The temps were in the low 80's and the wind was from the NW. Last night we had a tornado warning and the wind was 40+.

The senior center fed us and they did a good job. These people could cook! After we ate they played dance music (live band). The tornado warning put a damper on the dancing.

The food on the trip has been great. The riders like sleeping in their tents as it is so quiet. The air is fresh and nice. Some of them say it is going to be hard to give up their tents and may put them up in the back yard.

The ride today was from Newcastle to Custer. The Black Hills are wonderful this time of year. The wind was to our backs all the way. The hills were to our front all day. We stopped at Jewel Cave for lunch and many of the riders took a tour. Before that we went past an oil well dug by hand. Several of us stopped. They claim it was the first oil well dug. Just before we got to Custer we stopped and took a tour of the National Wood Carving Museum. They had a great display of the best carvings in the U.S. They had 6 professional carvers working today. I spent about an hour there. Most of the riders went to see Crazy Horse. It was only a 13 mile round trip.

The weather forecast is for mid 80's with NW winds until next Monday for the area around Rapid City.

We eat in a local restaurant tonight. It cannot measure up to the last 2 nights. We see Mt. Rushmore tomorrow

I rode around this area and took some pictures of this very interesting area. This gave an extra 15 miles. I feel great. We climbed 2492 feet today.

We went up to Mt. Rushmore. All 18 miles of climb and then 2 more to the Visitor Center. The air was so clear and the sun was perfect. I took a picture and when I reviewed it, it was blank. That was at the end of the ride. I took some others from outlooks and they came out.

The ride was 68 miles + 4 to the visitor center. We has 2 options: 1) a harder climb with great views; 2) a 2 mile climb as opposed to 6, but the views were not as great. Neither option affected the Rushmore climb. I elected 2 as I am still getting back into the ride. What I did see on my climb was a 6 point buck with the fuzz still on the antlers. He was about 6 feet from me and did not move. I also had to wait as a herd of buffalo crossed the road in front of me. I saw an albino fawn watching me ride by. Wild turkeys were everywhere. Wild tourists were also everywhere. I had to stop as they took their picture in a one car tunnel

Everyone is having fun. The rides are hard but they give everyone satisfaction. The people running the ride do everything they can to make sure everyone gets what they want or need.

Yesterday I was not sure the food would be good. It was good, but did not have the live factor that the groups give it. The picnic lunches are always a high light of the day. They always have several salads made with fresh ingredients. They had blue berries in one of the salads today. If there is something you want, it will be there for lunch tomorrow.

The roads today were excellent as always. I only wish we could have as good a set of roads in SLO! We had some good wind and some bad wind today.

After traveling the back roads of WY and seeing all the poverty, SD is a real contrast. SD is growing and the farms are producing. In WY we passed deserted farm after deserted farm.

Where we went: We left Custer to travel down beautiful Highway 16. The country side was great We went by several lakes and ponds. We got into buffalo country. They roam free and can be on the road with you. We were warned that they are dangerous. We stopped at Hole In The Wall for water. We climbed to Rushmore and had lunch in Keystone. There was a lot to see and do in Keystone. Some of us looked in the art stores. It was then on to more rolling hills. The only kind of road they make in SD is either up or down! I have used my granny gear more in the last 3 days than it has ever been used. Lots of hills like Printz, but miles long.

I feel good and am taking it easy on the rides.

We are staying at a KOA and have to be shuttled back to a town of 67 people. (I assume for dinner – Leona)

I finished early today. Rode the last 15 miles with a person who lived in Arizona for 8 months and Vermont for 2 and traveling. Retired from the state of Vermont. Lots of fun stories.

We have had two people hurt on the trip to date. One hit a railroad track wrong and broke her hip. The other one hit some gravel on a steep down hill and broke her collarbone. She is traveling with us and may get a tandem. She has a friend that could ride the front.

The people and the staff are so nice and we are all looking out for each other. Drivers outside off the cities are very nice. In the larger cities they are more aggressive.

We go back into the Bad Lands again tomorrow.

The second half of the ride was through grain fiends that they are just starting to cut. We will see more of this tomorrow. We started in Interior and ended at the Phillip high school in Philip, SD. Total distance was 69 miles. We climbed about 2000 feet.

We passed through 2 major towns. Quinn, population 44, and Cottonwood, population 12. The people in all the towns have been very nice to the riders.

An observation on drivers in SD is that they move to the other side of the road to go around a rider.

