Day 25 -- Climbing away from the "Mighty Mo"

July 15, 2004

ROUTE: Pierre to Chamberlain, SD
DISTANCE:  84 miles
WINDS: Straight north in a.m., turning to east headwinds and then a light tailwind in afternoon
WEATHER: Stormy and black at outset but storm quickly ceded to blue skies, bright sun and warm temps
TERRAIN: Rolling with three hefty climbs
TOTAL CLIMBING: 3600 feet...mostly in the 3 big climbs.

RIDE OVERVIEW: Susan here. Pewter skies this morning as a large lightning storm hung over Pierre briefly before moving east. Later in the day I spoke with a farmer near Fort Thompson who said that the storm had dumped 3/4 inch of rain in 15 minutes.  This before our arrival.  Once again--as has been the norm for this ride--the weather has been nasty all around us yet we ride on unscathed.  Nary a drop fell on us.  But we have had heat, an today was no exception. By late morning, temps began to heat up and the humidity was a bit sticky after the storm. Mike said it was like Alabama in April. Ugh!

Rider cresting a very steep
section of the route

Our route today took us along the Missouri River all morning. We kept getting glimpses of the winding river throughout the day. The only real change in the scenery over the last couple of days was the river on our right and greener vegetation than we'd been used to lately.  Aside from that, I'd give South Dakota the award for having the most roads that seem to ribbon off into nowhere!  On the plus side, there is very very little traffic on these roads and few trucks. Also, a large section of today's route was smoothly paved and a joy to ride.  Riders had a crosswind at ride start but the storm causing it quickly blew east. By the time riders turned south at the 48-mile point, they had a headwind, and eventually in late afternoon, the last riders in had a tailwind. And the day had heated up into the low 90s with high humidity. Very uncomfortable weather for many.

Mike and Barbara rode today and Mark was sweep. Josh & I were Red & White, and Karen & Cov were Box. Karen joined Mike to ride in from SS#2, which I set up on Crow Creek Reservation in the parking lot of a large grocery at the intersection of CR-4 and Rte 47.  I again put up the canopy, and since Joy was the first rider in, the honors of helping set it up fell to her. She didn't mind, and it really is a snap to set up--just requires two persons to stretch out the frame.  The riders were appreciative of the shade.

Roommate Diane "styin"  in armwarmers, the
Missouri River in the background

Catty corner across the intersection was a large casino. Lots of interesting coming and going to keep me occupied between riders. Some self-supported riders stopped at the SS to ask the inevitable: "Where are you going?" "Where did you start?" "Where did you start today?" "How many miles a day do you average? " They were riding Adventure Cycling's Lewis & Clark Trail in three-week segments. Boy, compared to our sleek, unencumbered roadsters, they looked like Humvees.  Wide loads with lottsa gear piled fore and aft.

There seemed to be a lot of dogs at the SS today. Liisa--who has a very soft spot for all animals--practiced her own Random Act of Kindness (RAK) by buying a flea collar for one scruffy, fleabitten mutt. What a nice gesture. Another woeful looking black lab mix--its tongue hanging out--hung about the SS hoping for a handout . . . or at least for water, which I gave it. Hey, I don't discriminate. Just because it arrives on four legs rather than two wheels . . .

It was very hot and humid today. Jim practiced a RAK when he bought and donated to the cause two mister bottles . . . and then asked me to "mist" him.  After a bit I was misting everyone and myself in between.  Mary Jo also practiced a RAK when she bought and donated a box of cherries to the SS. Thank you MJ. As she was about to leave SS#2, Mary Joe announced to the Hammer & His Nails--with whom she'd been riding--that she was going to start out slow. That she did . . . so slow that she fell over in the parking lot and skinned her knee. We patched her up and she was back on the road in no time.

Most riders were in by early afternoon.  Laundry festooned all the bushes , luggage racks, and railings when I pulled in and readied the van for the shuttle to Pizza Hut.  It was a fun day and I am looking forward to tomorrow when I get to ride to Mitchell and see the Corn Palace. Until then, this is Susan, signing off.

HEARD ON THE ROAD TODAY: 

• "Where'd the wall come from?"  
• "Look at that panoramic view!" 
• "All aboard the party bus for Pizza Hut!"

DUH! OF THE DAY:  Goes to moi, daahlinks. I left the box of bananas in my room, this after going back to the room and making a quick check for left items.  Luckily my SS was at a large grocery.  I bought several bunches and all was fine.

PHOTOS OF THE DAY:

Bill climbing out of the Bedashosho Lake area.

Steve and Mark cycle past Bedashosho Lake

At the top of one of today's climbs, Lawrence of Arabia (a.k.a. Bill G.) 

and Diane confer about their stock in the Accelerade and Endurox companies

Diane reads about the Civilian Corps of Engineers and their 4554 Indian 

counterparts at Camp Crow Creek who built the dam that created Bedashosho

 Lake as part of the national CCC program to reclaim deteriorated lands, 

conserve water, reduce soil erosion and build recreation areas. 

Self supported tourista visiting our Sag Stop 

Are we having fun yet?
Million-mile stares generated by three weeks on the road.

Andrew M. tries to push White off the road while Pete and Bill B. practice their ballet steps at the SAG Stop. And one, two, three. . .one, two, three. . . step, lift, turn!

Awwww! A little lower, Paul. . .yes, right there, just behind my ears! Purrrr, er, I mean gruffff,  aahh. . .Oooh, look at all these cyclists. I'm going to ask each one for a little loving. . .
[This from one of the many dogs who populated this rest stop}

The Rockettes they ain't, but oh la, la! look at those cyclists'
 shapely legs and tan lines!

Look ma, both hands . . . and both legs . . . and both arms . . .
and both cheeks, nose, chin, elbows!  Do you think
 half a bottle  of No Ad SPF 45 is enough coverage?