Hello, South Dakota!

Saturday, July 20, 2013
Day 14 - Gillette, Wyoming to Custer, South Dakota
114 miles
3,820 feet of climbing

Well, we had to say "farewell" to Wyoming today . . . but not until we had some fun riding some big rollers!  Today's route out of Gillette was a gradual downhill grade for the first 30 miles.  It was a nice way to warm up the legs and finally travel at a decent pace (with no headwind - what a treat!).  The weather today was perfect all day - sunny and warm, but it never got uncomfortably hot.  From mile 30 to about mile 80, we rode these big rollers, long but nothing too steep.  Again, without the headwind, we were able to make good time.  We traveled through Upton, Wyoming, which touts itself as the "best town on earth."  A parade was being held there today on the main street, which consisted of about six blocks.  A fire truck in the parade squirted water on us as it passed.  We had our lunch stop at mile 77 at a nice city park in Newcastle.  After lunch, we started our big climb of the day, and it was a doozie.  Not very steep at first, with grades of only 1 to 3%, but once we entered South Dakota at mile 89, the grades started to get significantly steeper, 7 to 8%.  Not nearly as steep as the Big Horn day a couple days ago . . . which was the steepest climb of my entire life - so far, anyway.  It was a fairly long but beautiful climb as we traveled to our destination, the town of Custer.

Did you know South Dakota is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes?

Art got a pinch flat just before the end of our ride today, which, is actually lucky because, if you're going to get a flat, that's the place to get it.  In another stroke of luck, we finished the ride about 10 minutes before it started raining. 

Our motel is right across the street from Flintstone Park, a theme park and camping resort.  It looks like it could be a lot of fun, but, unfortunately, we won't have time to check it out.  We'll be too busy pedaling our way across this great and beautiful country of ours. : )

The elevation profile of today's ride

Art, Gary and Stuart cruising along

Route 16 east . . . all the way to South Dakota

Nice scenery as we leave Wyoming

Art & his Moots in South Dakota

Me- trying out for the South Dakota cheerleading squad

"Welcome to South Dakota.  Here's a big-ass hill for you to climb."

Billowy clouds in the distance

Art & Dave at the last rest stop of the day  - the Black Hills National Forest