Day 21 Rapid City to Kadoka

Day 21 Rapid City to Kadoka

A rough day.

We started out the day, pretty normally and were about last out of camp. The "Scott Train" was cruising along and then we were derailed at the coffee shack. However standing there caffeinated ourselves we noticed the looming thunderstorm, looming just a little closer. What happened to the 10% chance of rain? Apparently we were riding on that one day in 10, when it actually rained.

We were trying to outrun the storm and get ahead of it as it was blowing across us. wE were cookng along at 23-24mph, and I was worried that with such a hard push in the morning that we might overly tire ourselves for the end of the day. Afterall it was a 102 mile day.

And just after we made teh first water stop and headed out, hear came the rain. First just a sprinkle, then enough to run off the helmet and get our tires and wet and slick and then it started to sting as it was a thunderstorm and blowing!!! We were having a conversation about what constituted bad enough weather to pull over, when I called it and turned out. I saw a closed convenience, but they had an awning and there was not another building as fars as I could see. Everyone followed and huddled. 15 minutes later it was over and we were on our way.





From there were rolling out into golden fields of wheat grass and prairie, but I just wasn't feeling at my peak and was having a tough day.

Midday checkpoint we came in for water near Tatanka Trading post. This is all the area where Dances with Wolves was filmed and where all that story took place. What that means to the non-history folks, is that there aren't many trees, so it isi very exposed, hot and windy and the flies BITE! And yes there are lots of flies.

From there Scott and Stephen took off riding strong and I hung back with Kari and Alison. Actualy I was clinging for dear life to hang with them. Like I said I just wasn't feeling that great.

From there we entered the Badlands of South Dakota.



Badlands is such a surreal landscape. However, travelling though it at 12mph on a 100+ day is not really the way to see it. I just have to say. It wore us down and down ... and down. Finally we got to the Visitor Center and had a chance to cool off. As cool as the landscape was, we were just hot, tired and our feet hurt from the super heat. And looking ahead we had huge hill to climb. But we pulled ourself up by the pedals so to speak and headed out.



At after only 80 miles into the ride and after the hill climb, I finally felt like I had warmed up and was into the ride. The last 10 miles of the ride are always the toughest miles. Whether we have done 100 miles or 55, the last 10 miles are just tough. Well these 10 were one steep rolling hill after another. The route guide looked like 3 or 4 hills, but after 7 or 8 hiulls we were so ready to be done, we were jsut thankfuyl to roll into camp at Kadoka.

Camping in a hot, dry city park in Kadoka was not what you would refer to as paradise. Trying to setup 3 or 4 tents in the shade of a few spindly trees was a very calculated chore. But the treasure that allowed was for us to unpack our get and get to our bathing suits so that we could go to the City pool. Now that was finally refreshing. In and out of the pool 2 or 3 times to cool off and then dry off and then cool off again. It was trully wonderful.

For as hot and miserable as the ride had been, Kadoka's people were truly the best. The self appointed mayor, Harry, came by the park to check on us and loan us his personal minivan for us to take to work while he stay behind to watch our camp. Riding in a car was a surprisingly awkward experience. The only other time I had been in a car since the ride start a month ago, was when I went to look for my lost silver ring.

Kari, did remember how to drive and got us safely to the H&H restaurant that catered a really terrific dinner. Although I am not a Fried chicken fan, the fried Chicken as well as the rest of dinner was just fantastic! Finally armed with the keys to the city we managed to drive our way back to camp, where we also met the Chief of Police and Tony.

Tony volunteered to shuttle drive several of us back and forth to dinner and the store and other places. they brought water and Harry got the owner of the local Grocery store to open up on Sunday, just so Pollie could shop for all of us.

The hospitality was just fabulous and so refreshing after such a long day. "Mayor" Harry is the one with his arms crossed in this picture.




Hot and tired we all headed to bed hoping for a better day tomorrow.