Day 20, Rapid City Rest Day?

Best: Seeing the Big Heads again.

Worst: Not visiting the Crazy Horse monument center

Most Unexpected: Stopping at Naked wines for wine, Tasting wine in South Dakota?

Last nights Dinner at the Firehouse Brewery was good except for the beer.  This doesn't work too well if the main reason for the business is to make beer and food is secondary. We stopped at the Armadillo ice cream shop for my second sundae of the day.

This morning after cleaning the bike, biking downtown for breakfast, doing some catch up on chores, we loaded up a van with 12 of us and headed downtown to the Kathmandu restuarant for lunch paid for by a doctor friend of Kennys.  It was all you can eat Nepalese/Indian buffet but I was still partially full from breakfast so I didn't do the buffet justice.  We then took off for the big heads, Mount Rushmore.  I drove a van of very scared passengers and we took the usual pictures, cruised the museum, watched a movie, and then headed out to see the Crazy Horse monument.  After driving 17 miles to get there, nobody wanted to pay to get in, so we drove past the ticket gate telling the ticket taker we were going to turn around, took a picture of Crazy Horse, and drove back.

The group decided to stop at a winery/brewery for tasting with a pretty even split between beer tasters and wine tasters.  I was a little skeptical of wines made in South Dakota, and the beer didn't sound great, so I went with the classic orange creme soda from Colorado.  

We drove back to downtown Rapid City where I disembarked for pictures and another trip to Armadillos where I had my third sundae, again Peach.  Lest you think thats all I eat, I did have a chicken panini which filled me up.  I had an interesting interaction with the clerk. You order at a window and then they call your name.  I hear 'Rob' from three feet away, look at the clerk who has my peach sundae, but it is really really small.  I reorder the medium, and sure enough three minutes later, the clerk looks right at me and says "rob' once again loudly so everyone in the store can hear.  I walk the three feet to him and get sundae.  Three minutes later, the clerk again stands at the counter yelling my name for my panini so I just look around the inside of the shop looking for this mysterious rob who the clerk can't seem to figure out is me.  It should be noted that the ice cream was once again good, but I had a bit of dilemma figuring out how to eat a hot panini while my ice cream was melting.  Being a eating professional, it all worked out.

I walked the rest of the way back from Armadillos in the 96 degree heat and got organized for tomorrow, took a shower which will be most appreciated by the rest of the riders, and started this blog.  We did receive a new shipment of Marich Chocolates and I got a new t-shirt from them to help promote the chocolates which of course are excellent.  We also received jelly beans which are better than jelly bellies because the owner of Marich actually invented the original jelly bellies before starting this company.  Even better than the shipment of sugary items, I received three letters  from  home making me feel very special.  

On the way back from downtown I did find art alley which is completely covered in grafitti including the trash receptacles, phone boxes, basically any permanent fixture.  Fortunately, not the cars.

I also took pictures of some of the presidents statues downtown.  They are all there, even the obscure ones.

I put the two pictures above in order just to show the difference that lighting makes on the expressions of the presidents.

If you can, blow up the picture above and read the rather unusual names for the beers that they tasted at the Naked winery.

Final picture is just a pretty house I saw on my walk back from downtown.

Day 19, Newcastle to Rapid City, Welcome to South Dakota, good riddanceWyoming

Best:  Beautiful descent through Custer park

Worst:  Getting shuttled around a 7.5% descent because of construction.

Most Unexpected: Bug attack through Custer park.

Start with last night, I had an encounter with a senior citizen who I enjoyed talking with.  She asked me if I liked taking trips, and then said she didn't enjoy them as much because her eyesight is going.  She said" I can't even tell if you are good looking"  I replied in my best Barry White imitation that of course I was extremely good looking.  My nose grew a little longer.

Todays ride was gorgeous after we left Newcastle and climbed into the Black Hills of South Dakota.  They had a welcome to South Dakota sign unlike Wyoming who did not have a welcome sign at this end of the state either.  Wyoming either needs better landscaping, or better welcome signs.  I wonder which would cost more.

After the obligatory sign shop, we climbed up to 5900 before leveling off.  Just as we were going to take advantage of the height, construction had ripped up the road so we got shuttled around a 7.5% downslope.  (we also missed a short 7% upslope).  I was actually bummed this time unlike earlier this week where I was happy to get shuttled 2.5 miles in the middle of our 112 mile ride. We exited Black Hills national park and went through the town of Custer which was getting ready for a parade for some reason. I missed staying at the Flintstone campground.

After the town of Custer we entered Custer State Park.  Why is everyting named Custer? It's like naming everything Napoleon in Belgium after the battle of Waterloo.

