Day Two: Kadoka, South Dakota to Shell Falls Campground, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming
Saturday, June 7, 1997
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We had a simple breakfast of hot oatmeal, milk, juice and fruit, then as we finished-up we wondered what the people in Kadoka do for kicks, or what it would be like to live there. So we took a walk around. Curtis observed that there appeared little to do in this one-eyed horse town. The campground looks to have had its heyday eons ago with its decayed minature golf course overgrown with weeds. But the owner fella sures looks to be living high on the hog -- seeming to be the local entrepreneur since he also operates the town laundro-mat even equiped with video games and pinball. Well, there's even a chicken coop attached to his trailer.
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As we continued to explore the town we could see that Main Street served as the old main highway before Interstate 70 bypassed the town, Now, cars and semi-trucks now blow by a 70 miles per hour. Along Main Street remain the old tourist cabins of a bygone era, now converted to tool sheds and junk storage areas. Their legacy replaced by the generic gas station/food mart located right off the Interstate exit ramp. Here the brightly lit canopy with inviting rows of gas pumps effectively blockades the entrance to town, making Kadoka just a gas stop along the endless stretch of Interstate leading to better destinations. Here, we gas-up and Cowpoke and Cooky get coffee for the drive, west, to the Bighorns.
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We hit the road for Wyoming, but slowed down for a drive through the Badlands -- blew and extra hour or two of road time but it was well worth it. At one of the scenic overviews we got out at a high point that looked down into the Badlands. It was a little scary as we crept over to the cliff edge to look down at the top spires of Badlands. A little windy too, 'cause Cooky was frightfully clinging onto his Stetson that he had for over 25 years. If it blows away, he says us kids gots to crawl down into them badlands an fetch it.
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Now for some serious driving. We blow by the Black Hills on through Sturgis. Hey, look at the gal on the back of that Harley. Cowpoke crains his neck but that's not a good idea if you're driving, specially if it sticks. Cooky just pretends he ain't lookin. Too bad Bill isn't here. He can crain his head like there's no tomorrow. Well, serves Bill right for missing the road trip fun 'cause him, the Memphis Slicker, and ol' Muleskinner are using frequent flyer miles to gets to Wyoming. They's gonna land in Sheridan and rent a 4 x 4. Humpf, they allegic to highway asphalt or something? Besides they're missing all the fun, 'cept when the Gunslinger declared his firearm at the airline check-in counter. The nice lady said it was unnecessary to work the action so loud, she could see that the .45 was empty.
In case you're curious what the air travelers saw while we were enjoying the Badlands, click below:
View from Plane
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After lunch just past Sturgis, we soon are welcomed by the billboard annoucing Wyoming. During the drive we keep switching passengers around between the two vehicles for variety, an also to get the guy who's cuttin' windies to the other vehicle. We are in the chase car (big red Oldsmobile) following Reynold and Curtis in the pickup. Looking to the right, we can see Devil's Tower. Looking ahead we can see Reynold and Curtis are looking straight ahead, and we flash our lights but they just keep looking straight ahead. They're clueless. Maybe they'll be more alert after another couple of days of Cooky's brain-healthy meals.
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