Day 4: Cue the B. J. Thomas music

• Breakfast at Subway. M and J get Veggie Delite subs. Just to be more ridiculous, J gets hers with spicy mustard.


• G feels less bad about his lack of Perkins finding ability previous night upon seeing it in the opposite direction of the one in which the nice lady mean old hag sent us


• Pick up a hitchhiker. Figure business suit more than cancels out bloody axe in sketch factor.


• Cow sighting promptly prompts discussion of cow tipping


• Rain and fog make for an exciting drive, especially when J attempts to drink (water) and drive.


• Texas trail?


• Mt. Rushmore perfectly designed so visitors pass through grand archway to see... fog


• Dine at Mt. Rushmore in vain hope that fog will burn off while we eat


• Hope turns out to not be so vain, after all


• M becomes expert at high-speed billboard photography as we approach...


• Wall Drug! J thorougly enjoys riding jackalope, though her first expenditure of the trip turns out to be less exciting. She pays for "Sam" to sing, but the damn monkey doesn't even move!


• Badlands National Park. Another one of those things where the pictures speak for themselves.


• More wildlife sightings throughout the day


• People watching at Badlands almost as good as people watching at Yellowstone. Linear setup of park causes many run-ins with the same family and its oh-so-entertaining dynamics.


• Walk along Fossil Trail, consisting of a brief boardwalk loop leading to six fossils in cases on ground. Accompanying signs mostly of the following form: "This fossil comes from X, which shared a common ancestor with Y. Here's a random fact about Y."


• Farmers are silly


• M kisses Badlands goodbye


• M and G have extensive discussion of where to stay. Considerations include next few days of driving and sightseeing, blogging, and tiredness. Surprise entry into Central time causes snap decision to stop at next city. J books cheapest room yet.


• J is boggled by discussions of calculus, discrete math, graph theory, group theory, and linear logic, common fodder for discussions between M and G


• G scares crap out of companions by flipping out upon finding his favorite road sign ever


• Dinner at Al's Oasis. We have entered Midwest. We know this because "salad bar" contains two types of JELL-O, seven different mayonnaise-based concoctions, iceburg lettuce, and carrots. J avoids eating grilled cheese sandwich just to spite Mom.


• Crash at Best Western in Chamberlain, SD.


• Total driving time: ~9 hours. Total mileage: ~500 mi.