Mount Rushmore

As I got back on the interstate from Gann Valley around noon CST, I made plans to camp in the Badlands National Park and God was laughing his behind off. My car was getting beaten to a pulp by the wind. Two and a half hours and 134 miles of constant force of 60 mph east and 40 mph north along with the incredible heat and glaring sun I was going nuts. Although my computer was not fully-charged yet, I decided to disconnect it from my cigarretted lighter just to give my engine a break if it was putting any more stress on it. A few miles later I slowed down for some construction work and all of a sudden my tachometer when from 2200 rpm to less than 1000 rpm then back up again and back down a few times. My engine was sputtering at 45 mph on a highway reduced to one lane where other vehicles were not prone to slowing down. I feathered the throttle a little and got the car going again hoping it was just a fluke or I was delirious from the heat. But it immediately sputtered again and I was able to feather it to get it going. An exit appeared and I quickly took it, avoiding the tractor trailer parked along the side with his flashers on. I did not stop for the stop sign, but simply made a hard left. My car died. I was sitting on an a busy Interstate overpass with no engine. The car started then quickmly died three times. I floored the gas the car started. I shoved it into drive and in a cloud of dust and a Hi ho silver I was away. I made it to the packed gas station parking on the wrong side of the pump as that was my only option. I filled it with premium and planned to go inside for a large lemonade to go, but seeing how busy they were and that this looked like the local hangout, I decided to cruise the town for some grub hoping I could give my car a rest while I ate. I could not find anything suitable, but my car was running fine. I tried it at several speeds and it was OK. At the time of the incident I still had over 1/4 of a tank of gas. I suspected either my car was as tired of the wind as I was or maybe that convenience store gas was not such a good idea after all. I moved on into the hot windy day expecting something to give. I could not believe that a wind could come from the same direction atthe same speed for that many hundreds of miles. It had to end. It did not. I had Bruce Springsteen's Badlands song in my head as I paid my fee to get in the park around 2pm and quickly realized I had made a mistake. The wind was blowing harder than ever and the temperature was rising. The campground was a coverted city park with no trees for shade. I took some pictures and headed for the exit. Another $10 wasted. About 30 miles down the interstate I took the Black Hills Visitor Center exit. I got a map of campgrounds and asked about how to get to Mount Rushmore. The gentleman said make sure you take exit 157 to get on 16. I asked if the weather was cooler up there. He said it would cool down tonight. Duh! I got in the car and the radio said that Rapid City (my present location) had just set the record temperature for that date and for any day in June and may still make the all time record. It was 108 degrees. I could have stayed in Tucson for that. As I went down the Interstate I was tempted to take exit 160 which the sign said was the truck route to 16 (knowing truck routes are usually fasdter). The man said take 157 so I did, falling for the tourist trap of unsyncchronized traffic signals and misleading directions to try to get you to stop and buy something. I passed billboard after billboard of tacky advertisements for artificial museums and historical sites and campgrounds and motels. You would think I was approaching Vegas instead of a National Park. I had expected to pay another $10 to get into the park, but was shocked to find out this park makes you pay for each item separately. I passed the sign for Mt Rushnore $8 parking, took a couple of shots from my car window and headed two miles down the road to a campground. Thee host was from Yuma and we discussed the heat a little. He gave me a nice little site next to and RV and a small quiet family of tenters.There was a lake nearby and I dearly wanted to swim, but it seemed to be angling and college weekend at Mount Rushmore and there was not much area available on the bank of the small lake. I decided to bike my way back the two miles to the monument and get some pictures. It was a steep uphill climb but manageable with wide shoulders. I was sweating profusely from the heat and humidity, but enjoying it. I stopped at the memorial entrance sign for a self-picture only to find my camera battery completely dead. I completed the ride anyway got a good l;ook at the monument and enjoyed the ride home. I ate a supper of cheese and crackers and tuna sandwich then decided to drive back up to the mionument close enough to walk while charging my camera battery. I got some good shots, did not stay for the light show and headed back to camp to type up this entry.

Back to Entry 14 Journal Home