ROUTE: Mitchell to Sioux Falls SD
DISTANCE: 71 miles
WINDS: What winds?
DISTANCE: 71 miles
WINDS: What winds?
WEATHER: Sunny & mild; 77F high in Sioux Falls
TERRAIN: Tamest so far
TOTAL CLIMBING: 800 feet...nuttin'
TERRAIN: Tamest so far
TOTAL CLIMBING: 800 feet...nuttin'
RIDE OVERVIEW: The first rider left Mitchell about 7 a.m. after sleeping in this a.m. and then eating a great breakfast at Bonanza -- opened just for us. The late start was precipitated by the short day ahead of us followed by a rest day--both looked forward to by all.
Only one SAG stop today at mile 40. I set it up at a corner grocery adjacent to several grain elevators. Today, like much of yesterday, riders rode pink highways (above), the chips in the chip-and-seal being that color. Some of the chip and seal was fairly fresh, but in most places it was well worn in. We rode through cornfield after cornfield, the houses few and far between and sitting like small treed islands in a sea of corn. There were only a couple of very small towns along the route. I am sitting in one at the mo (Wall Lake--gas station and a couple of stores) outside of Sioux Falls, typing this up in the back of the van, the computer on top of the water jugs.
The cornfields in this part of the country must be filled to overflowing with pheasants. Today Mike saw a "ring-neck" (male pheasant) fly across the road right near where he was parked waiting for riders. Yesterday, I saw at least half a dozen female pheasants that had been killed on the road by passing cars. Now when you think about how scarce cars are on these roads, that's a very high number. And why all female? (All right, don't answer that!)
When Ian arrived at the SS, several of us teased him about the moths or mice in his suitcase. His jersey, which had short-sleeves yesterday, had been inexpertly hacked to sleeveless today. Russell said it was a hand-me-down. Guess Ian had to make it his very own. Also at the SS, Andrew M. (above) told me that he was making up the 111 miles he lost to sagging when he was sick. He has already put in 30 extra miles. Ignore your cue sheet and that's what happens.
Today we had four (count 'em) docs on the ride because Loren's brother has joined us and he, too, is a doctor. Though retired, he got to practice a little doctoring when Mary Jo showed us her knee. The scrapes on it were obviously becoming infected. Doc Bro cleaned up the scrapes and applied antibiotic ointment, and M.J. flew out of the SS with Hickory, Dickory, an Doc none the worse for wear.
Patricia told me two interesting things today. First, she said that the guy who ran the store at yesterday's SS, told her that the towns along the rail line in South Dakota were 12 miles apart because that's as far as the first steam engines could travel without needing water. Patricia also told me that when she and Gabe stopped about 15 miles from Mitchell yesterday, a reporter stopped at the van. A talk with the reporter eventually led to meeting the Mayor of Mitchell (a woman in her third term and the mother of seven) and being given the Keys to the City. How exciting!
Most got to the motel by early afternoon today and so had a chance to eat lunch, kick back, watch the Tour on OLN, do a little laundry, and relax before Mechanic's Hour, Rap & and dinner. We say good-bye today to Dar and Joy and to Charles Pond. We'll miss the dynamic father-daughter duo. And, with Charles' absence, The Three Doc's, will, of course, become The Two Docs. Charles got on the phone last night (right) looking for the OK to finish the ride, but didn't find it. We'll miss him. There are a lot of family on this ride. In addition to Dar & Joy, we have two sets of fathers and sons, and a father-son-cousin trio. Last night Neal's wife and daughters joined him and today his daughter and son-in-law rode the route. Jesse's got a whole passel of relatives on board now that his second uncle's joined the group. That makes two uncles and a cousin for him. We've also had several family members join riders at some juncture during the ride. Think we pick up a rider here in Sioux Falls, but will report on that when we're back on the road.
HEARD ON THE ROAD TODAY:
"Four breasts are illegal!" [At least that's what Cov, Josh, Stephen, and Charles thought they heard as Mike approached in his stealth van and reprimanded them for riding four abreast]
Only one SAG stop today at mile 40. I set it up at a corner grocery adjacent to several grain elevators. Today, like much of yesterday, riders rode pink highways (above), the chips in the chip-and-seal being that color. Some of the chip and seal was fairly fresh, but in most places it was well worn in. We rode through cornfield after cornfield, the houses few and far between and sitting like small treed islands in a sea of corn. There were only a couple of very small towns along the route. I am sitting in one at the mo (Wall Lake--gas station and a couple of stores) outside of Sioux Falls, typing this up in the back of the van, the computer on top of the water jugs.
