quick stop at MT Rushmore

Last day.

Delivered everyone to airport & hotels & cars.

I'm staying a few days before I return.
It's been a great vacation!

Day 5. The Needles Highway

Last day to ride.

This ride was on The Needles Hwy. The granite rocks are called The Needles. Very low traffic with some fun downhills that were fun. A pickup stopped as I was walking up a hill to ask me if I wanted a lift. Tempting, but I declined.
I stopped at lunch...with 20 mi to go on the. wildlife loop. I was a bit nervous about being out there alone on the prairie with Buffalo crossing the road. It doesn't take much for me to get nervous. There were some good hills that I viewed from the van that made me think I had made a good choice as well

Day 4. More Mickelson Trail

Hill City to Custer

Best ride today. I've figured out why riding is so hard. Beyond my fitness level and my age, the elevation makes it harder than usual. At least that's my guess right now.
This ride was the best so far with some amazing views. The ride was up for 10 miles then a beautiful down. It's "railroad" grade so just plain fun to do.

I was fascinated by all the old downed trees we have seen along the way. Our guides think it is the result of pine beetle damage.

Day 5: the needle hwy

20 mi
Beautiful and unusual rock formations.

Day 4: Hill City to Custer

18 mi
Best ride ever! About 10 miles up to Crazy Horse Monument, then the rest downhill into Custer.
Lots of fallen trees are a curiosity, may be from an infestation of the Pine Beetle.

Day 3: Mickelson Trail

36 mi. out of 49
Deadwood to Hill City
I love rail-to-trails. I get to ride another one. No traffic. Minimal elevation change. The 7 mile chug up, I felt like "the little engine that could". It was worth it...the rewarding miles and miles of down.

Next trip will definitely be with an ebike.

Who we are

2 Guides with over 20 years experience each
A trial lawyer
A retired architect
An anesthesiologist
Retired financial advisors
Retired police officer
A special ed teacher
We are from Oregon, Washington, California, Texas, Colorado, Utah, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Day 2: Suzy

Day 2: Getting set to ride

Day 2: Nemo to Deadwood

26 mi.

After a two hour shuttle we were dropped off in Nemo to ride a highway to Deadwood. We ate some lunch & then we were off.
Mostly uphill made up for yesterday's mostly downhill. So it was hard in the heat of the day... and this is a vacation!

I didn't do the last bit. Whew! It was a very difficult ride.

Badlands as the sun is going down

Day 1. Badlands National Park

22 mi. Mostly down.
The Badlands in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It looks just like all the pictures...but well worth seeing in person. The brochure didn't mention that Native Americans want their land back. An illegal document was used to take the land Surprise, surprise.

The ride was uneventful, but the best way to see this area. It was so quiet during the rare moments that I wasn't being passed by a car.
Our cabin is quite comfy!

Wall Drug

Faced with a declining business, signs outside town along the road for miles saved this business and created a tourist trap for 3 generations of the Hustead family. Coffee is still 5¢ and ice water is free. The business survived and the tiny town prospered from the tourists, stopping off I90 to see oddities like a 60 ft dinosaur that raises its head to frighten onlookers every 12 minutes.

The tour: Woman Tours

14 women and 2 guides. They will keep us going and provide support when needed, even fix a flat and keep us fed and rested with first class accommodations & gourmet meals.

The City of Presidents

Rapid City has extended its connection to the Presidents with statues of the Presidents standing on each street corner.

Arrived

We have arrived in Rapid City, SD the gateway to Mt. Rushmore & The Badlands. The hotel where we are staying is one of the two tall buildings. Suzy is having major sticker shock, but agrees it is worth it.

We drove past Sturgis on our way...a motorcycle haven that I imagine is quite dependent on that once a year event.

Our tour will start tomorrow...

Where’s JoAnn & Suzy

Heading east. Miles on I90. Have you guessed where we might find some good cycling among the historic monuments & National Parks?

Is anyone even following this "monumental"
journey not unlike Lewis's return from the west coast? We stopped in Post Falls ID & Bozeman MT at cheap unmemorable motels. With Covid restrictions they happily forego any pretense of a breakfast.

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Destination?

I know you might curious. 1214 mi. by car? Any ideas?

David is staying home. Our kids on the west coast and lots of friends. He says it's ok for me to go. A good vacation for both of us.

Diving to ride!

Sometimes I think riding my bike is easier than driving for hours in a car. These days 400 miles is about all I can tolerate. Lots of rest stops, too many food breaks and lots of "distraction" food in the car, means I'm stuffed and ready for a hotel bed no matter how cheap. Our 3 day trip on I90 covers lots of familiar territory. There are few changes since I last drove this route 10 years ago. Tomorrow we will venture beyond the familiar.

Leaving home

We left Portland on a beautiful day! A trip away confirms what an amazing place we live in.

We are on the way.

Is this a traffic violation?

Did I forget anything?

Packing for a car journey is lots easier than a loaded bicycle trip or the train or a cruise. Not limited by what I can carry.  My friend & bicycling buddy, Suzy will have her stuff and lots of stores along the way!

Test

Hi all, I'm preparing to go on a weeklong bicycle ride so I am testing this email function before I get on the road.

JoAnn