There are so many events that come and go along the way that make it impossible to remember them all. But today few will forget our visit to Bryant Parkview Care Center, a nursing home facility of about 34 residents in Bryant, South Dakota.
Each day after about 15-20 miles or so we have a water break. Cycle America locks a few water coolers to a tree or post along the road allowing us to fill our bottles and move on. Today we had our water break at this small nursing home that provided us with coffee and rolls and opened up their facility for us to come in and sit down and have a chat with their residents for about an hour as we moved along our ride. I met with Leone Acres, a 89-year-old resident who homesteaded in South Dakota many, many years ago. It was fun to see so many of the cyclists enjoy this special time of interacting and chating with so many of the residents.
I was especially touched as it reminded me of my own Parkview Care Center in Buffalo, MN where my 87 year-old father-in-law, Earle, is staying. It allowed me a chance to pray for Earle and the chaplain, Pastor Highland Goodman. Each day I dedicate a ride to a friend or family member. Today it was for Highland Goodman and my friends in San Diego, Cottery and Rose Bryant, as we were in Bryant, South Dakota. It is a simple thing but these are small ways I can engage with those in my life even though I can't be with them because of this ride.
Well, we moved on and I had an opportunity to visit the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame (lots of old gloves and pictures), and the Toy Museum with shelves full of farm toys in Lake Norden. They were both off the route but because our ride was shorter (60 plus miles) it gave us a chance to do some other things along the way.
Even though it was shorter ride, I rode with a few other cyclists through a closed road that was flooded to save about 10 additional miles of going around it. We rode through the flooded road -- slowly trying to avoid slipping into the water as it came close to our lower gears and sprayed up at us as we crossed. Yesterday our tour organizers saw carp crossing at this very point. It was all great fun until one of the riders slipped into the water and snapped off his handle bars -- completely broken. Even on shorter days things can sometimes go awry. He has a recumbent bike and it may be hard to find the replacement parts quickly.
We all arrived rather early into Watertown, South Dakota. I connected with the first bike shop I found and bought a new tire -- my back tires were completely worn down from all the miles since we began the trip. So far I've somehow avoided any punctures but yesterday I could see there wasn't much rubber left on the tire and it was time for a replacement. My tent is now pitched at the Watertown Middle School -- looks like we may have some rain tonight.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Little Bike on the Prairie -- now in De Smet, South Dakota
The major milestone today was that we celebrated our half-way point today just outside of Miller, South Dakota near Willie's Bar and Grill on Highway 14E. Cycle America drew a chalk line on the side of the road indicating our half-way mark. We all stopped and signed our names in chalk on the other side of the line -- we have passed the point of no return -- completing 2100 miles of our 4200 mile journey. It was a low-key but nice thing to do together as we all stopped and took photos together.
I rode with the Jan Train again (Jan, Marnix, Martin, Chuck and myself) today -- with a good tailwind for much of the day. Our average speed was about 18 miles an hour. These guys really stretch me -- but it is a good way to pass the miles and miles of prairie and farms. We stopped at a local Country Store in Iroquois -- sort of a local hangout for the town. I noticed that we have clearly seen the change from cowboy hats to seed hats in this part of South Dakota. Folks are all nice -- always asking where we are from and where we are going.
The ride was 77 miles from Miller to De Smet and we arrived early at about 1:15 p.m. I visited the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum and picked up some post cards. This is the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder so they have a map and tours of all kinds of Wilder sites -- the Surveyor's House (1879-80), Ingalls home (1887-1928), Almanzo and Laura's home (1894), and the Original Loftus Store -- I really have little idea what this all means but thought some of you may know more about it all! I sort of feel like the wrong person in the wrong place -- but it is good fun to think of my wife, Cindy, and sister, Dawn, and how much they enjoyed reading these books! To hear the young college ladies at the information desk in the museum talk about "Pa" as if he were alive was a bit strange indeed. These gals also shared about a family with three young girls who came yesterday all dressed up in prairie outfits and even persuaded their dad to wear suspenders like Pa. They had small round metal lunch boxes and even carried slate chalk boards as they came to visit the mecca of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Books.
