May 26, 2026 - Wall, South Dakota

 Susie and her bag arrived yesterday in Sioux Falls on time.  Only one day late due to storms in Dallas and Sioux Falls.  I parked the GS at the airport, brought her gear bag that I carried up here from Florida into the airport to meet her.  Considering her flight issues she was doing well.  After a relaxing lunch in the airport, she took her gear bag into the ladies room and changed out of her flight clothes into her motorcycle riding gear.  She had bought a used suitcase from Goodwill for $5.99 in Gainesville that I gave to an airport staff member who I think threw it away since we no longer needed it.

We loaded up on the GS and rode to Chamberlain, SD for the night.  This morning we visited the Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center in Chamberlain.  Leonard, a friend of ours in Gainesville, managed one of the residential homes associated with the St. Joseph's Indian School where Native American kids lived.  We mentioned Leonard to Wanda the receptionist at the museum and her eyes lit up.  She went and got her husband Frank who also had managed a home and knew Leonard very well.  

After a tour of the really impressive museum we rode along the Missouri River north to Lower Brule, SD.  The town of Lower Brule is named after the Indian Tribe of the same name.  Another friend of ours Dan lived in the area with his family for years.  Dan had recommended we visit the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe council chambers, which we did.  When we mentioned Dan to one of the security guys named Bob he remembered Evelyn, Dan's cousin.  She usually works in the building but she was off for the day.

Bob, the security guard, ended up giving Sooz and me a tour including visiting the Tribal Council Chambers.  In some ways they looked similar to a town council chamber until you looked closely and say beautiful drawings, paintings and art pieces around the room.  At one point Bob casually pointed at one of the painting on the wall and said that is an image of the Sundance ceremony.  He saw that we had no clue what he was talking about so he explained that this is the ceremony where they pierce the chest or backs of tribal men and women, put a bone through the piercing and tie a rope to the piercing.  I blurted out, "Like Keven Costner in the movie," and Bob said yes.  Except they are not raised in the air, instead that attach significant items to the ropes attached to their bodies and dance for hours.  Bob casually said he uses various skulls when he does it.  My jaw dropped to the floor because I thought this happened all in the past, not now.

Bob said he has participated in the Sundance ceremony for many years.  They do not drink or eat anything for four days before the piercing.  They stay on the ceremonial grounds and sleep in teepees and do dances and basically get in the mood.  They do the piercing, dragging of various ceremonial items after which they have an elder hang on to the ropes attached to there bodies and lean backwards until the bone piercing breaks and they fall on the ground.  They then have a feast, leave and return in a few days for a sweat council and then leave.  We were dumbfounded.  I had no idea they still did this.

Sooz and I had lunch at the The Golden Buffalo Casino Restaurant and Motel in Lower Brule.  I have to say it was the most low keyed casino I have ever seen.  We drove right by it at first.  It is in a unassuming building with not signs.  We weren't sure we were at the right place until we walked in the unmarked doors.

After lunch we rode to Wall, SD where we are staying tonight and tomorrow night.  Today the bike registered 99 degrees at one point and stayed in the mid-90s with full sun for most of the ride.  It was also VERY windy.  It was so windy I did not feel safe getting near the 80 mph speed limit.  We were getting knocked around pretty good.  We stopped several times to rest and cool off which helped a lot.

Since arriving in Wall we checked in the Sunshine Motel, had dinner at the Badlands Saloon & Grille and visited the infamous Wall Drug Store,  Tomorrow we are going to ride through the Badlands and then take it easy.

I have several photos I will post.  The wifi here is really bad, so I'll have to wait until I have better capabilities to upload the photos.  Remember to come back and see them.