Nomad Life - Day 147

For the second night in a week, I didn't get enough sleep.  I've noticed (in nearly all hotels since the weather started to get colder) that the air systems are tough to manage - the rooms seem unnecessarily hot and the air seems unusually dry for most of the night.  Soon after midnight, I was completely parched and could never catch up on my hydration (this also affected the quality of my sleep).  Fortunately, this was a holiday and I didn't need to get up early in the first place. Somehow, I eventually got a bit of sleep and was wide awake by 0630.  I spent the morning catching up on reading and puzzles before going to breakfast in the lobby of the Super 8 (Hot Springs) at 0730.  After returning to my room, took care of some more admin stuff and then packed up the car.  I departed the hotel at 1035.  At that point, temps were in high 20s and the weather conditions were clear and sunny.  The best part, though, was that there was hardly any wind.  Before getting on US-18 again, I took a photo of the Mammoth Site (our family visited in 2010), which was located next door, but didn't attempt to enter the grounds.  Backtracking towards the downtown section of Hot Springs, I found myself on US-395 again.  A sign for the local Veterans Affairs facility suggested that I exit on to side streets - I was NOT disappointed by what I found.  The VA in Hot Springs was more of a Campus, with multiple (historic) buildings on a high bluff above the Main Street.  After getting my fill of the VA area, I drove down to a parking lot located along the Fall River (namesake of the county) and started a walk through town (1050).  First, I located a Post Office (mailed a letter for Carolyn) but then found a paved walkway/bikeway called the "Freedom Trail".  From the American Legion building in town, I walked south until I reached the end (US-18 at Umiker Park).  On the way, I noticed a lot of visible steam from hot springs that seemed to be flowing into the river.  I even stooped town at one point, to touch the water, and found it to be quite pleasant (warmer than the surrounding air).  When I turned around and headed north again, I noticed that the trail split and allowed me to walk on the opposite side of the river.  This was great because it allowed me to pass through Centennial Park and access a pretty waterfall I'd noticed earlier.  The water fell from a high bluff on one side of the canyon where the town is located - there was ice and frost on every surface at the bottom.  Thinking that water might be a source of the warmth I felt in the river, I tentatively reached out for drops to fall on my hand.  They were cold.  Clearly, then, the hot springs were coming from another source - a bit farther north, I found a place where the local people had built a formal well (Kidney Springs), with big rocks.  That water was much warmer.  After following the river (opposite side from the Main Street), I walked through a resort/spa and a residential neighborhood.  The "pot of gold" at the north end of town was the Evans Plunge hot springs park (located on Battle Mountain Road).  Our family had a great time there in 2010.  In the end, I finished walking the entire Freedom Trail and reached my step goal for the day.  During this whole time, I kept thinking about getting food or sampling local whiskey; I ultimately decided against it and just completed my walk (3.75miles).  Meanwhile, the temps rose into the 30s.  After returning to my car, I left town at 1220. When I was driving north on US-385, I started feeling quite hungry - I then stopped the car so I could get snacks ("lunch").  Felt much better after downing some granola bars and finishing the Tillamook Jerky I had.  Before long, I entered Wind Cave National Park - almost immediately, I noticed buffalo grazing on the side of the road (got some good photos).  Even more impressive, though, was the millions of prairie dogs that were running to & fro on the empty prairie.  I had to stop at one point because the road was blocked by two coyotes who were clearly browsing for their lunch among the prairie dog towns.  When I parked at a lot near one of these towns later, one of them jeered at me loudly when I wasn't even hassling him!  Meanwhile, the wind returned and the rest of my drive was very breezy.  Even though I'm pretty sure I've been in the area multiple times over the last 50 years, I still found the drive to be quite pretty.  Along the sides of the roads, there were slight remnants of snow - otherwise, it looked like Spring or Summer...  The terrain but much more hilly, though this was no surprise because I was now deep in the Black Hills themselves.  I stopped in the town of Custer for a gas fillup at the Conoco Station (1315) before continuing north on US-385 again.  At around this time, I started noticing lots of signs for the George S. Mickelson Trail, which I later determined was a 109 mile hike/bike/etc. path that travels between the towns of Edgemont and Deadwood  Seems like it would be a great thing to do on a future trip!  Shortly after leaving Custer, I was able to get some good photos of the Crazy Horse Memorial (I didn't enter this time but our family had been there in 2010).  Continuing north to SD-244, I drove to get photos of Mount Rushmore.  This road (which I remembered from the 2010 and 2017 visits to South Dakota) had lots of curves and beautiful views.  On the descent (east side of the mountains), I passed through the town of Keystone, where my kids had a great time on a chairlift and slide down the hills.  Next, I used US-16 to reach Rapid City.  After entering town, I used a lot of surface streets (got stuck by a train at a crossing).  Eventually, though, I got on I-90 and traveled east to where my hotel, a Microtel by Wyndham, was located.  I was able to get an early check in there at 1430 and quickly set up my computer so I could join a Zoom meeting with Ella, Shannon and Sean (2026 Thanksgiving planning) at 1500.  Sadly, Mollie didn't join because she forgot... Afterwards, I did some more SD residency research in anticipation of the next day.  At1800, I left the hotel and drove to the nearby Millstone Family Restaurant, where I had delicious dinner (chicken parmesan and a salad bar).  When I finished eating (1845), I returned to the hotel and spent the rest of the evening watching movies.  My bed time at 2230 but, almost immediately, I realized I was going to have trouble sleeping again due to the dry air (sadly, I was still restless at midnight).  I sure hope I get SOME sleep tonight...