The cornfields in this part of the country must be filled to overflowing with pheasants. Today Mike saw a "ring-neck" (male pheasant) fly across the road right near where he was parked waiting for riders. Yesterday, I saw at least half a dozen female pheasants that had been killed on the road by passing cars. Now when you think about how scarce cars are on these roads, that's a very high number. And why all female? (All right, don't answer that!)When Ian arrived at the SS, several of us teased him about the moths or mice in his suitcase. His jersey, which had short-sleeves yesterday, had been inexpertly hacked to sleeveless today. Russell said it was a hand-me-down. Guess Ian had to make it his very own. Also at the SS, Andrew M. (above) told me that he was making up the 111 miles he lost to sagging when he was sick. He has already put in 30 extra miles. Ignore your cue sheet and that's what happens.
Today we had four (count 'em) docs on the ride because Loren's brother has joined us and he, too, is a doctor. Though retired, he got to practice a little doctoring when Mary Jo showed us her knee. The scrapes on it were obviously becoming infected. Doc Bro cleaned up the scrapes and applied antibiotic ointment, and M.J. flew out of the SS with Hickory, Dickory, an Doc none the worse for wear.
Patricia told me two interesting things today. First, she said that the guy who ran the store at yesterday's SS, told her that the towns along the rail line in South Dakota were 12 miles apart because that's as far as the first steam engines could travel without needing water. Patricia also told me that when she and Gabe stopped about 15 miles from Mitchell yesterday, a reporter stopped at the van. A talk with the reporter eventually led to meeting the Mayor of Mitchell (a woman in her third term and the mother of seven) and being given the Keys to the City. How exciting!
Most got to the motel by early afternoon today and so had a chance to eat lunch, kick back, watch the Tour on OLN, do a little laundry, and relax before Mechanic's Hour, Rap & and dinner. We say good-bye today to Dar and Joy and to Charles Pond. We'll miss the dynamic father-daughter duo. And, with Charles' absence, The Three Doc's, will, of course, become The Two Docs. Charles got on the phone last night (right) looking for the OK to finish the ride, but didn't find it. We'll miss him. There are a lot of family on this ride. In addition to Dar & Joy, we have two sets of fathers and sons, and a father-son-cousin trio. Last night Neal's wife and daughters joined him and today his daughter and son-in-law rode the route. Jesse's got a whole passel of relatives on board now that his second uncle's joined the group. That makes two uncles and a cousin for him. We've also had several family members join riders at some juncture during the ride. Think we pick up a rider here in Sioux Falls, but will report on that when we're back on the road.HEARD ON THE ROAD TODAY:
"Four breasts are illegal!" [At least that's what Cov, Josh, Stephen, and Charles thought they heard as Mike approached in his stealth van and reprimanded them for riding four abreast]
"All my X's live in Texas . . . ♫ That's why I live in South Dakota."
Andrew G.: "Nope. I don't need anything. I'm peachy keen!"
Susan: "Gee, Andrew, that expression dates you!"
Andrew G: "I've got so many things that date me . . . except women, of course!"
Susan: "Gee, Andrew, that expression dates you!"
Andrew G: "I've got so many things that date me . . . except women, of course!"
RAK: Gabe practiced a Random act of Kindness today when he gave the SAG van two cases of XS energy drink that had been donated to Patricia for promotional reasons. Gabe says that riders who have sampled it like it.
DUH! OF THE DAY: Despite arrows, despite AB markings on the road, despite the Box parked at the intersection, despite Karen pointing in the right direction, and despite their route sheets, riders were in la la land today and continued to sail past a soft left turn on today's route. An exasperated Mike finally painted more signs (left) on the road. Even they went unnoticed by some, so the last resort came down to Mike administering gentle, one-on-one oral communication!
PHOTOS OF THE DAY:
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| Julie's pulling her paceline at such a low speed that a herd of black angus jumped on. |
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| Dar enjoying his last banana on his last day of riding. |
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| Our communication has been so poor out here in the country that today we mounted a telephone pole on Karen's helmet. Now we have great reception, but Karen's average speed has dropped from 20 mph to 19.9 mph. |
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| In the fine art of consuming desert, presentation is everything! |
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| Adrian is tired of riding and thought he'd carry his bike to Sioux Falls today. |
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| Lynn was confused this morning at breakfast when she found the parking way too high for her. |
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| Imagine how startled Mike was when this magnificentlyracked moose strolled out of the cornfields . . . er, the rocky pine forests . . . and gave him the glassy eye. In fact Mike almost dropped the Cabela's tee shirt he was trying on. |
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| Cowboys who fail Bronco Busting 101, have to ride the dunce's stool. |
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