It was hot! July 15

It was hot about sums it up. Today's ride was though Badlands National Park. It was some what reminiscent of the Drumheller kind of landscape. It started off as grass land which transitioned into badlands. Low bluffs with tighter cliff forming layers of rock near the top giving way to a flat plain on the bottom. When I say flat I mean flat. There was one little climb to day of about 300 feet over three miles. The road surface was excellent with brand new pavement over all but two small sections which was under construction. One section was about 0.5 miles and the other was about two miles. The ride was scheduled for 83 miles but came up short at 79 miles. I hope we are going to get a refund.

I think the only thing which happened to day of any note was that Tom got off to an early start and was about 45 minutes ahead of me. So I jumped on the pedals to catch him. Sure enough just before lunch I had him in my sights. Then as I rode past Tom this wind came up and hit me and I was unable to hold the lead and Tom passed me back. Tom teased me at lunch and then got out early after lunch. Lunch was in this little place called Scenic. It had a interesting little bar, which was right next the jail. Look to the right of the Longhorn Saloon. I got talking to this other rider and before I knew it I had spent just over an hour at lunch. So I had to jump on the pedals and catch Tom again. I rode up to him about 5 miles out of camp and we rode in together.

Camp tonight is this dried out little town called Interior. The population is posted as 46. We are staying in this little camp ground and motel. I was lucky as I got in early and found a piece of corrugated tin to put my tent under for shade. Someone said it is 103 F. The cafe for the campground -motel is air conditioned and has Internet.

Lets Ride!

Terry

The Needles Highway to Mtn Rushmore- July 14

The supper last night was good however is was extremely slow in getting put out. I twas a full hour late. This did not bode well for breakfast as the same cater was doing breakfast. So about six of us rode downtown for breakfast. I ordered the breakfast burrito, when it came it was the size of a loaf of bread. The maneuver worked and we were out and on the road a hour before the rest of the cyclists. This enabled us to enjoy the road and the scenery without the other ninety cyclists.
The weather was perfect and without any wind it was a gorgeous day. We rode up into the Black Hills state park and up the Needles Highway. The highway is so named because of the rock spears or needles. There are all of these rock formations pointing towards the sky. At the summit of one climb we came to this spot where there is a one lane tunnel. It was only eight feet wide. To say the scenery was gorgeous would be an injustice to it. After the Needles highway we turned on to the Iron Mountain Highway which wound us though the hills. It was great fun cruising down this winding road up small climbs and short descents. Then came the big climb to the top of Iron mountain. I am not sure of the exact numbers but I believe it was around seven miles of 8-10% grade. It was a long hot climb with a lot of switch backs. The Ponderoa pine forest was beautiful. We then came to a second one lane tunnel. It was 13 feet wide. However when you looked though the tunnel it was lined up so you could see the faces on Mount Rushmore. There were a total of three of these tunnels all of which were lined up to see Mount Rushmore. After the summit of Iron Mountain there was a huge decent. On the way down was these things called Pig Tail Bridges. You rode across the bridge and then looped around and under the bridge making a 360 degree turn. It was very cool engineering feat. At the base of the hill was the turn to Mount Rushmore.
I made the turn to Mount Rushmore and rode the 2 miles up a 10% grade. By now it is 11:30 Am and the climb is in the blazing sun, on white concrete. It was a broiler. At the top there is now a huge grand entrance which granite colums and fancy arches. However the faces of presidents are still the same. A lot of the other cyclists have joined us and we wandered though the crowd of people laughing and taking photos. It was great!
Down the hill to picnic, which was in a little park in Keystone. I was starved. So I wolfed down two giant wraps of tuna salad ,and a bunch of fresh fruit. Keystone was town where workers who built Mount Rushmore stayed but now it is a huge tourist trap. There was only 20 miles after picnic and 16 of it was on this totally unused back road. I don't think two cars passed me. The last 4 miles into Rapid City was down a freeway but I didn't care. My legs were totally shot but it was a great day.
The factoid of the day is that there was a scale in the shower room of the school. I have lost 8 pounds and am now at 176.
Terry