I normally ride around town a bit before checking in -- once I've showered, set up my tent and become settled it is hard to get back on the bike and go into town. I'll bike around some of the sights -- have a root beer float maybe at the Loftus Store and wander over to the De Smet High School.
Lastly, I should note that we rode by the Worlds Largest Pheasant just outside the town of Huron. It was one of those large giant side of the road displays were we stopped, took a photo and rode on.
"The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes -- it is in the everyday things around us that the beauty of life lies" -- Laura Ingalls Wilder.
I rode with the Jan Train again (Jan, Marnix, Martin, Chuck and myself) today -- with a good tailwind for much of the day. Our average speed was about 18 miles an hour. These guys really stretch me -- but it is a good way to pass the miles and miles of prairie and farms. We stopped at a local Country Store in Iroquois -- sort of a local hangout for the town. I noticed that we have clearly seen the change from cowboy hats to seed hats in this part of South Dakota. Folks are all nice -- always asking where we are from and where we are going.
The ride was 77 miles from Miller to De Smet and we arrived early at about 1:15 p.m. I visited the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum and picked up some post cards. This is the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder so they have a map and tours of all kinds of Wilder sites -- the Surveyor's House (1879-80), Ingalls home (1887-1928), Almanzo and Laura's home (1894), and the Original Loftus Store -- I really have little idea what this all means but thought some of you may know more about it all! I sort of feel like the wrong person in the wrong place -- but it is good fun to think of my wife, Cindy, and sister, Dawn, and how much they enjoyed reading these books! To hear the young college ladies at the information desk in the museum talk about "Pa" as if he were alive was a bit strange indeed. These gals also shared about a family with three young girls who came yesterday all dressed up in prairie outfits and even persuaded their dad to wear suspenders like Pa. They had small round metal lunch boxes and even carried slate chalk boards as they came to visit the mecca of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Books.
I normally ride around town a bit before checking in -- once I've showered, set up my tent and become settled it is hard to get back on the bike and go into town. I'll bike around some of the sights -- have a root beer float maybe at the Loftus Store and wander over to the De Smet High School.
Lastly, I should note that we rode by the Worlds Largest Pheasant just outside the town of Huron. It was one of those large giant side of the road displays were we stopped, took a photo and rode on.
"The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes -- it is in the everyday things around us that the beauty of life lies" -- Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Monday, July 19, 2010
FROGS
If the theme of the last few rides has been grasshoppers -- today's emphasis was frogs -- not as many as the grasshoppers but plenty indeed along the road -- and lots of dead ones from the cars (and I suppose a few of our bicycles?).
Today's report comes from the Miller Public Library in South Dakota. We are in the eastern part of South Dakota -- all the monuments and most of the mountains are finished - so this is full of heartland rides with plenty of wheat fields and crops being harvested. Hardly a gas station or road side shop to be found for most of the 88 miles we rode from Pierre to Miller. We did come across a wind farm with dozens of wind turbines (333 feet high) and a roadside marker (in the mud messying up several bikes). But we did find some popsicles in the small town of Highmore, 63.8 miles into our ride. Yep, those were the highlights -- frogs, popsicles, wind farms and wheat fields. I'm on my way now to the Miller High School -- I think it will be a tent night rather than the gym.
Yesterday was our day off in Pierre, South Dakota. Surprisingly, I spent a lot of time riding around the city on my bike. On Saturday, after a 90 mile day ride, I rode another 11 miles around the town including checking out the Lewis and Clark markers and trails. I ate dinner at a small charming local Italian restaurant called La Ministra right in the heart of town. Sunday I put on another 15 miles riding around the town -- breakfast at a Perkins (a sure sign I'm close to Minnesota), went to church with a fellow rider, bounced into the library, YMCA and the Pierre Mall for more sunblock, which I am buying now in bulk. It was also relaxing to ride along the Missouri River and hit the local ice cream shop for another rootbeer float. By the time I came back to our dorm at the Pierre Indian Learning Center I found I had biked around for at least 15 miles. So, my day off time included at least 26 additional miles outside our normal 80-90 mile rides. The thing is I'm enjoying it -- but the legs seemed a little tired today.
