July 1, 2016
Day 29 - Devils Tower to Spearfish
Well, the wind was really blowing before dawn.
And blowing in what seemed to be the right direction.
So I was up again at a ridiculous hour and on the road.
It's always nice riding at dawn.
The roads are empty and you can hear the birds singing.
Very, very soft and gentle. Plus a tailwind.
For five miles.
Then the pavement disappeared - milled surface.
Jiggle, jiggle, jiggle, jiggle.
But you get used to it.
Stopped at the ag store in Hulett for breakfast.
They had Wifi - but, apparently, the journal entry didn't stick.
Then it was back out there - some more construction - but an empty road, still.
After a climb up to one divide, then it was another up Beaver Creek to Bearlodge Summit.
Overcast - with a slight headwind - kinda chilly.
I stopped at the famous Aladdin General Store. It's for sale.
I got a drink and chips and asked about water.
The lady said, "You have to buy water." And laughed.
Hope they never find a buyer. They want $1.5 million - hah!
Maybe my negative thinking caused the wind to come up. Don't think so.
But as I left Wyoming for the open prairies of South Dakota, the winds howled.
It was a diagonal headwind - 25 mph to 35 mph. Uggghhhhh!
I struggled to get to Belle Fourche and went straight for the Hardees.
I just wanted to get out of the wind.
After a long stay - with a milkshake for dessert - I got up the nerve to head south.
The first few miles of US 85 were a nightmare -
heavy traffic, solid rumble strips, and a shoulder that had just been tarred.
The old road to Spearfish was two miles longer, but I took it at first chance.
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Got into Spearfish only to discover that the city campground charges each cyclist $20 per tent. They say on their website that the general camping area is charged according to space. Yeah. Right. Same price for a truck pulling a trailer. Massively huge people waddling from RVs to the picnic tables.
Instead, I went to an AA meeting - which I probably needed - and tossed up my tent in Steve's back yard. After a good meeting. Take that, RVers!
Today's ride: 66 miles (106 km)
Total: 1,365 miles (2,197 km)
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