Hot and Dusty July 13

Today's ride was originally scheduled for 42 miles however we rode some back roads which turned it into 62 miles. We back tracked out of Lead back up the huge hill into town, before we turned on to a side road. We rode the side road though a couple of small towns, before we hit the gravel section of the route. There was 10 miles of gravel roads. It was a hard packed surface with pea gravel on it. The road was either straight up or straight down. The straight up part was a grind away business at 6 mph. The straight down part was 10 mph as you didn't dare go faster than that in the gravel. Although there were not that many cars every time one passed you, ate dust for 10 minutes. I was glad to get off the gravel. Picnic was at the 34 mile mark at this beautiful little lake. I could have hung in there forever eating this great fruit salad. However there were still miles to ride and a lot of hills to climb. It was starting to get hot and I knew I needed to get rolling. At the 50 mile mark we reached the freeway and turned toward Custer, where we are staying. The freeway was concrete and had these perpendicular groves cut into it, I assume to prevent hydro-planing when the road is wet. However it made the road extremely noisy. You could hardly think. The whine from the tires was deafening. The was now right into our face and a person had to work as hard as you could to keep going. Added to the noise and wind was the fact that it was all up hill. We were headed up towards the Crazy Horse Memorial which is being carved into the side of the mountain. This was started thin 1945 and is still under construction. The face is done and his out stretched arm is roughed out. However there is a lot of work still to be done. One of the riders said that she saw it 10 years ago and it looked the same.
I was the first into camp. Martin was right behind me. Fortunately Greg had just finished unloading luggage so Martin and I sat and ate some pretzels I had picked up.

We are staying at the Custer High school which is on the far edge of town. It is a brand new facility and very nice. However there is no Internet and it is a long way into town. Feeling just bushed I think I will have a lay down instead, of walking into town.
Lets ride
Terry

July 12 Lead South Dakota

It was 90 miles from Devils Tower Wyoming to Lead South Dakota and it had a total of 7100 ft. of climb associated with it so it was a hard day. When we left Devils Tower there were some very nasty looking clouds in the west that had rain coming out of them. They were being propelled along by a stiff wind out of the west. Fortunately for us we were headed almost due East. So it was great to sail along. I think that the wind was probably close to 25 mph as at that speed you were in dead air. It was really neat to be riding along and have no air movement with you. Needless to say the first 50 miles to picnic got eaten up pretty quickly.

There is a new group of six guys out for the week who are riding in a pace line and I could see them coming up on me and there is nothing you can do to hold a pace line. So they are just ready to pass me at the start of this long gentle hill. I thought I wonder if they can really pass so I hit the gas and they dropped back. I nickered all the way to lunch. I told Patrick this as they were riding in and his comment was "That ain't a pace line! That's a charity ride!" It was very funny. Great line Patrick. I will have to use that one.

After lunch we rode up through what is called Spear Fish Canyon. It was a long gentle upgrade for 30 miles. It was absolutely beautiful. Steep canyon walls and the Spear Fish Creek running down the canyon. I was riding with Nathan who is the son of the family which is on the trip. It was fun as he would pass me then I would pass him.

After the canyon there was a steep climb for a couple of miles and a steep down hill into Lead which is some sort of historic mining place. I don't know much about it other than it was the center of a gold/lead rush which happened in 1876. Right now it looks like it makes its money of tourists travelling to either Deadwood or Sturgis.

Well time to head off to supper I am starved (like what else is new).

Terry

Devil's Tower National Monument - A Day Off

Devil's Tower Was the first national monument and was created by Teddy Roosevelt in 1906. However it has been visited by people for over 10,000 years. It was the site of wintering Indian tribes and was a the source of Indian legend where seven sisters and there brother was being chased by a bear. A buffalo helped them by showing them how to run around the rock four times and the rock rose up and the bear could not get the children. The bear clawed at the side to get the children but could not get them. Modern theory holds that molten rock squeezed into the sedimentary rock but did not surface. The soft sedimentary rock was then eroded leaving the Devil's Tower. What ever forces created the Devil's Tower it is a very impressive sight. I have seen many pictures including Close Encounters and none of them do justice to what a magnificent sight it is.