Today's report comes from the Miller Public Library in South Dakota. We are in the eastern part of South Dakota -- all the monuments and most of the mountains are finished - so this is full of heartland rides with plenty of wheat fields and crops being harvested. Hardly a gas station or road side shop to be found for most of the 88 miles we rode from Pierre to Miller. We did come across a wind farm with dozens of wind turbines (333 feet high) and a roadside marker (in the mud messying up several bikes). But we did find some popsicles in the small town of Highmore, 63.8 miles into our ride. Yep, those were the highlights -- frogs, popsicles, wind farms and wheat fields. I'm on my way now to the Miller High School -- I think it will be a tent night rather than the gym.
Yesterday was our day off in Pierre, South Dakota. Surprisingly, I spent a lot of time riding around the city on my bike. On Saturday, after a 90 mile day ride, I rode another 11 miles around the town including checking out the Lewis and Clark markers and trails. I ate dinner at a small charming local Italian restaurant called La Ministra right in the heart of town. Sunday I put on another 15 miles riding around the town -- breakfast at a Perkins (a sure sign I'm close to Minnesota), went to church with a fellow rider, bounced into the library, YMCA and the Pierre Mall for more sunblock, which I am buying now in bulk. It was also relaxing to ride along the Missouri River and hit the local ice cream shop for another rootbeer float. By the time I came back to our dorm at the Pierre Indian Learning Center I found I had biked around for at least 15 miles. So, my day off time included at least 26 additional miles outside our normal 80-90 mile rides. The thing is I'm enjoying it -- but the legs seemed a little tired today.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The Grasshopper Challenge
Today we traveled 90 miles from Philip to Pierre, South Dakota. The temperature reached 100 degrees. This was a complete mileage day with hardly any towns between miles and miles of farmland. This is the part of South Dakota I most dreaded, riding into a headwind on the open plains. Instead, we had a great tailwind, making the day go fast. We're staying in dorms at the Pierre Indian Learning Center.
Today's challenge I put out there was if someone caught one of the many grasshoppers in their hand I'd buy them an ice cream cone. If they caught the grasshopper in their mouth, the prize would be two scoops of ice cream. The winner (catching the grasshopper in his hand) was Marnix, Jan's son, who joined the bike ride this week and plans to ride the rest of the way to Boston.
After dinner, I biked around Pierre for another 10 miles to explore the city. I saw part of the Lewis and Clark trail where they had a confrontation with the Teton Sioux in 1804.
Today's challenge I put out there was if someone caught one of the many grasshoppers in their hand I'd buy them an ice cream cone. If they caught the grasshopper in their mouth, the prize would be two scoops of ice cream. The winner (catching the grasshopper in his hand) was Marnix, Jan's son, who joined the bike ride this week and plans to ride the rest of the way to Boston.
After dinner, I biked around Pierre for another 10 miles to explore the city. I saw part of the Lewis and Clark trail where they had a confrontation with the Teton Sioux in 1804.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Grasshoppers, Mt. Rushmore, Badlands, and Wall Drug
From the title you can see the wild contrast each day can bring. I'm now writing from the Haakon County Public Library in the town of Philip. I just arrived and set up my sleeping pad in the gym at Philip High School and wanted to get you caught up on the last few days.
The thing is, you could ask any of the riders where we were yesterday or two days ago and only a handful would even remember -- or at least it takes a bit of thought as we just keep pedalling forward each day. But some rides are absolutely glorious and riding from Custer to Rapid City, South Dakota was one of those days. And, that was three days ago (July 14).
