Badlands

I’ve spent the past 4 days slugging across the middle of the country trying to survive high heat and humidity and dodging numerous thunderstorms. Nothing really interesting since leaving the Parkway until I arrived to Badlands National Park yesterday and rode the loop. I’d been to Badlands previously but it’s worth a second trip. The contrast of riding through endless grasslands across South Dakota and then seemingly out of nowhere you arrive to this incredible canyon and desert landscape. The temps were around 100 degrees and I had geared up in the morning due to the strange early morning thunderstorms ripping through Sioux Falls when I headed out. Needless to day I was very hot and sweaty when I got to Rapid City. I had already decided I wanted to stay in Rapid City. In addition to the endless billboards advertising for Wall Drug there were several billboards advertising Firehouse Brewing Company – each with a fully intact antique fire truck staged by each of the signs. I stopped at one to see if it was actually a fire truck and not just a facade or shell of a vehicle but they were real fire trucks! I admired the commitment to promote the brewery so made a point to choose a motel downtown within walking distance for an easy visit.

After settling into the the Town House Motel, I made may way to the brewery. Town House is my favorite style motel when traveling – with the rooms opening to the outside with parking spots right in front for easy unload/loading and to keep tabs on the bike. Much more convenient than going through lobbies and indoor hallways to rooms. I always ask for ground floor for even extra convenience but this time all they had available was 2nd floor.

It was just a little after 5pm and already the bar area was super crowded – a good indication for good beer and food. I was able to grab a barstool and as someone got up a left just as I arrived. The couple sitting next to me were local and members of the mug club so were able to give me a rundown on their favorite beers. I settled on the Black Forest Brown and it was quite good. A while later the stools on he other side of me turned over and an older gentleman and younger lady (his daughter) sat down and we struck up a conversation. He was local and she was in visiting from New York but had grown up in Rapid City. After chatting for a bit it turned out he was one of the partner/owners that started the Firehouse Brewery 27 years ago. I got the entire history on the space firsthand – which was remodeled from a working fire station. They did a good job keeping the bones of the place intact so it did really have a firehouse feel to it. One of the partners bought an antique fire truck several years ago to keep the up on the theme and then it ended up snowballing over the years into 17 trucks purchased – most which found their way to interstate 90 to team up with the billboards. Genius! I never would have ended up there without the catchy advertising! Anyway, this was one of the first brewpubs to open in the midwest. The ownership group got their inspiration from visiting the Wyncoop in Denver in the late 80’s. They now also buy grapes and make wine for both the restaurant and retail market – Firehouse Wine Cellars. Glad I got to meet him and hear the story firsthand.

Shortly after the owner and daughter left a couple from Washington state sat down next to me and they also had an interesting story. She was Australian and he was American and they met over 50 years ago in Munich at Oktoberfest. They are on a national park tour throughout the west. All in all it was an enjoyable night and good to have some socialization after existing in somewhat isolation the past several days camping and staying in super seedy hotels – where I didn’t see anyone particularly wanted to get to know anyway. The pub had the Impossible Burger on the menu so of course Veggie Boy had to give it a try. I’ve had the Beyond Meat burger you can buy in the grocery store but hadn’t tried the Impossible Burger. It was pretty darn good!

I’m going to stay an extra day in the area to ride some of the epic roads in the Black Hills. 500,000 people will show up here for the Sturgis Motorycle Rally in a couple of weeks – not really my thing so glad I’m here prior to that event. My ride today will take me through Custer State Park, past Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse memorial. Should be a good day as the forecast calls for sunshine and zero chance of rain all day. Looking forward to it!