This morning I slept in until around 7:00 AM which was great. A nice hot shower and good breakfast put me in good stead for visiting the Devil's Tower. Our campsite is right at the park gate, so I met up with a couple of other riders and we walked up to the visitors center which was up a 2 mile trail. It was a lot steeper than we had thought when we started out so we were sweating by time we go to the top. The views of the surrounding valley was worth it. The visitor center was small but very interesting. There was a 1.5 mile trail around the tower which offered a 360 view. At most of the angles you could see climbers on the steep face of the rock. You wouldn't get me up there for any thing. I don't even like ladders.


After we got back down it was time to clean my bike. I wasn't all that dirty as we have had very good conditions the last few days however nothing runs like a clean oiled chain. The smoothness of the shifting and silence of the chain running in the gears makes the task time well spent.

As my laundry was done yesterday I think an afternoon nap is in order. There is nothing like the luxury of a lazy afternoon. I will post next weeks route map after supper which is here in the camp ground. Ok it doesn't look like pictures are going to load. I will try later.

Terry

Sixty Eight Into Devil's Tower

To day was only sixty eight miles from Gillette to Devil's Tower, with no mountain pass. I just realized that normally I would consider a ride of 120 kms to be a really big ride. How one's perception changes.

It was 35 miles out to picnic, so there was no rush. We cruised though a lot of rolling county side, before we came to this huge coal fired power plant. On the side waiting to get unloaded was a train of coal cars which was over two miles long. It was truly unbelievable how long it was. I tried to get a picture but it didn't work out. So here is a picture of the siding.

Picnic was in this small town called Moorcroft (pop 804 elev 4206). As it turns out it was Jubilee day in Moorcroft so there was a parade and lots of crafts sales and people selling all the usual stuff, such as kettle corn. Every horse for miles around was in it, the mayor was in it with his Shelby Mustang, the scouts, people with dressed up dogs, a model T truck which kept stalling and people would run out and push it. It just doesn't get an more small town America.

As it was starting to get hot I didn't stay for the whole parade. I still had 33 miles to cover and the route sheet indicated that there were several climbs to do. The climbs didn't amount to too much and some clouds blew in cooling it off so the rest of the mileage was easy. The big surprise was coming over the crest of a hill and below is a valley and on the opposite side is Devil's Tower. It is on weird rock. I'll explore it tomorrow and give you a full report.

Tonight we are camped at the KOA at the base of Devil's Tower. Tomorrow is a day off. It is going to be so good to have a rest day. The week was long and tough. This completes the first three weeks of the nine week trip. This is the hardest part of the trip mileage wise and climbing wise. Time to put it in cruise and enjoy the ride

Terry

Cruising the Interstate

Generally my option is Bikes + Interstates = Bad Idea! I was more than a little concerned when I learned that today's ride was 70 miles down the interstate in to Gillette form Buffalo. So I took four spare tubes with me as I was convinced this was trouble. I got out relatively early and lit the after burners on the Giant as soon as I was on the on-ramp. There isn't much to see off the interstate. There were lots of long hills which were all at 1% grade or less so I just kept hammering down the road waiting for the first flat. The shoulders were wide and smooth so there was no problem riding at 12 mph on the steepest grade and 28 mph on the down grades.

Picnic was at the 32 mile mark so I was there by 8:30 and just after 11:30 Am. I guess I was lucky or maybe I was overly worried but I made it without a flat. Carried a bunch of tubes for nothing.

There wasn't much for high lights. Picnic was left over curried chicken salad which was great but I was still working on a huge breakfast. So I didn't hang long. I stopped and watched a service rig hoisting tubing for about 10 minutes. It was right beside the road but I was worried about the heat so I pushed on. Then a helicopter was flying a right of was and was looking over this highway crossing so I stopped to watch it for a minute. before it flew off. Maybe the real highlight was after I got in I changed into my running clothes and did a 5 k run. It was really tough. My legs felt like wood and my feet felt like I was wearing rubber boots.

Tonight is awards night for the week and I understand that they are going to roast the people who snore. I understand there is a lot of floor floppers who snore and refuse to go to a snoring section. What can I say they are floor floppers.