I left Custer around 7 a.m. and rode out alone. Normally we eat together but I thought it would be nice to eat at a local cafe -- I met a few other riders and had a nice green chile breakfast burrito. Then the ride through the hills and forest of the Black Hills was cool, shady and perfect weather. Our route took me through the Needles Highway and the Cathedral rocks weaving through hills and tunnels and bridges ("Pig Tail Bridges") and the Mt Rushmore Monument. The strange thing is, the ride was so good and perfect that even without Mount Rushmore it would have been a highlight ride. Still, we climbed a steep grade to see Mt. Rushmore and I rewarded myself with a rootbeer float, sat in the shade and just enjoyed looking at these four great presidents. The funny thing is is that this ride was one of the more difficult in terms of climbing -- not as bad as we had last week but it was so beautiful and I had so much energy, along with three and a half weeks of riding behind me, that it just was a wonderful ride. I'm not tiring - but actually enjoying the rides more and more even though there are few "easy" days.
While the Mount Rushmore day was a scenic and challenging ride, the next day was more of a milage day -- riding from point A to Z and killing as many miles as quickly as possible. Yesterday was a solo ride -- but going longer distances alone with little to see is tougher than tough. I rode with three other riders in what we affectionally call "The Jan Train." Jan is from The Netherlands and often rides with his son, Marnix, and Martin from the UK. Chuck from Missouri also is a founding member of the Jan Train. They ride fast but it stretches me and it is a great way to kill many long miles as fast as possible. We rode 84 miles from Rapid City to Interior, South Dakota. Interior is just outside of the Badlands National Park. It is one of those three churches, two bars and 67 people kind of places -- with little or no shade in the campground! The best part was that I could do laundry and it dried on a line in less than a half hour. The temperatures are increasing and the sun is getting brighter. Our cold days in Seattle are well behind us and we can feel the heat bringing it on -- the humidity is yet to hit us though -- but it is coming!
Today is Friday -- July 16. Every day seems like a Saturday so we often ask each other, "What day is this?" Normally we look around at each other until someone figures it out. But mostly we don't care -- the main thing is where we are going the next day and if it is more of a scenic day or a milage day. But just like our Mount Rushmore day a few days ago, today was another All-Star day -- leaving early and riding in the morning for about 30 miles through the Badlands National Park. There was little traffic and I felt as if we were as close to riding on the moon as I will ever get -- what an interesting sight. I've been to the Badlands, but never cycled through it -- and it makes a big difference. You just have a chance to enjoy it longer and take it in as you go from one rock formation to the next. For lunch we arrived in the city of Wall, South Dakota -- had our daily picnic at the local park in and then wandered through the famous Wall Drug. Lately with the heat I can't help myself -- I had my second Rootbeer Float of the trip. Others enjoyed the five cent coffee. The rest of the day I joined the Jan Train again and we shot out of town for another 35 miles to the town of Phillip. Today had that nice combination of scenic riding in the Badllands along with some fun cycling at nice pace with a good group of guys in the afternoon. A day like today was great for me -- a good national park and being stretched with some faster riders. It was hot -- in the upper 80's -- but a good tail wind made it a nice ride.
Oh, and the grasshoppers. The last few days the roads have been lined with grasshoppers. We've been crunching them for miles on end. On occassion they hop on our back and ride along but for the most part they are popping up along the road everwhere.
We finish our fourth week of cycling across America tomorrow as we go from Philip to Pierre, South Dakota -- a long 89 miles. Looks like it will be a hot one. Last night, or was it the night before, our leader Greg Walsh mentioned that we have less than 2500 miles to go. We finish our fourth week out of the nine week trip tomorrow. Time to get back to the Philip High School and hit the showers. Thank you for following along.
The thing is, you could ask any of the riders where we were yesterday or two days ago and only a handful would even remember -- or at least it takes a bit of thought as we just keep pedalling forward each day. But some rides are absolutely glorious and riding from Custer to Rapid City, South Dakota was one of those days. And, that was three days ago (July 14).
