Day 23 Pierre to Miller SD - 74mi

I just wanted to get today done with.  I made a wrong turn at the start and ended up having to climb a big hill twice.  Then I got a flat tire.  At the 1st rest stop I got another flat tire!
After that, I picked Laura up at a gas station, and she pulled me all the rest of the day.  All big farm fields the whole way. With an excellent tailwind, we made great time and ended our ride in the early afternoon.  The school we are staying at in Miller is nice, but the town doesn't have much to offer.  Time to rest to get up early for breakfast duty.

grain tanks

amber waves of grain

Day 22 Kadoka to Pierre SD - 96mi

The day of flats!  All together the group had at least 14 flat tires by the end of the day!  We started the ride on a road that we found had a bunch of little sharp pieces of things all over the road, and many of us got flats throughout the day from them.  I ended up with 2, both the rear tire.
But overall this was a nice ride.  Big wide open prairie lands that were very pretty.  I noticed wildflowers growing in natural gardens by the side of the road at one point and just had to stop to photograph some of them.  Bear with me, I am a gardener.
Another big day done!

Also saw these in Montana and Wyoming.  Don't know what they are, but they smell wonderful!

wild sunflowers

The bull thistles grow short with big flowers here.

These come in pink and magenta too.

Milkweed-favored food of baby monarch butterflies.

Most of the big round bales we see are hay, but these are straw bales which created a stark contrast against the new greenness.

A whole field of wild sunflowers!

wide open prairie!

natures gardens

echinacea

Day 21 Rapid City to Kadoka SD - 102mi

Another century ride down!  We left Rapid City through some gently rolling farmland, then entered an area that really reminded me of scenes from Dances with Wolves.  I kept expecting Kevin Costner t come riding over a hill.  The landscape opened up, and we started riding through the badlands.  I had no idea how expansive this area is, much more than the National Park.  We rode through a huge green valley of National Grassland that was completely surrounded by the badland formations.  After riding through the park the wind picked up quite a bit, and we had to turn right into it to get to Kadoka.  I ended up having to ride 20mi against a raging headwind and hills to boot.  I was exhausted when I finally finished.

Tatonka country

Was that Kevin?

entrance to the badlands

Other signs warned about prairie dogs having plague!

The gal who took my picture told me to give it some 'tude.

Day 20 Rapid City - rest day

I really like Rapid City!  What an interesting city.  Spent the usual time catching up on laundry and even a little sleep, packed up some cold weather clothes/gear no longer needed to be sent home via mail.  Went to church, then rode up to Best Buy to get a better camera that will be easier to use and hopefully will take better pics.  After that I met laura downtown and had dinner at Murphys.  Yesterday we visited the Dublin bar & Grill.  There must be a few Irish in this town!  I rode back to the dorms we were staying at and noticed some lightning to the south.  So I went up a hill behind the dorm.  A small trail led up to a tiny observatory.  As I walked up the hill, a big doe came over the crest, walked by me, and went to lay down on the slope.  She stayed there the whole time I was on the hill.  There was a good view of some of Rapid City from there, and I watched the lightning show and some firework shows continuing to celebrate the 4th.  All in all a really neat rest day.

Our server at Murphy's

Day 19 Newcastle WY to Rapid City SD - 82mi

My favorite day on this ride so far!!!  We left Newcastle and reached the state line of South Dakota by mile 11.  Soon we started our climb up into the Black Hills.  I love the Black Hills.  I don't know why, but they make me feel so good!  After our lunch in Custer, we kept up the climb into Custer State Park, which is infamous for it's buffalos.  About 3mi in, the descent started.  For 17mi through the woodlands of the park and beyond we went down and down.  What a joyous ride!  Then we followed a pretty state highway through some nice farmlands, then onto a large state highway in the open, that was more like a freeway.  20+ mi of hot sun and hills.  But the lure of a rest day ahead made it much easier to simply finish the ride.  Rapid City is an interesting city and we are enjoying exploring it.

open woodlands of the Black Hills

the cattle guard to keep the buffalo in

winding road within the park,
never did see any buffalo-just deer

Day 18 Gillette to Newcastle WY - 76mi

Today started flat & fast.I was at 50 mi by 9:30 am.  There were some ridges after that and my climbing muscles were still tired from yesterday.  So I took it slow and easy- enjoyed watching the wind blow the grasses (there are many different kinds).

During the last 4 mi my seat was hurting badly-hard to sit, so mostly pedaled in standing up.  The senior center where we are staying is nice, but the showers were scalding hot!  Charlton (our ride director) ordered pizza delivered tonight and we also enjoyed salads and a special dessert for the 4th of July.  Very nice.  I hope to stay up long enough to see the towns fireworks at 9:00!

Sharkbait celebrating the 4th

A nice little rest area in the ponderosa pines.

Me

More Wyoming scenery

Some of the many neat grasses.

Day 17 Sheridan to Gillette WY - 112mi

TODAY WAS HARD

112mi

4600ft climbing up and down big ridges

temp in 90s

blazing sun

elevation to 4600ft

The morning went ok- a big climb followed by a nice long descent, with deer, antelope, and pretty horses to see on the scenic hillsides.

But later the climbing, elevation, and hot sun began to tell on us and we became very weary.  I wasn't sure if I would make the last few miles.  They were very tough and went by very slowly.

We were all tired puppies when done.

A BBQ place in town donated a catered dinner to us at the Campbell County Camels gym where we spent the night.

Internet was available but no Facebook.  I enjoyed a Skype video call with my family before bed.

Top of the morning climb!
Thanks Lynn for taking the pic!

There are many roads like this in Wyoming.