Day 21 Lusk to Hot Springs, South Dakota

Today we started in Wyoming and ended in South Dakota.  This is now our fourth state - damn are they wide.  Hard to believe we have been pedaling for 21 days.

The ride today was 92 miles and it started out with a bang.  Last night just after I finished writing my blog, we got a tremendous thunderstorm complete with strong winds and lightning.   You can see and feel these storms coming.  Temperature drops about 10 degrees, winds gets stronger and then the thunders starts with huge bolts of lightning.  The storms only last 10-15 minutes but they are downpours.

As this storm passed I was able to catch a shot of the rainbow in it's aftermath.

Then it was off to bed - hell it was getting close to 7:30 pm.  The ride to Hot Springs was going to be long and hot with two big hills.  One was 4 miles long and the second, steeper hill was 1 mile long (6% grade).

We had planned on getting up at 5:15 but at 4:45 there was a large clap of thunder followed by a downpour.   Woke everybody up at the Covered Wagon Motel.  The day was not starting out as expected.  Guess we should have worn our rain gear to bed..

But the storm quickly passed and we were able to shove off at 6 am.  Unfortunately for a while it looked like the storm was following us.  So we had to go faster than planned to stay ahead of it.

Finally about 8 am the day turned toward the good side and we were able to pedal at our normally slow but steady cadence.  The scenery is beginning to change again.  

While it continues to be mile after mile of plains, we started to see some trees again (have not seen them since the Tetons after leaving Jackson).

About 50 miles into the ride we left Wyoming and entered South Dakota.

Right before this sign there was a sign telling us that we are also entering Buffalo territory.

Kept looking but did not see any.  We are supposed to see a lot on tomorrow's ride.  The road just kept rolling on.

There is nothing more de-motivating to see how far you have to pedal.  Worst once you get to the end, you get to do it all over again.  Nothing interesting to see on either side of the road.  The sun beats down on you - but you pedal on - thinking why?

At about 70 miles into the ride the landscape changes again.   We are now in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Yes, of course the end of the day is spent climbing this damn black hill.  Four miles up, small downhill followed by a 1 mile steep climb.

All along the roadside (for the last 50 miles), you see the following signs.

We are probably 250 miles away from this place - but they want you to remember to stop.  They tout themselves as America's Favorite Roadside Attraction.  It is 76,000 sq.ft.  Not quite sure what this is all about - but I think we hit this place in two days.  Stay tuned for a complete "Yelp review" including my personal {up to} 5 star rating.

But any place that offers bicyclists free ice water can't be all that bad. After a hot day in the saddle we would pay anything for some ice water.    Sure hope those RV people stay out of our way as we head for the coolers.

Well that is it for today.  Should be some great shots tomorrow.  Some buffalo followed by four dead presidents ( Mount Rushmore).  I'll be looking to see if there is indeed space for adding a 5th president - as I have heard there is a push to add Obama onto Rushmore (can you say stimulus?).

Hard riding day to Mount Rushmore as we have to climb 5000 feet and churn out 75 miles.

Thanks for reading (wish I had hoarded some of Ellen's brownies right now).