Day 22 -- Great weather to see Mount Rushmore

July 12, 2004

ROUTE: Hot Springs to Rapid City, SD  
DISTANCE:  72 miles                  
WINDS: Mild headwinds most of the day

WEATHER: Sunny & warm                  
TERRAIN: Hilly  
TOTAL CLIMBING: Lots and lots . . . 5,690'

RIDE OVERVIEW: This is Susan writing today as Mike has had a busy day with mechanical problems with the red van.

We got an early start this morning in anticipation of a hot day. Yesterday it was in the high 90s in aptly named Hot Springs and we didn't expect any different today, and didn't get anything too different either. Unlike yesterday's route, however, today's was tree-lined in many places, especially when climbing up to Rushmore, so riders could find some shade.  Riders had the triple-H whammy today: Heat, Hills, and Headwinds so had to work hard, but everyone was in great spirits because the scenery was much too beautiful to speed through anyway.

Today we left the the rolling grasslands with its endless waves of greenish brown grass and began climbing up into areas of pine and high prairie, with buffalo grazing in the cool(er) morning temperatures.  Before we got to the tree level, we rode through open range territory in Wind Cave National Park, a sanctuary for 350 bison--of which we saw one . . . in the distance. The other 349  must have remembered us brightly colored impediments from last year (right) and decided to wait us out before grazing near the road,

As I entered Wind Cave Nat'l Park, an antelope did what antelopes do best and loped up a slope alongside Dar and Joy as they climbed.  Eventually it crossed directly in front of them (and me, trailing in the van) and loped off. A little farther down the road we saw a mule deer who watched us ride by, virtually unfazed by our presence. These creatures are used to pesky tourists by now I'm sure.  Bet they go home every evening and tell their significant other that they saw 50 tourists wearing tight lycra and riding a funny contraption that wouldn't eat grass.

We also passed an enormous prairie dog colony before exiting the park.  There were thousands of these appealing rodents (no, they're not canines; got the "dog" name simply because of their bark) standing tall over their dens and barking at us as we passed by.  Bison, prairie dogs, deer, elk, Black hills, trees, wide smooth shoulders, Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore memorials . . . sensory overload all day.  All in all this day was high on the scale of tough riding day, but this has been one of the most pleasurable days we've had on the trip, simply because of all the wildlife and the scenery . . . right up there with the Tetons, just different.

Before the Crazy Horse sculpture

After the visit to Rushmore, we screamed down a 10% slope into Keystone, a tourist trap of the highest order. Last year one of the riders was ticketed for exceeding the 35 mph speed limit, so Mike warned us to be careful not to exceed the speed limit this year. Several riders did the tourist thing in Keystone. They got to ride to the top of a mountain on a ski lift and then slide down a concrete chute to the bottom.  Looked like fun, but I was (wo)manning the SAG while Barb set up the motel connections and unloaded the luggage and Mike got Red to the repair shop. With all the sightseeing, breakdowns, mechanicals, and headwinds, the last rider got to the motel a little after 5. Those who were already at the motel, were gathered in the lobby watching the Tour de France stage that was on OLN. This is the first motel that's had OLN since we left Astoria.  Dang!

Tomorrow we have a short day . . . only 57 miles, but we'll get off early to try to beat the heat.   We'll need a little time to recover from the 3-H's before our two long days into Pierre and Chamberlain, 117 and 95 respectively.  Head-winds predicted for tomorrow also. If they're no worse than today's, we'll be okay. Mike says that most of our tough climbing is behind us for now . . . the riders will be thankful; they need a break from the tough days. 

HEARD ON THE ROAD TODAY: 

• "Well, that meal met my lowest expectations."
• "There's a bison!  Oh, sorry,  just a rock."  "Now, that's what I'd call premature exclamation!" 
• "Good bye, good luck, and remember, we're counting on you!" 
• "Happy 69th Birthday, Diane."  
• "My sit down wants to stand up."

DUH! OF THE DAY:  Three of the group took a wrong turn and climbed the same 3 miles up out of town that we'd come down yesterday. When they discovered the error of their way(s) (literally), they returned red-faced (from exertion, of course) to the fold. Their advice to themselves:  "If you're going to take a wrong turn out of town, do not take the one that goes up

PHOTOS OF THE DAY:

Last night at dinner, Liisa and Lynn were about to discover
their rightful place on the food chain in these parts. 

I can't stress enough...bike fit is one of the most
important factors in buying a bike.

I know a place where you can get a good bike for less
 than a $1,000 . . . oops . . . these are less than $10.00.

Jerry was perplexed at how they got that buffalo to lie still
 long enough to bury it up to its neck . . . so Mike had to 'splain.

Mike says he's not at liberty to put a caption on this one . . .
he can't even tell you who it is . . . or why . . . or whatever . . .
but he did drop his camera three times trying to take this photo.