They are closing the library and I have to go.

Terry

Highest Point on Coast to Coast

First let me apologize for now post yesterday. It was a spectacular day! It was the toughest ride on the coast to coast and we reached the highest elevation. It was not the continental divide but still the highest point. I am not sure how that worked, so you just have to accept it. I guess you could go Google it.

The ride was 94 miles up and over the Big Horn Pass. The ride is divided into three parts the first 55 miles is the accent to the summit. You start at around 3600 ft and grind up the western side of the Big Horn range to 9666 ft at the summit. This was incredibly grueling as most of it was done at 6-8 mph. To top it off about 5 miles was fresh chip seal which had been laid down the day before. Two riders go stones jammed in the rear derailleur which sheared off the pin which mounts the rear derailleur. The tour operator was busy sagging riders into lunch which was just 8 miles short of the summit. The saying is to be at the summit by noon. I made it to the summit by 12:45. The second part of the ride is 30 miles of rollers after the summit. Although it is generally down hill there are still several huge climbs of a 2-3 miles all of which are 6-8% grade. Somebody said there were 7 climbs of more than 2 miles but I didn't count. I think that although there is less climbing it is a tougher section as you are not as mentally prepared for it. The final section of the ride is the decent into Buffalo. It is nerve racking steep and with no shoulders and broken pavement you can't just let it free wheel. I made it in completing the ride in 7:13 which was a great time. I think that more than 50% of the riders wound up taking a sag. It was really quite a ride. beautiful scenery, tough, but after you have done it very satisfying.

In Buffalo was the first night of the blues grass festival. It kicks off in the Occidental hotel, which in itself is a historic icon. Calamity Jane, Buffalo Bill Code, Butch Cassidy and numerous other all stayed there. We went in and had a beer and listened to some of the performers playing in the bar. It was quite a place. The last time it was redecorated was something like 1910 after the big flood.

Lets Ride!

Terry

Canyon Surprise

Not to bore you with the usual crap about how cold it was or how early I got a way but let's cut right to the meat of the matter. At around 25 miles I am looking at this row of hills in front of me that are big hills and I am wondering how we are going to get though them. To days ride was suppose to be all down hill. The hills are looming closer and closer and just as we get to the base of the hills I can see that they are at least 1000 feet high. Then the road makes a left and I ride a bunch of rollers so you can't see what is coming up. Then with out warning the road makes a right and you head into this canyon which has been carved though the hills. This canyon is steep, and narrow. At the bottom of the canyon is the Wind River. A sign pointing at the side of the cliff indicated that the rocks are Pre-Cambrian. Down the canyon the road twists and turns. Another sign points out Cambrian rock. Then there are a series of three tunnels to ride though. Tunnels on a bike are both scary as you can't see the road, and exiting as you transition from bright to dark. The road winds down though the canyon for an full 20 miles. More signs pointing out Silurian age rocks, Ordovician, and finally Triassic rocks. It was an absolutely stunning ride. Of course as I am on this narrow winding road with no shoulders what should pass me but a service rig. Canyon Well Servicing painted on the side. Kind of makes you home sick.

Picnic at the 51 mile mark was right on the river in a beautiful spot called Wedding of the Waters. It is called that because the Wind river flows into the Big Horn River. The Big Horn is warmed by the hot springs at Thermopolis (56 mile mark). Thermopolis claims the worlds largest hot springs. They are large but I think the claim maybe a little over stated. There is a beautiful state park by the hot springs which come out at several locations though out the park. I rode though the park and rode up to the dinosaur museum but it didn't look that good that I wanted to go in. The buffalo paddock sounded interesting but it was five miles out of the way so I passed on it as well.

The last 37 miles were uneventful and it was time to head for the barn so I turned on the after burners. Although the last ten were down this country road which all these cracks which had been filled with some sort of tar which if you hit one which ran parallel to your direction of travel grabbed your tires and made the bike feel lose. It was kind of a weird feeling.

A great 93 mile day under near perfect conditions. Topping it off was a feast put on by the Rams Horn Restaurant.

Bed time for Bonzo

Terry