was still raining. Jumping back on I-29 we headed further north passing through Sioux Falls before heading west on I-90. Around Sioux Falls it started letting up, and by the time we were headed west on I-90 it stopped. The skies cleared and we actually got to see the sun and I think the temperature rose to about 72 or maybe even 73. But our joy was short-lived. In the distance the skies were darkening and it did not look good. We were headed for Mitchell, SD and the closer we got the closer the dark skies got. It became a race. Who would get to the hotel first....us....or the storm. It turned out to be a tie. As we pulled into the parkiing lot, big raindrops started hitting us. We parked and got inside and checked in. While doing so, the bottom dropped out and it rained (and stormed) for a couple hours. After the rain stopped we unloaded our stuff, and then found a eatery within walking distance and had a snack before retiring for the evening.
Today we put in a little short of 400 miles, which puts us a little over 13oo so far for the trip.
Tomorrow is an easier day and will include some sightseeing, including the Bandlands, Wall Drugs, Sturgis and Spearfish, where we will spend the night. The forecast is good, so it should be a great day and I should have some nice pics to post.
Maria, Teresa and Doug donning rain gear
Iowa is farmland and A LOT of cornfields
Dark skies
Rain on the road
Evening sunset and the calm after the storm
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