Wyoming to South Dakota

Not much traffic on the road this morning when we left Wheatland, heading into brilliant sunshine. Mile after mile of high prairie and unmitigated boredom. We wondered where the long trains, with boxcars full of coal, were coming from. The answer came at Wright, Wyoming. Black Thunder Mine, an eyesore of open pit mining on the side of the highway http://archcoal.com/aboutus/blackthunder.aspx. We learned later from a Sundance, Wyoming teacher at the pool that 300 million tons of coal are hauled out in boxcars every year, and that the mines stretch for miles. Seems disgraceful.

The landscape began to change when we turned east toward South Dakota. Finally, some trees. Then hills. Then the beautiful South Dakota landscape. Felt like home.

We had lunch in Custer City at an upscale type deli, where the potato buffalo cream soup was a little too rich and the turkey melt on rye was overly salty for my taste. No matter. I savored the dark Kansas beer and the rest was welcome.