More Rapid City and Onward to New York

07 August 2008; 0900hrs Rapid City, South Dakota (USA)

It’s early in the morning, three hours to my flight out of Rapid City. My couch-surfer host, Chris, dropped me off at the airport because he needed to work in the morning, and couldn’t take me to the airport any later. Oh well… I’m used to entertaining myself at these situations.

For some weird reason, the Delta Kiosk is empty. There is absolutely no one there. Really odd. The few people who went over were turned away. So it's really odd. Now, there is no one at the kiosk, I think I’d better read until 1000hrs before trying to check in. it’s too odd to have an empty counter. I really wonder why…

Last evening , after my visit to Mount Rushmore, Chris’ neighbour Scott (another couch-surfer host) and his surfer Kelly met up with me and walked to Art Alley. These ‘vandals’ are really good! I’m amazed at the level of artistry along this alley. After which, we went for a dinner at Scott’s place. A corn dog dinner! It was my first time having this very American thing called a corn dog. Not bad, I tell you. Not bad at all.

Chris joined us at night and we downed a few beers. These pot-smoking, cigarette-smoking, beer-drinking people are really something else. I was invited to share their pot, but I’m happy to announce that I’m still drug free! No smoke of any sorts for me, thank you. I really don’t understand why they even need to smoke pot at all… Oh well.

My first couch-surfing experience was pleasant. It wasn’t great but neither was it bad. I only wish Chris’ place was a tad cleaner and tidier. I was pretty apprehensive about sleeping on a sofa that seemed to smell. But what the heck, I did it anyway. I’m not going to do it anytime soon. I’m too much of a cleanliness freak to want to sleep in a dirty place, on top of a dubious couch. But the place wasn't that bad afterall. Just my freakish need for cleanliness. Ah well…

The kiosk is still empty. Really really odd. I have to find out what’s happening soon…