ROUTE: Lusk WY to Hot Springs SD
DISTANCE: 91 miles
WINDS: Light...tail in the morning, variable in the afternoon.
DISTANCE: 91 miles
WINDS: Light...tail in the morning, variable in the afternoon.
WEATHER: Cool and comfortable in the morning, but it got a bit toasty by afternoon...mid 90s by arrival
TERRAIN: Rolling with 2 significant climbs late in the day.
TOTAL CLIMBING: 2730 feet
TERRAIN: Rolling with 2 significant climbs late in the day.
TOTAL CLIMBING: 2730 feet
RIDE OVERVIEW: This is Mikie today...Susan is working late so I'll do the site tonight. She's doing such a good job, don't know if anyone will want to read what I've got to say . . . but I'll record it anyway.
Great morning . . . everyone got to an early breakfast at 5:45 to beat the heat. We loaded the luggage before breakfast this morning to get them on the road soon after breakfast. The route was a lonely road out into the rolling grasslands of eastern Wyoming. The terrain is much prettier than yesterday's high desert, but it is still really dry out here. The fire hazard signs say "Extreme Danger" for grass fires. One good bolt of lightening or a stray cigarette could ruin thousands of acres of grassland.
Yesterday took more out of people than they thought, but the cool departure temperatures put some life in their legs as they were riding a pretty brisk pace by the first SAG. I spent most of the morning bouncing around taking photos of the vast open spaces while trying to get good composition with a rider somewhere in the frame. This area really lends itself to some awesome snapshots. I'd like to just have that job...take photos and just see how many great ones I could take in one day.
We kissed Wyoming good bye today at about the 55 miles point as we entered our 4th state, South Dakota. The only thing that we noticed was that the road got narrower in places and we picked up a few more hills. At right, the hammers pose while I take the obligatory pictures of the entry sign. In years past, the sign was filled with bullet holes. They must have put up a new one or had someone put liquid putty in the holes so we wouldn't get the wrong impression upon entering their fair state. Or was it the impression they wanted us to have in the past. Hope they don't shoot at cyclists.
All in all, it was an uneventful, boring day for me in the van . . . but that's the way I like it. That means everyone is moving along well and we have no incidents to make the day exciting. We almost had an exciting start to the day though. As I was finishing breakfast and about to get in the van, Neal came into the restaurant in a panic. "Someone's stolen my bike!!!" We went outside and it was nowhere to be found. His helmet was lying where he left it, but his bike was gone! We called the local police. I mean, it would be hard to get away with a bike in this town but it looked like someone tried. Before the law showed up, someone spotted the bike around the corner leaning against the building. I haven't determined if someone played a joke on Neal, or if someone really did try to take off with it and had second thoughts. We've never lost a bike on a trip, but it could happen as we usually park them all over the parking lot in most eating places. Most times we are up before the thieves so it's not a problem. Dodged one this time.
Everyone got in before 3:30 today, not too bad, but the heat is beating riders up. We could use a break in the temperatures to say the least. But the ride was a beautiful ride in the rolling grassy plains of western South Dakota. Tomorrow we ride to Mt Rushmore, maybe our second toughest day so far. There will be lots of climbing and it's going to be hot again. The riders are looking forward to seeing the monument and riding the Black Hills but we could do without the heat. It should be a good day though. See you then.
Great morning . . . everyone got to an early breakfast at 5:45 to beat the heat. We loaded the luggage before breakfast this morning to get them on the road soon after breakfast. The route was a lonely road out into the rolling grasslands of eastern Wyoming. The terrain is much prettier than yesterday's high desert, but it is still really dry out here. The fire hazard signs say "Extreme Danger" for grass fires. One good bolt of lightening or a stray cigarette could ruin thousands of acres of grassland.
Yesterday took more out of people than they thought, but the cool departure temperatures put some life in their legs as they were riding a pretty brisk pace by the first SAG. I spent most of the morning bouncing around taking photos of the vast open spaces while trying to get good composition with a rider somewhere in the frame. This area really lends itself to some awesome snapshots. I'd like to just have that job...take photos and just see how many great ones I could take in one day.
We kissed Wyoming good bye today at about the 55 miles point as we entered our 4th state, South Dakota. The only thing that we noticed was that the road got narrower in places and we picked up a few more hills. At right, the hammers pose while I take the obligatory pictures of the entry sign. In years past, the sign was filled with bullet holes. They must have put up a new one or had someone put liquid putty in the holes so we wouldn't get the wrong impression upon entering their fair state. Or was it the impression they wanted us to have in the past. Hope they don't shoot at cyclists.All in all, it was an uneventful, boring day for me in the van . . . but that's the way I like it. That means everyone is moving along well and we have no incidents to make the day exciting. We almost had an exciting start to the day though. As I was finishing breakfast and about to get in the van, Neal came into the restaurant in a panic. "Someone's stolen my bike!!!" We went outside and it was nowhere to be found. His helmet was lying where he left it, but his bike was gone! We called the local police. I mean, it would be hard to get away with a bike in this town but it looked like someone tried. Before the law showed up, someone spotted the bike around the corner leaning against the building. I haven't determined if someone played a joke on Neal, or if someone really did try to take off with it and had second thoughts. We've never lost a bike on a trip, but it could happen as we usually park them all over the parking lot in most eating places. Most times we are up before the thieves so it's not a problem. Dodged one this time.
Everyone got in before 3:30 today, not too bad, but the heat is beating riders up. We could use a break in the temperatures to say the least. But the ride was a beautiful ride in the rolling grassy plains of western South Dakota. Tomorrow we ride to Mt Rushmore, maybe our second toughest day so far. There will be lots of climbing and it's going to be hot again. The riders are looking forward to seeing the monument and riding the Black Hills but we could do without the heat. It should be a good day though. See you then.
HEARD ON THE ROAD TODAY:
- "I'm still having trouble breathing...are we still at a high altitude?" At which time, Susan looked at her watch fully expecting Mickey Mouse to tell her the barometric pressure reading...even the staff stays out in the sun too long sometimes. This would be a "Duh" if it hadn't been a staff member.
- "How long is the 1 mile climb?"
- "How did you like the SW winds out of the SE yesterday?"
PHOTOS OF THE DAY:
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| Andrew bravely volunteered to let Louis shear his head... seems Louis needs only 3 more practice "heads" before he can be hired as a sheep shearer at the local lamb ranch. |
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| When Barbara couldn't get the box started, Diane showed her prowess by moving it with a simple hamstring curl... |
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| Trying to prevent "hot brakes," Gerard practiced the "Fred Flintstone" stopping technique as he approached the first SAG. |
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| Every cyclist's favorite sign after a long climb . . . a "truck on a cheese" pointing down!!! |
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| Me thinks something else has been parking here besides bicycles. We ARE in a western town...they don't have pooper scooper laws out here...don't think they make scoopers that big anyway. |
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| After yesterday's little tumble off his dad's wheel, RePete blasted off the front on the rollers into South Dakota. |
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