A Ride in the Country: 07/17/16

Sunday, July 17, 2016

A New Time Zone / Day Off

Arrived in Pierre, SD yesterday afternoon after a 90 mile battle with the wind. Did not take many pictures as the landscape consisted mostly of miles and miles of wheat.

The wheat is ready for harvest and convoys of large trucks filled with the golden grain and large harvesters seemed to be everywhere.

We got to Pierre (pronounced by the locals as PEER ) and crossed the Missouri River (again) and into Central Time

For the next day we are staying at the Indian Learning Center, a spartan but comfortable place for some downtime.

One more week on the Cycle America portion of the tour. Next Saturday we will link up with our RAGBRAI team.

This morning I am doing laundry. The machines here at the Learning Center are like something out of Star Wars.

Last evening at dinner we met the Mayor of Pierre, Laurie Gill. She and her husband were eating at the same restraunt and she came over to our table and welcomed to her city.

George, my friend from the UK was impressed that the "Lady Mayor" would be seen with us common folk so he struck a respectful" pose.

About the Ride

For many years one of the items on my “bucket list” has been a cross country bike ride. It looks like this summer it will happen. Bright and early on Sunday, June 19, I will join up with my brother-in-law and several other riders in Seattle, to begin an adventure that will take us through 7 states and across the Cascade and Rocky Mountains. We plan to join our RAGBRAI team near Council Bluffs and will end the ride with Team Animals at the Mississippi River near Davenport, Iowa, on July 30.

The 3000 +/- mile ride will take us through some extraordinary country. Devil’s Tower, West Yellowstone and Jackson Hole are only few of the cool places we will see. Over the 37 days we will climb a total of 113,000 feet.

I have been training since the fall and still have a way to go but am looking forward to the challenge and adventure.

Depending on my access to the internet along the route, I plan to use this blog to chronicle the trip for anyone who might find my trek of some interest.