After passing through the Black Hills National Forest and the tourist areas beyond we arrived in the town of Custer and our midday checkpoint, which was right outside a coffee shop that sold Starbucks, a welcome site to the Seattle folks in the group. Here I called the camera store in Rapid City to see if they had a camera I could buy to replace the non-working one, and discovered that they did. After a few bites of lunch Bruce and I continued east and entered Custer State Park. The road was quite curvy and mostly a descent, so we had a great time on the bikes. Partway through we encountered a herd of tourists watching a herd of buffalo, and just beyond a great big daddy buffalo in the middle of the road. We had been warned earlier of the speed these animals can achieve and to stay away. Bruce's comment to Beth was "we don't have to outrun the buffalo, we just have to outrun you".  I don't think Beth appreciated this sentiment.

Once we cleared Custer State Park the road became less scenic and the temperature climbed. The last 15 miles or so into Rapid City was along the highway with long rolling ups and downs. We negotiated traffic through the south part of town and ended up at the South Dakota School of Mining & Technology, where we'll be spending our rest day tomorrow. A shower followed, then mail call, and a welcome care package of pictures and cookies from my wife (thanks Sandy!). After dinner in the campus cafeteria, we headed out to the Rushmore mall where I picked up my new camera (yay, my own pictures again!), and then back to the dorm and in-room Internet access to check email and update web sites.

We're planning an early trip tomorrow to Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse, with some resting in the afternoon.