Our first two day break (Monday and Tuesday) was a wonderful respite spent mostly in the Black Hills of South Dakota. My mother shared with me that my Grandmother always talked about how she enjoyed the Black Hills on her own visit with my Grandfather years ago. I now know why. From the unique geology of the Badlands to the picturesque Black Hills to lush and sprawling Custer State Park, we found the whole area breathtaking. Amidst the sight-seeing we found time to have dinner while watching the USA escape with a thrilling win over Ghana in the World Cup. We also dodged a few late afternoon Thunderstorms that produced marble sized hail. We asked the locals if afternoon Thunderstorms and cool weather are the norm for this time of year. All responded that this weather normally occurs 6 weeks earlier. Unfortunately, we found out a few days ago that a tornado hit Wellington Springs, 3-4 days after we biked through the town.

Mount Rushmore: Inspired by the vision, tenacity and sculpting of Gutzon Borglum to create Mount Rushmore. What a tribute to these four Presidents who each in their own right made a major imprint on our nation in its’ first 150 years.

Custer State Park: We managed to spot a herd of Buffalo and enjoyed the unspoiled natural beauty of this park.

Deadwood: We took a tour of the final Gold Rush town of the Old West and at the time a center for lawlessness. Our tour meandered around this city in the Black Hills to see the restorations complete with a visit to Mt Moriah Cemetery and Wild Bill Hickok’s gravesite. They still mine gold in the hills around Deadwood since 1876 shortly after Custer was sent with 1000 men to find if rumors of gold were true! While touring I was reminded to follow my instincts. Wild Bill Hickok always played cards with his back to the wall so he could see what was happening in the saloon and because his eyesight was failing him. One night he joined a card game where the only seat available was with his back to the door. Rather than ask someone to switch with him, he sat down and began to play. It wasn’t long before Jack McCall came in and shot him in the back of the head from three feet. I guess you call that a fatal mistake.

The past four days we biked from Wall, SD through Sundance, Buffalo, and Sheridan, Wyoming to Lodge Pass, Montana logging over 347 miles making our total at 2288 miles to date. We rode through Sturgis, SD, the center for an annual Sturgis Rally for bikers (motorcycle variety). Over half a million visitors participate during the two week event in early August. 95 percent of the town’s revenues come from this two week event!

Wyoming gets the award for the coolest state entry sign. “Forever West” is their Motto. We met up with two families while setting up to take our picture at the state line. One young man was incredulous we were actually biking to Seattle. It just never seemed to sink in.

At Sundance, we had lunch with our ladies who surprised us showing up just in time! I could not help but snap a picture of a wanted sign for The Sundance Kid and the view heading out of Sundance.

Speaking of the Sundance Kid, that reminds me of another movie I just have to watch again: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I keep humming “Raindrops keep falling on my head” while I ride. Yesterday, Alan got in one of his crazy moods at a rest stop, the only civilization between Gillette and Buffalo, Wyoming. He started chirping to Craig….”Yeh, in the Summer of 2014, you get to ride with the Christopher boys” while imitating his best gunslinger moves. 🙂 Alan’s favorite expression since entering Wyoming has been “Cowboy up” meaning to get on our bikes and ride. I have been thinking it is more like “Saddle up” complete with Saddle sores. I suggested to my touring buddies yesterday that if I lived in Wyoming or South Dakota I would enjoy having a horse to ride on the open range. After Craig and Alan busted my bubble with how much work it takes to keep up horses, I decided I might “rent a horse”. Meanwhile, at that same rest stop, the only services of any kind for 70 miles, Craig and I needed a power nap. Alan caught us in the act.

One of the heart warming encouragements we get while pedaling on the road, particularly along I-90 in South Dakota and here in Wyoming, has been truckers and motorists going the other way who beep and wave. Usually it happens when we are climbing a hill or riding into the wind. It doesn’t take words to be encouraged.

The landscape has changed from the plains, wind and Black Hills of South Dakota and eastern Wyoming to the wide open expanse and Big Horn Mountains of Northeastern Wyoming. Yesterday, we crossed a knoll and could see the Big Horn Mountains with Cloud Peak at over 13000 feet covered in snow over 80 miles away. What a sight to see as we biked for the rest of the day!

We rode by an active coal mining area in Gillette where the seams were very evident.

Dinner one evening was at the base of Devil’s Tower in Wyoming. Sheryl fixed Mexican that night and it was delicious.
<a

I will leave you with a taste of our conversation while biking yesterday. A lot of the time there is no conversation, because it is work and a lot to focus on to stay upright. Believe me, a number one priority is to stay upright. Anyway somehow Alan and I were talking about favorite quotes of our Grandfathers'. I spent a lot of time on the farm with my Grandpap Ackerman when I was younger. After listening to his stories, I would head home for the night and always say…"See you tomorrow Grandpap!" His response was always the same: "The Lord willing, I hope, I hope." Alan then responded with one, from our Grandpap Christopher. He had 6 sons, one of which was our father. Our Grandpap used to tell his boys the following: "If you ever get in jail the only way you will get out is when the piss ants carry you through the keyhole." Alan concluded that since he remembered that quote better than I did, maybe he heard it from Dad a few more times. 🙂