https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18JEZFPm6d/ I left Rapid City feeling excited for what was ahead. Today’s route would take me through the iconic landscape of Badlands National Park, a place I’d been looking forward to since the beginning of the ride. The morning heated up fast and stayed hot. I followed Highway 44 through the prairie, heading southeast toward Scenic, SD. From there, I entered the park and rode along Sage Creek Road and Rim Road. The riding was quiet and remote, with sweeping views of the surreal landscape. It looked like someone had picked up a chunk of Utah and dropped it in the middle of South Dakota. The contrast of colors from the lush prairie to the barren landscape was striking. Fun fact: The Badlands contain one of the richest fossil beds in the world. Ancient rhinos, horses, and saber-toothed cats once roamed here, long before bicycles did. As the afternoon wore on, the sky started to change. Massive thunderstorms were building all around me, turning the horizon dark and dramatic. Just as I was leaving the park, I checked the radar and spotted a narrow gap between two huge storm cells. I decided to go for it. Riding north, I threaded the needle between the storms. It mostly worked. I got lightly rained on but avoided the worst of the lightning and wind. The heat returned as I pushed east, eventually rolling into Kadoka for the night. Despite the flat terrain, the heat, headwinds, and exposure made the day feel long. I went through way more water than usual. Still, the chance to ride through the Badlands made it all worth it. Tomorrow, I’ll keep pushing east toward Sioux Falls.