Day 20 Rest Day in Rapid City

Day 20 Rest Day in Rapid City

Believe it or not I managed to have my act together to relax today. By blogging last night I made time to goof off today.

First I slept in until almost 9. Then I decided to pedal downtwon in search of breakfast. While downtown I discovered many things. The first of which was that they have an old Elks movie house and it was still playing Spiderman 3. As soon as I saw it I knew that was what I as doing for the afternoon. I had wanted to see Spiderman back when it first came out but then got so busy that I missed it and by the time I hit the ride and we started going through these towns with only one movie showing, I was sure I had missed my chance. But no, Rapid City pulled through.

Breakfast was at a local diner. Eggs, pancakes and sausage. Good but notihing super spectacular. It was funto sith with Rodney and Jo andlearn more about thier lives back home. Rodney shared a lot of info about Jerusalem and the old city and his hotel and the daily culture there. Jo shared about her art and the homes she has built, renovated, etc.

After breakfast I toured the old Alex Johnson Hotel across the street. I really enjoy looking at old hotels. Spending so much time in them now and comparing modern hotels and ranking them for their amenities and letting them define what is upper class, I find it interesting to turn the tables and do the same with older hotels. To see what was high class back when. That is fascinating ot me to see how tastes change and yet some tastes stay constant.

Afterward I quickly grabbed a box to ship some of my extra stuff back home. Some cold weather gear. all of my previous mail. Route guides for the last 2 weeks and such. After getting that packed I headed back out to the post office on the way to the movie theatre.

On the way to the movie I found a music store and went it and they let me play iin the amp room with a bass. So for 20 minutes, I got to play some of my lines from the songs in our band. My fingers were rusty and needing som e warming up. I could use a good guitar manicure, but it was great to play. I was happy that I could play about 10 songs that actually sounded like something and weren't just 1/4 notes. That was great little blessing.

From there I was just in time for the movie. The old Elks theatre still had a stage and lighting bar hung form the ceiling. It also had a balcony, which I haven't been in a movie theatre witha balcony in such a long time. It was quite a sight.
I enjoyed the moive and my popcorn and tea. A great afternoon.

I alked aroudn and looked at more of the bronze presidentsI had discovered earlier this morning. You see Rapid City has a series of life like full-size bronze statues of all the Presidents, standing right on the streeet corners.

Afterlooking at those I could hear the sound wafting over fromt he Christian Rock concert going on over near the river. So I headed over there and listened to a few songs. It looked lke work. 6 tower festival stage with a roof canopy. It sounded pretty good and I was in my space. However, whenever I at an event, I want to be part to the event. I always feel a bit left out not being on the crew.

AFter ath I headed back over teh river and towards the dorms. I found the high water line for the Rapid Creek flood in 1972. The water line came up mid chest on me and I was on gound that was probably 20 feet above the river and about a block away. Looking around I could jsut see how much must have been flooded and could only imagine what a disaster it all must have been.

I checked my mail. I get so much mail and it really is jsut sucha boost and so wonderful. Thatis part of why I have saved all of my mailand wound up shipping it home to myself earlier today. To hear from everyone is just fantastic.

RESPONSES to MAIL QUESTIONS
--I will not be coming back through TExas at the end of hte ride. WE endi n Washington D.C. and then I will fly with my bike back to Phoenix. So I will have to visti South Padre Island on another trip.

--Yes I have been through these states up to now. The Part coming over the Rockies and the divide was new territory for me. These plains I have done before back when I was a kid about 10 years old. From here heading east to Minnesota and Wisconsin will be knew for me.

--It is too bad that I didn't have the luggage space to bring books to set free and book cross across america. That would have been fabulous, but a logistical disaster.


Well it is now timeot go find some dinner and start the repack to head out tomorrow.

DOn't forget to comment or ask questions.