Custer Park is beautiful, and after some very short climbs, we crossed a cattle guard that took down one of our riders.  Bad Cattle Guard.  I then started a great descent that wasn't steep, but went through beautiful scenery and had easy curves.  I entered a insect party and was inundated by bugs that attached themselves all over.  I looked down and thought there was a bug mating ceremony occurring on my chest.  At the rest stop at the bottom of the descent, a motorist made a u-turn and stopped.  He had ridden the 2000 Big Ride with Lynn and wanted to check in.  Lynn and he struggled to remember each other, but I think it was a lost cause.  (There were 200 riders that year) The former Big Rider was a councilmember in Rapid City, but didn't offer me free seats at tonights 4th of July festivities in their square.  This includes an electronic fireworks show, basically a large tv showing fireworks.  yippee.  We had a nice tailwind once we made the turn towards Rapid City for the last 17 miles.  

We checked in with Charlton, and Anita who made it in first today, and I, went to the Armadillo ice cream store where I had a fresh peach sundae, Large of course.

We are going downtown tonight for a farewell dinner for Gene at the Firehouse brewpub, 11 blocks from where we are.  I will be riding my bicycle.  Tomorrow is a rest day and will include a trip to see the Big Heads, and the Big Native American. 

Black Hills

More Black Hills.

It is the 4th of July after all.  These flags were installed all along a fence line just outside Custer state park.

View of the terrain heading towards Rapid City.

Rapid City town square with kids playing in sprinklers.  It is hot today.

Day 18, Gillette to Newcastle, 77 miles with little to show for it.

Best: Riding in the wake of the Rodgers

Worst: No ice cream within walking distance.

Most Unexpected: Riding into Newcastle at the front of the pack after leaving Gillette dead last. (it is not a race)

I took down my tent last night after setting it up to dry and moved into the high school to sleep.  I found a corridor that was dark and set up my sleeping area.  We had a catered BBQ last night consisting of pulled pork and pulled beef if there is such a thing.  Beans were also served which is not the brightest thing to give bicylists who usually ride behind each other.

We rode off this morning at 6:05 into a very light wind.  The first 24 miles flew by and I was behind Cathy on her e-bike and hubbie Paul.  Cathy's hubbie, not mine.  The most interesting part was passing four miles of coal trains in a mile.  What's that?  There were four coal trains all lined up on the sidings, two moving forward, and two waiting to clear.  Here is your factoid for today: They load up a coal train every hour which means they are digging a tunnel one mile long, 15 feet wide and 15 feet deep every hour.  Thats a lot of coal.

We caught a pretty good headwind before lunch in the 10 mph range, and I had visions of two years ago when the winds were in the 30 mph range.  Fortunately they topped out today at the 10-12 mph range and although it was hard, I didn't have to stop every mile like two years ago for the last 11 miles.  Interesting in that several other 2012 Big Riders were doing the same thing even though I couldn't see them.  So overall todays ride was an okay day of work which could have been much easier or much harder.  Scenery was pretty blah, although I actually looked around this time unlike two years ago when I only looked down so I wouldn't have to see how far I had to go.

We are holed up in the Senior Center in Newcastle.  We got here just before noon, giving us time to recuperate.  Most people are sleeping outside, but once again I have found a quiet room to put up my sleeping quarters.  Air conditioning and no extra time to take down the tent.  I know that for some people part of the experience is tenting, but I have done plenty of camping outside in my life, and I like sleep a lot.  It is not a good thing to fall asleep on a bike. 

Dinner tonight is going to be lasagna.  This is the first time this trip, but I predict we will have it at least three more times. We are also going to get ambrosia for dessert.  Be still my heart. 

This is my fake setup last night before I moved inside the high school.  The mascot is the Camels.  Who has a mascot called the camels?  At least it should be the spitting camels.

Four mile long trains stacked up. 

This was awesome.  This antelope ran with us for about half a mile trying to get through the fence.  Eventually it found a hole at the bottom of the fence  and ducked under and ran away. Terry was able to shoot video of this action. I also saw the funniest roadkill, a rabbit that was squashed flat with its ears still sticking up in the air. 

Best town on earth?  Voted by the 1100 citizens of Upton.

Now imagine a headwind as you are riding this road.  Not a lot of protection.  Cool train coming the other way.  Guess what it is carrying. 

This is where most people are sleeping tonight, and I am .......

in here.

There is a very cool model railroad set up in the Senior Center.  Someone has a lot of time on their hands.  

There are a variety of class photos in the Senior Center from the local high school.  This is my favorite student.

You probably thought I was joking above about the mascot at the last high school.  Here is the proof.  It looks like the camel is snorting some kind of white powder.

Day 17, Sheridan to Gillette, 112 miles of pain

Best: Being shuttled through a construction site.  That was 2 miles i didn't have to ride

Worst: Bonking between miles 45 to 60

Most Unexpected: The lunch stop was moved from mile 40 to 60 causing the worst above.

