A Truly Grand, Grand Finale

Monday July 11th, Hot Springs SD to Rapid City SD, 73 miles, 6400 feet of climbing

My last cycling day was  challenging, inspirational, and in the end, a bit emotional.  We pulled out of Hot Springs into a stiff headwind.  However, a front had come through the prior night and with it cooler temperatures. which were welcomed.  As a result of the winds and a number of steep, challenging climbs, I averaged only about 13 mph for the day, easily the slowest ride of the tour.  But no one cared because our efforts were so well rewarded.

Shortly after leaving Hot Springs we entered Wind Cave National Park where we got to see a number of prairie dog colonies.  My attempts at getting a decent photo of those rascals failed miserably.   Also sadly, the bison herd had decided to take the day off from encounters with cyclists.  After leaving the Park we had our first SAG in the town of Custer.  Leaving Custer we made steep ascents into and by the Crazy Horse Memorial and ultimately, the highlight, Mt. Rushmore.  Our views of Crazy Horse were limited as we weren't particularly interested in paying the admission to see the impressive, but still yet unfinished site.  However  our lucked changed dramatically as we finally ascended  into Mt. Rushmore and were able to park our bikes at the entrance and enter without charge.  All the riders who had never been there were quickly blown away by what they saw.  After we all snapped our requisite  individual  and collective photos we bought and enjoyed lunch there.  The day had perfect sun,  with moderate, even brisk temps.  Just a glorious time to be in the Park.  But alas, we had more work to do.  After a steep descent we had our second SAG in the nearby town of Keystone.  Then 20 more miles, including a couple additional tough climbs into Rapid City.  A truly memorable day on the bike.

Then the emotional part,  as fellow rider Jim and me, had to say our goodbyes to all the other riders and staff who were continuing on across the country to New Hampshire.  We were allowed to speak before the group before dinner.  In a short three and a half weeks I was able to make a number good friends.  We had a lot of laughs together, primarily at each others expense.  Very interesting people from all over the country and the world.  All good folks.  I wish them the best and look forward to charting their progress over the next several weeks as they accomplish their goals.

A service station that time has forgot, outside Hot Springs

The First  Prez from an interesting angle

The Money  Shot

Proof I made it up the steep climb

Taken from the SAG van, I'm second

Murray and Heather from Adele, Australia 

South Dakota

Sunday July 10th, Lusk WY to Hot Springs SD, 92 miles, 3300 feet of climbing

Again we left a little early because of heat.  Our first 45 miles were somewhat routine with a very gradual descent coupled with favorable winds.  However we subsequently took a right turn (at Mule Creek Junction) and began climbing into a stiff headwind which significantly slowed progress.  At the 56 mile mark we reached the South Dakota state line, my last state crossing for the trip.

The final 35 miles into Hot Springs were, well, hot, nearing 100 degrees.  We went straight for the DQ (where else?) for replenishment.  Hot Springs is a small town of about 4,000 in the southern Black Hills.  We had a buffet dinner at the local bowling alley across from the motel.   Interesting spot for cuisine.

East of Lusk WY before the SD line

Final state crossing for me.

Fellow rider Paul, a ABC Chicago  affiliate TV reporter 

A Century into Lusk

Saturday July 9th, Casper WY to Lusk WY, 106 miles, 3200 feet of climbing

We left Casper at 6:30 am in order to complete as much of the day's riding in the cooler morning temps.  It worked for the first 50 or so miles.  We passed through Douglas, the town where the Wyoming State Fair takes place.  I took a photo of a statue of a "jackalope"  a mythical creature which Wyoming has adopted as sort of a mascot- you see them all over.

A few miles out of Douglas the temps started to soar and by the time we hit the small town of Lusk, they were in the mid 90s.   I'm told they peaked late afternoon at 103.  Obviously staying hydrated was a priority and I utilized all the tricks in my bag to do so.  The eastern part of Wyoming is very sparsely populated.  The landscape was high desert with a few low density cattle farms.    Dinner was a pizza party at the motel.

Mythical Wyoming Jackalope

Longhorn steer near Douglas, WY

Downtown Lost Springs, WY, Population 4

Casper Off Day

Friday, July 8th, Off Day in Casper, WY

Today we had a well-earned off day in Casper.  To date, we have cycled 1,359 miles and climbed approximately 48,000 feet.  Only three more cycling days before I hit Rapid City and the end of my tour.  Part of me is saddened that I won't be part of the ongoing group headed to New Hampshire.  But I'll be happy to get home and see Kari and Drew (and Ben, who currently in a summer internship in Delaware).

We are staying at a Ramada about a half mile from downtown.  After doing my laundry and cleaning my bike,  a few of us headed on a one mile walk to the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center.  The interactive museum was a quite interesting presentation of  the history of the Oregon, California, Mormon and Pony Express Trails that all converged in modern day Casper before going their separate ways.

Overlooking Casper

National Historic Trails Interpretive Center

It's 120 miles from Riverton to Casper

Thursday July 7th, Riverton WY to Casper WY, 120 miles, 2900 feet of climbing

Today was the longest distance (120 miles) of the tour but not close to being the longest day.  I was able to average a surprising 18.4 miles per hour, thanks to tailwinds, and a straight, not too hilly route (almost exclusively on Route 26 East).  Actually the day started with headwinds and for the first time we utilized pace lines ( for drafting purposes) for an extended period of time.  However by the second SAG at 61 miles,  the winds were behind us and we no longer needed pace lines and were almost flying into Casper.  In addition to the winds we were very fortunate again with moderate temps peaking in the low 80s.  All in all a day that could have been extremely hard ended up being quite manageable.

There isn't a whole lot between Riverton  and Casper except for some low density ranching.  The highlight was viewing "Hell's Half Acre" at the 75 mile mark, a very deep ravine with caves and rock formations.  Native American tribes used the ravines to drive bison to their deaths during hunts.

We are staying in a Ramada Inn in Casper where we will have an off day tomorrow.  Casper is the second largest city in Wyoming with a population of 55,000.

Inside a small bar in the middle of nowhere Wyoming, where we stopped for our 2nd SAG stop

Hell's One-Half Acre

With Jim from Mass.

N. Platte River coming into Casper

Zooming into Riverton

Wednesday July 6th, Dubois WY to Riverton WY, 79 miles, 1850 feet of climbing

Today was advertised as an "active recovery" day after two hard cycling days.  And for the most part it was.  The ride had an overall 2000 feet descent in elevation spread over nearly 80 miles.  Coupled with a stiff wind that for the most part was a tailwind,  I was able to average 21 mph for the ride, a very brisk pace.  

Along the way I met a self-supported cyclist, Thomas Camero, from Hood River Oregon.  Thomas is part of the "Trans Am Bike Race" from Astoria OR to Yorktown VA.  Thomas will be turning 75 years old next week!  Truly amazing to see how much weight he is carrying on his bike.  He is happily the "Lanterne Rouge" the French term for a competitor in last place in a cycling race.  The term refers to the red lantern hung on the rear vehicle of a passenger railway train.

Today's terrain included a lot of red rocks mountains and at times reminded me of Southern Utah (Moab like).  The last 30 miles turned out to be a bit hairy as the winds started gusting in excess of 30 mph and were crosswinds, affecting the ability to control our bikes.  I was happy to reach the DQ in Riverton, a central WY town of about 10,000.  We had a nice dinner at a local Italian restaurant.

The author outside Dubois

Red rocks near Dubois WY

Self-supported cross country cyclist I met along the way, Thomas Camero, nearly 75 years old