I left Custer around 7 a.m. and rode out alone. Normally we eat together but I thought it would be nice to eat at a local cafe -- I met a few other riders and had a nice green chile breakfast burrito. Then the ride through the hills and forest of the Black Hills was cool, shady and perfect weather. Our route took me through the Needles Highway and the Cathedral rocks weaving through hills and tunnels and bridges ("Pig Tail Bridges") and the Mt Rushmore Monument. The strange thing is, the ride was so good and perfect that even without Mount Rushmore it would have been a highlight ride. Still, we climbed a steep grade to see Mt. Rushmore and I rewarded myself with a rootbeer float, sat in the shade and just enjoyed looking at these four great presidents. The funny thing is is that this ride was one of the more difficult in terms of climbing -- not as bad as we had last week but it was so beautiful and I had so much energy, along with three and a half weeks of riding behind me, that it just was a wonderful ride. I'm not tiring - but actually enjoying the rides more and more even though there are few "easy" days.
While the Mount Rushmore day was a scenic and challenging ride, the next day was more of a milage day -- riding from point A to Z and killing as many miles as quickly as possible. Yesterday was a solo ride -- but going longer distances alone with little to see is tougher than tough. I rode with three other riders in what we affectionally call "The Jan Train." Jan is from The Netherlands and often rides with his son, Marnix, and Martin from the UK. Chuck from Missouri also is a founding member of the Jan Train. They ride fast but it stretches me and it is a great way to kill many long miles as fast as possible. We rode 84 miles from Rapid City to Interior, South Dakota. Interior is just outside of the Badlands National Park. It is one of those three churches, two bars and 67 people kind of places -- with little or no shade in the campground! The best part was that I could do laundry and it dried on a line in less than a half hour. The temperatures are increasing and the sun is getting brighter. Our cold days in Seattle are well behind us and we can feel the heat bringing it on -- the humidity is yet to hit us though -- but it is coming!
Today is Friday -- July 16. Every day seems like a Saturday so we often ask each other, "What day is this?" Normally we look around at each other until someone figures it out. But mostly we don't care -- the main thing is where we are going the next day and if it is more of a scenic day or a milage day. But just like our Mount Rushmore day a few days ago, today was another All-Star day -- leaving early and riding in the morning for about 30 miles through the Badlands National Park. There was little traffic and I felt as if we were as close to riding on the moon as I will ever get -- what an interesting sight. I've been to the Badlands, but never cycled through it -- and it makes a big difference. You just have a chance to enjoy it longer and take it in as you go from one rock formation to the next. For lunch we arrived in the city of Wall, South Dakota -- had our daily picnic at the local park in and then wandered through the famous Wall Drug. Lately with the heat I can't help myself -- I had my second Rootbeer Float of the trip. Others enjoyed the five cent coffee. The rest of the day I joined the Jan Train again and we shot out of town for another 35 miles to the town of Phillip. Today had that nice combination of scenic riding in the Badllands along with some fun cycling at nice pace with a good group of guys in the afternoon. A day like today was great for me -- a good national park and being stretched with some faster riders. It was hot -- in the upper 80's -- but a good tail wind made it a nice ride.
Oh, and the grasshoppers. The last few days the roads have been lined with grasshoppers. We've been crunching them for miles on end. On occassion they hop on our back and ride along but for the most part they are popping up along the road everwhere.
We finish our fourth week of cycling across America tomorrow as we go from Philip to Pierre, South Dakota -- a long 89 miles. Looks like it will be a hot one. Last night, or was it the night before, our leader Greg Walsh mentioned that we have less than 2500 miles to go. We finish our fourth week out of the nine week trip tomorrow. Time to get back to the Philip High School and hit the showers. Thank you for following along.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Dollar A Mile Update
Thanks so much for your contributions to the Dollar A Mile effort! You've given $2840 so far, getting Scott through Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Only $1360 to go to get Scott all the way to Boston. All of Scott's expenses are covered for the bike ride so all funds raised are going to our community development ministry with Mission: Moving Mountains, a ministry of the Navigators. Check out more information about Mission: Moving Mountains here.
