Biking with Bill

REUNION RIDE
Note: See Day 22 posted today

We rode out of Rapid City through 5 miles of city and suburban streets on a sunny, warm morning. We had every expectation of a leisurely 57 mile essentially flat ride to Wall, SD. We planned to be finished early and relax for the 117 mile marathon to Pierre tomorrow. Things don’t always work out as expected!

Steve (CO), Joyce’s brother, who rode the Cross Country Challenge in 2004 with Dan, Tim and Kathryn, Joyce, Dale and me, was visiting and had his bike. We had dinner and planned to ride together to Wall. It began on a happy note, but circumstances turned against us. The bridge was out on our scheduled route , so we were diverted to I-90 ...AN INTERSTATE ...for an extra 20 miles UGH! , narrow bike lane, debris, rumble strips, etc.

We did get off and have some great rolling hills in the unpopulated South Dakota prairie lands. We could see the peaks of the Badlands way off in the distant South. Then we were back on I-90 for the last 20 miles.

In the final 5 miles the trouble began—road repaving– with new hot tar and stones. Yes- we rode through it until we could go no further. Our tires were caked with tar, the police were “bonkers” about bikes on what was now a one lane highway. We stopped. The SAG and construction trucks came along to carry us and the bikes over the remaining 3 mile stretch of road work. It was hot. The bikes were a mess. Not a pleasant experience. A stop at the Dairy Queen on the outskirts of Wall helped.

At the motel we all spent a good deal of time cleaning the bikes and tires. I bought a new set of Specialized Armadillo Elites and put them on as I was ready for a necessary change. A little grumbling was heard as you can imagine, but all is well. Chalk it up to “experience’

Wall, SD was so named because it was built on the edge of the northern extension of the “Badlands wall”, and is home to the famous Wall Drugs, which survived the Depression by offering free ice water to thirsty travelers and by building its reputation on friendly service. It is now the main tourist attraction in town.

We’ll be on the road by 5:30am tomorrow to minimize our riding time in 100 degree heat.

Bill 7/11/70