This morning had a dreamlike quality to it. One minute we were in Broadus, having a very light breakfast, around 6am, and the next minute we were having lunch at 1pm in Belle Forche, 95 miles further down the road! It was by no means flat, but the magic ingredient was the prairie wind that got up mid-morning, blowing at 15-20mph half across and half behind us. We were just gliding along the seemingly endless, rolling road across the vastness of the grasslands. Just one gas station in 95 miles! 
Broadus is a strange little place. There was a cinema – closed down – with 4 dolls tied to posts outside. Bizarre, and a bit sinister.  

 Luckily for us, although there was just one place to eat last night, it was quite good. The Powder River Stockman’s Club was tucked away in a modern shed on the edge of town. Stuffed cows everywhere – and the steak was fabulous. 

But nowhere much for breakfast, just yogurt and a bagel. So the midway gas station saved us with a bacon and egg roll and the usual litres and litres of coca cola, coffee and water. I reckon we are drinking about 5 litres a day each while on the road! It is still red hot – 34C this afternoon. 

Near the gas station was a closed down saloon – I’ll spare you the seedy slogans, but the best of the rest was ‘Good Beer: Lousy Food’. 

 
After the gas station we cycled out of Montana for the 3rd and final time, then briefly across the top right hand corner of Wyoming before entering South Dakota, our 5th state. The cafe in Belle Forche was family run and served us a delicious chicken salad (and the usual litres of liquids ……) 

For some time we had been able to see the Black Hills in the distance, and after Belle Forche we gradually climbed up towards the lovely town of Spearfish on their northern flank. We are back in regular tourist territory now. We have checked into a comfortable motel and have the promise of a good restaurant tonight and breakfast in the morning. Luxury! 111 miles completed comfortably by 3pm and still feeling fine – I must be dreaming!