Friday, 11 Jul 2025

Bad Day in the Badlands

The Badlands got its name from the French trappers who explored the west in the early 1800s.  They called the area “bad land to cross” and it stuck.

For good reason, as you’ll soon see!

Wall Drug

IMG_0994Our 222 mile drive from Pierre to Rapid City started well and included a stop at the famous Wall Drug in Wall SD.  The establishment took off in the 1930s when the family owners started promoting free ice water to travelers.  Today, it is a corny, fun-filled tourist trap for virtually everyone traveling this route — up to 20,000 people per day in the summer!  Decent food, silly animated shows (see video below), a chapel, and a dozen mini-specialty stores selling everything from rocks to leather.  And still free ice water.

Another One Bites The Dust

IMG_1005bMy 1932 Cadillac had been thirstier than usual the last couple days, drinking a couple gallons of water and a couple quarts of oil each day.  By the time we got to within 16 miles of Rapid City, the car told me it had had enough.  After 2500 miles on this trip (and 102,000 miles total) the piston rings had worn too much and the burning oil fumes from the crankcase were coming in through the firewall for us to breathe in the passenger compartment.  Also, the water pump was making loud noises to indicate it was not tolerating my earlier field repairs.  In consult with mechanic Pete via cell phone, we determined that everything worn was fixable, but to continue risked real damage to the engine.

We got a flatbed tow from the middle of nowhere to our hotel in Rapid City, and left the Cadillac there under the watchful eye of the hotel staff and the city police.  It awaits pickup by my transport company, to be returned home for overhaul.

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Onward, ho!

 

5 thoughts on “Bad Day in the Badlands

  1. Sorry about the ‘fail to proceed’. But even so, the Caddy looks as pristine as the day it rolled off the showroom floor. Now you can sit back and relax and everyone else will do the driving for you.

  2. Michael and I have truly enjoyed vicariously making the journey! So great that you are continuing on the quest even with the failure to proceed issue. We look every day for your updates as they are so inspiring. Westward ho!

  3. Sorry to hear this John. I’ve got a bit of a problem myself. I’m in San Clemente, California with a leaking water pump on the Mark VI. New pump coming today from Albers, but it is going to be close to get going by Sunday morning when the BDC tour leaves for Death Valley……of all places to break in a new water pump! LOL

    Mike

  4. I bumped into Mike the other day and he told me about the Caddy. At least you stopped before earning the “hard luck” trophy. You were smart to stop when you did. We will need to swap tales when we get home! Right now I am listening music wafting thru our hotel window. The opera is right next door and we getting a free concert here in Pest!

  5. John, sorry ole Betsy didn’t complete the trip. At least you didn’t run into any tornadoes. The photo you posted of us in our kitchen was great. We both wish you a fun filled rest of your trip onward to San Francisco. Enjoy and best wishes
    Ron & Charlie

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