H & B Souvenirs, Guns and Switchblades
We just passed Crazy Horse and I'm writing to you from the Custer Public Library. We are staying tonight at Custer City High School, South Dakota. Public Libraries are about the only place I can get to with a computer to do the blog so it has been a bit of a Public Library drought of recent. And, there is always a time limit to sqeeze in emails and then shoot a quick blog entry so editing is not much of an option!
We ended our third week of cycling in a great location, the KOA at the foot of Devils Tower National Park. And, there is basically only one thing to do there so we enjoyed hiking around Devils Tower, doing laundry and found a place to watch the World Cup (albiet it was in Spanish at a local Saloon). About four of our riders are from The Netherlands so we supported them -- even though they lost to Spain 1-0.
Yesterday we rode into South Dakota from Devils Tower (Wyoming). It was a long 92 mile ride but the view was quiet spectacular as we rode through Spearfish Valley in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Lots of rolling hills, rivers and forest. We continued on throught the Black Hills today and rode from Leads to Custer -- 62 miles but lots of hills along the way. I rode a good portion with Philippe, a semi-retired lawyer from Paris who has a great interest in American culture and a deep interest in the values of the American people -- he has even been riding with an American flag sticking out of his bike. And, his wife is also a Librarian so it has been a fun to connect with him -- we had a good time hiking around Devils Tower on Sunday as well. He is a walking encyclopedia of American history and culture. Later I connected with Chuck from Colombia, Missouri and we helped each other through some headwinds and hills to finish the day. The highlight of the day was riding bye the Crazy Horse monument. Tomorrow we'll spend some time at Mt. Rushmore as we continue towards the Bad Lands.
After the Crazy Horse monument there was a store called "H & B Souvenirs, Guns and Switchblades." I was sort of hoping for a coffee shop instead so we continued on to the town of Custer. Well, my computer says my time is finished -- till the next public library . . . thanks so much for following along. It has been an encouragement to see so many people that are behind us in this ride rooting us on. Thank you, thank you.
We ended our third week of cycling in a great location, the KOA at the foot of Devils Tower National Park. And, there is basically only one thing to do there so we enjoyed hiking around Devils Tower, doing laundry and found a place to watch the World Cup (albiet it was in Spanish at a local Saloon). About four of our riders are from The Netherlands so we supported them -- even though they lost to Spain 1-0.
Yesterday we rode into South Dakota from Devils Tower (Wyoming). It was a long 92 mile ride but the view was quiet spectacular as we rode through Spearfish Valley in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Lots of rolling hills, rivers and forest. We continued on throught the Black Hills today and rode from Leads to Custer -- 62 miles but lots of hills along the way. I rode a good portion with Philippe, a semi-retired lawyer from Paris who has a great interest in American culture and a deep interest in the values of the American people -- he has even been riding with an American flag sticking out of his bike. And, his wife is also a Librarian so it has been a fun to connect with him -- we had a good time hiking around Devils Tower on Sunday as well. He is a walking encyclopedia of American history and culture. Later I connected with Chuck from Colombia, Missouri and we helped each other through some headwinds and hills to finish the day. The highlight of the day was riding bye the Crazy Horse monument. Tomorrow we'll spend some time at Mt. Rushmore as we continue towards the Bad Lands.
After the Crazy Horse monument there was a store called "H & B Souvenirs, Guns and Switchblades." I was sort of hoping for a coffee shop instead so we continued on to the town of Custer. Well, my computer says my time is finished -- till the next public library . . . thanks so much for following along. It has been an encouragement to see so many people that are behind us in this ride rooting us on. Thank you, thank you.
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