Last night we had a great dinner at Terry's fathers RV.  They BBQ'd steaks and I had both the filet and ribeye to compare flavors. This caused an extra bathroom break this morning.

Okay, this day was not fun.  Started with a wet tent from a heavy dew, took a slight detour in Sheridan getting out of town, and then got going at a pretty brisk pace as the winds were light.  We were going really well until mile 40 at the rest stop.  I got there just in time to see the van and trailer leaving which is the lunch vehicle.  I learned that lunch by consensus had been moved to mile 60ish.  This was news to me.  I usually eat a farily light breakfast to get me going and then more food at lunch.  Not really thinking this through, i grabbed a snack at mile 40 and then around mile 45 noticed I seemed to be going backward.  I got dropped from the group, and basically just lowered my head and pretended I was having a bad dream.  I somehow got to the lunch stop, said something to Charlton about the surprise, ate, and got going again.  By the way, headwinds today at 8-10 mph since mile 40.  

After lunch we went 3 miles to a construction site, and still recovering from my lack of food, I was extremely happy to hear we had to get shuttled around the construction.  We talked to two Harley riders and I offered to buy their motor for $20.  They told us the construction on the road lasted for 10 miles, and now I am jumping with glee.  We loaded up the bikes on Gene's Blue Thunder, and rolled 2 miles before it was over.  This was enough to get my batteries restarted, and certainly Cathy's batteries on her electric bike as she blazed past us up the road.  The scenery in Wyoming is pretty sketchy in this area so I made up the pictures below.  They were actually shot on the ride, but in between it was a lot of nothingness with a bunch of g-- d---- hills we had to go up and over. One after another they tried to take us down, and they really did a good job of it. 

We finally made it to Gillette to see a lot of coal mine pits, and made it to the local school where we are staying overnight.  We have a choice of setting up the tents on the grass area next to the football field, or in the gym.  The catch is that the gym is open to the public until 9:00 so if you want to got to sleep in the gym before this you need to prepare yourself for being double dribbled on.  (yes I know i ended the sentence with a preposition, but I am really tired)  Here's your pictures, leave me alone.

Go Bears.

Entering the metropolis of Clearmont.

The Spotted Horse known throughout Big Rider lore as the location of many an exotic disease.

A diamond mine, or will be if it was 50 miles underground and subject to incredible pressure and heat.

Day 16, Hardin to Sheridan, 84 miles

Best: Really long downhill once we got into Wyoming.

Worst: Getting attacked at three separate points by dogs.

Most Unexpected:  Birds chirping at 2:00 a.m.

What is up with birds thinking it is okay to start singing at 2:00 a.m.  I heard the singing and thought it must be time to wake up only to realize what birdbrains birds are.  I wonder why that is.

The usual bfest, and then off into a slight headwind.  I was corrected later that just because I was finally    feeling wind on my face it didn't necessarily mean i had a headwind.  I just am not used to feeling wind anymore. We went past Custer's last stand one more time and crossed the Little Big Horn river three times today while only crossing the Big Horn river once.  Something seems backwards with the names.  The first part of the riding was across the Crow reservation and we were warned about dogs. We had two dogs start to come after us but our yelling stalled them at the edge of the road.  After the reservation we had two more packs of dogs come after us with the last two dogs within inches of my tender flesh.  Yelling didn't seem to help, but they seemed to tire just before they could dine.  The riders behind us didn't report any altercations so obviously we tired them out.

Within the first forty miles we passed four trains, each over a mile long carrying coal.  How do I know they were over a mile long?  Well the first factor was that two of the trains were stopped, and the second factor was my bike computer measured the distance.  Really clever.  The trains were probably stopped because of the extensive work being done on the tracks.  There was over a mile long line of specialized equipment going down the rails removing and reinstalling new rails. 

We crossed into Wyoming today with a whimper.  There was no large welcome to Wyoming sign, instead there was this.

I had told people that the big sign was further down the road, but either it fell down, or Dick Cheney shot it down. (resident of Wyoming in case you didn't know).  We will look for the large sign when we leave Wyoming and all fake a picture like we are just arriving.

Once again we are the benefactor of a tail wind, not near as strong as yesterday but much appreciated.  Unfortunately on the longest ride tomorrow of 112 miles they are predicting 7-10 mph headwind which will make for a really long day.

Last nights dinner surprised me with beef brisket instead of ribs, but I ate it all the same.  There was left overs for lunch today served at mile 40 at 9:30 a.m. which somehow doesn't seem right.  Never the less, I helped lighten the load that the van was carrying. 

Tonight we are having steaks bought by Terry's family and BBQd at our lovely KOA campground. Darn, steaks again.

Bear tipping, a new sport.  

An interesting juxtaposition of religions.

Riding through non beauty, this oasis appeared.

At the exciting KOA campground.