Day 23 Rapid City, SD to Wall, SD

Day 23

Well, what can I say? 57 miles of rolling hills, lots of hay fields and a few corn fields, very warm...
Here's a few interested bystanders...

We did do 19 miles on the interstate today. This is a view from there...see what I mean?

So the big news was Wall Drugstore in Wall, SD...duh! Yeah, that's me...the one on the right...

Our motel has an outdoor pool...yep, reaaaalllll nice!

Day 21 Lusk, WY to Hot Springs, SD

Day 21


We're out early again this morning for a quick 91 miles....did I say that? More high range and grasslands. The forecast is for N winds...guess which way we're going? Yep right into it. The morning is clear and warms up quickly. I saw this sign and wondered what they raised there on the Boner Ranch...??? And then there was this creek...named for...somebody's mother in law...heck I don't know. The sides of the road here are apparently planted with sunflowers. Really colorful. Almost as colorful as the mornings signage!




At mile 56 we cross the state line into South Dakota! Pretty inauspicious signage for SD...a plywood billboard...with bullet holes in it...thats Todd, Sandy and yours truly...

I stopped in Edgemont for a sandwich at lunch. Saw another dead rattlesnake on the road out of Edgemont. Some of these coal trains were loaded for shipment to Chicago.

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so another day done...I'm tired...duh...tomorrow is Mt Rushmore and Crazyhorse!

Day 20 Casper WY to Lusk WY

Day 20
Day 19 was a rest day in Casper.

Today we are headed for Lusk, WY. It’s a mere 106 miles but the terrain is fairly flat, just rolling hills. Most are around a half mile to one mile long. I’m out at 6:30 or so. The weather is nice for riding. Rangeland for the most part. This our route on the interstate for a few miles this morning.





Along the way is a chapter from history. It's an interment camp for Germanic folks during WWII. An old barracks was still standing next door.







The highpoint of the day is the town of Douglas. This is apparently the Jackalope capital of earth. Who invented this stuff anyway? Gotta admit, it's entertaining.









The are a couple of statues of jackalopes in town, one of which Ian is apparently attracted to...hmmmm....ya gotta love the Scotsman!



Here's a few mounted heads in the railway museum.





This place is a treasure. Here are a few pics of the cars and an old steam engine. Remarkable display.








In town I found some signage that tickled me. The liquor store’s sign says drive through the window…seems a messy way to pick up your favorite beverage…hummm

And the White Wolf Saloon…beer is free…tomorrow….Hummm again…

In the afternoon, I passed an old school…all boarded up…signs of days gone by… again.



And the town of Lost Springs…population 1…interesting that there appears to be a bar in Lost Springs…and a post office…you could be the mayor and fire chief…lol











And as I rode along, a thunderstorm was brewing just to the south of me. I was under the fringe of clouds and actually got a smattering of rain, which felt pretty good. The sky was blue on one



side and then black with lightening and thunder. Neat weather phenom!

When we arrived in Lusk, we hear of a parade to happen later in the pm. It turns out to be a typical small town event…Americana at its best…lots of horses and wagons…old cars…a bunch of guys on bareback horses dressed like Indians riding helter skelter through and around other parade participants.




The drivers of the tractors are about 9 and 12. And a smattering of old cars. Also your garden variety candidates running for office…and rescue and fire trucks…fun stuff!



Here's a pic or two of our group mixing in the revelry. I wonder what the Swiss riders were thinking???

Day 18 Riverton WY to Casper Wy

Day 18

This pretty much sums up the day....120 miles of range and prairie...several pitstops, like Hiland...yet we were lucky in a way...little wind through most of the day...mild weather...mild uphill for 40-50 miles and then about 40 miles of mild downhill. Once upon a time 120 miles would have put me into convulsions...I finished the day feeling tired but still in one piece. And I got on the scales this morning after breakfast and am down to 235. Wow...

Early in the morning,(we left at 5:50 am) we watch the sun come up pedaling along at 15 mph. These rock formations are spectacular in the the early am light.

Later in the day we find Hell's Half Acre. Its hard to capture on camera. A large canyon, carved out of the vastness of the Wyoming prairie, opens up as if the earth was pulled apart. Very rugged. The story on the board above tells all.


Here's another sign of better days gone by, the Tumble Inn...with sizzling steaks! And here's another sign...of Wyoming law? Ya gotta love this place!

And finally, a view from the handlebars...the road and prairie just go on and on and on...

You can't see the antelope, but they are in the center of the pic! There are hundreds along the way. Pretty skittish when you stop...can you say...hunting season!

Here's an interesting pic. I think I'm gonna like Casper.

Day 17 Dubois Wyoming to Riverton Wyoming

Day 17

Its cool this morning...in the 40's. No so surprising since we are at 7000 ft in Dubois. Interesting little cowboy town. Mark and I went out for a beer last night to a neighborhood bar next door to the motel. We were a tad out of place in our sandals and shorts...everybody else(locals)were in cowboy hats and boots. They were square dancing in the back room and I think all 900 residents of the town might have been in there! Its still legal to smoke in public places in Wyoming I guess. so it was a short night for us!

Antlers are still popular here. Wagin loads...sculptures...you name it and its made of antlers. And skulls! oh well. We leave early for our daily 80 miles! A gentle headwind but really manageable. The rock formations are marvelous.

This is some ranchers gate post. Interesting. Lots of wide open range framed by snowy mountains on the north and south(we are generally headed east).

And here's moi. Early and still in my brand new rain coat(breaks the wind nicely). My beautiful GF bought it for me before I left home! That's the Wind River behind me. Just so you'll know! There will be a test!

The early morning sun on the hills brings out the colors! Can you say, wow!

One of our SAG stops is next to this old motel. Vestiges of days gone by.



And late in the day, I find a tiny Catholic church. Its well maintained and something not seen anywhere else.

So...here I am in central Wyoming. I finish the day feeling good...although tomorrow is 120 miles to Casper. We'll talk tomorrow!