Food was great last night and all day today.

It is hot here (95). We have had a strong head wind all day.

It was hot today and windy in the wrong direction part of the time. By the end of the ride the wind was in the right direction. The temperature was 110 in the shade, but no shade on the road. They put out 2 extra water stops because it was so hot. At one point when I was on a road with steep banks on each side I looked down at my thermometer and it was 115. Today I went through four 60 oz. hydration packs (yes Gatorade) and four 24 oz. water bottles.

This segment did not have anything that was real special. Some wheat fields and lots of hay fields

We are staying the night at an Indian boarding school. Each of us has a room. As it is so hot, this is nice. The rooms are air-conditioned. Tonight dinner is on our own; as this begins our lay over day and we will be here two nights. The tour furnishes dinner tomorrow evening when the new riders join us.

It is good that it is a day off as my feet, hands, and bottom hurt. I think this comes from riding all day in sweat soaked shoes, socks and clothing. Legs are fine.

The food on the ride has been great. Most of the meals are catered by local groups with local flavors. A typical day is as follows:

Breakfast - Several kinds of juice, coffee, tea, milk, sever kind of rolls, sweet rolls, toast, French toast, eggs, some types of lasagnas, bacon, sausage, ham, several kinds of cold cereal, oat meal, and a large selection of fruit.

Lunch - Several kinds of fruit, roles, 7-8 types of bread, 10+ spreads, 3-4 types of fresh salads, meats, cheeses, tomatoes etc., selection of trail mixes, juice, 10+ types of cookies, and several types of pie.

Dinner - Salads, breads and roles, fresh fruits, vegetable, several types of meat, a non meat main dish, potatoes, selection of deserts, juice, and coffee. They usually have a regional specialty. Sometimes we have ice cream. We have not had a bad meal. Most have been outstanding.

Composition of the group:
40% are women
60% are men
5% age 18 - 29
25% age 30 - 39
50% age 40 - 59
20% age 60 - 75
30% non US
70% US

The lady with the broken collarbone plans to ride part of a ride in 1 week [Perhaps she's Tyler Hamilton's sister?].

The first 15 miles of the ride went along the Missouri River. There were many outstanding views of the river and the land around the river. I did not see any boats on the river.

Next we turned inland and had wheat on one side of the road and corn on the other. The farms were just getting the combines going. Climbing a hill there were 3 huge machines coming down the road at me. I made it past. Later I think they put the 3 machines together to make a combine.

We had lunch on the front lawn of a local farm. They were very nice hosts.

We crossed Crum creek Sioux Indian reservation. What was nice to see is that you could not tell you were on a reservation.

I think we are about to catch up to the rainstorm by the end of this week. Hope not, but we have been really lucky so far.

Last night and tonight we are staying in the same towns as the lung association ride. They have 27 riders. They wish they had our food. Starting tomorrow they head south and we go north. I do not know what we think we will see, but I am sure there is a reason.

Today on the ride we went past 3 types of hay (wild hay, feral hay & domesticated hay. We went along the James River and passed over it. It looked so peaceful you would never know all the problems it has caused.

There were 2 symbols for the area (the worlds largest pheasant & The big white buffalo). Both were made of artificial materials.

There was a graphic reminder of impact of recent storms. An area next to the road was hit by a tornado. The trees were broken and slabs had no buildings on them. They were working on a building that was only half there.

Last night in Miller after I sent in my update several dozen combines rolled though town. Some were brand new and the rest had seen service. They were all green John Deeres.

De Smet looks like it is doing well as a town. It has lots of nice older homes and some good new homes.

In the past 2 days we have been riding through massive fields of corn, wheat and soy. Every inch is planted. We had not seen any cattle for 2 days. Today we passed herds of cattle.

This area is full of large ponds (some areas where corn will not grow). A great white egret was fishing in one of the ponds. There were also fresh water pelicans around the ponds. Deer were present and so were people who were fishing.

We passed the first junkyard in the past 4 days. Most of the junk cars have been left where they died.

The ride took us through Bryant where we visited an assisted living facility. The riders talked with the residents. They had cookies and punch for the riders. Everyone had a good time. We were also interviewed by the local newspaper. This is great publicity and a positive experience for the residents.

A dog ran along side of me for 5 miles today. He just wanted to show me that it was a better runner than I was a bike rider. He eventually turned around and went home. Darn, alone again!

We go directly East from here. The forecast is for rainstorms. We are all hoping this disappears by tomorrow!