I am so close to home I can taste it. Yesterday we had an 86 mile ride from Niagara falls to Rochester and today we rode about 95 miles from Rochester to just east of Syracuse. Much of the 2 days was along or very close to the Erie Canal and the terrain and scenery has definitely gotten me into thoughts of HOME. For a Cancer who is very much a home-body, I have struggled being away for now almost 7 weeks. And sleeping in 45 different motel rooms every night for the past 7 weeks is a nightmare.

Now all that remains is 85 miles tomorrow and then a night in Little Falls just east of Utica, before Albany, Brattleboro VT and Manchester, NH before our arrival on Monday in Portsmouth. For me these last few days will be enormously busy and hectic. The plan is to organize a splinter group tomorrow night of several of my penguin friends and allies. The tentative plan is to skip the stay in Albany on Friday and modify that days modest 75 mile ride and extend it to about 110 so that we can stay at HOME in Stockbridge. The decesion will be weather dependent and only if we have the "legs" with a strong start leaving Little Falls, NY on Friday morning. I will have assistance from my good friend and Trojan, Chico who will SAG our luggage and provide support for the Albany to Stockbridge leg. I am already dreaming of a night at home in my own bed and decent meal in place of another Holiday Inn and Old Country Buffet out near the malls in Latham, NY.

It will mean a long ride on Friday and another tough day on Saturday to catch the group in Brattleboro, VT, but worth the effort. This will probably be my last post until I get home and can catch up, because somehow in addition to all of this, I desperately want to return from Brattleboro for Sarah's art show opening at Naumkeg in Stockbridge on Saturday night. Please wish me luck because I will need it!!!!!

Back in the US of A .... sorry for the radio/blog silence. I could lie, say I was out of the country and couldn't update the blog or that while in Canada we were on a different voltage. Or I could say that there was a massive revolt and mutiny within the ranks of the penguins, but I will be honest and say that we have been riding hard with 82 miles on Friday, 68 (that I extended to 92) on Saturday and 78 yesterday that a splinter group led by roommate Charlie extended to 95 on the way into Niagara Falls. This with the ride definately turning more social, with before dinner gatherings at the pub my dedication to any remaining  loyal readers has lapsed.

But have no fear .... all is well. Today is a rest day in Niagara Falls and I will try to catch up.

First of all is the update on the leadership and threatened mutiny. The official leader and ABB commander is Mike Munk a military ex-air force guy that took and instant dislike to me and several other left leaning, long haired, fun loving riders, who he saw as rotten apples which were in danger of spoiling the barrel. Since day one there has been a simmering battle that I often seem to be in the center of regarding the many rules and the "tone" of the ride. I have dutifully followed my mantra of "learn the rules so that they can be broken properly". In the early days of the trip in the harsh, unfamiliar western desert and mountains, where physical survival was an issue, the Commander and his wife Barbara (a motherly type, stickler for the rules and who has not ridden more than twice for a total of 50 miles) and Karen the commander's clone and "adopted" daughter were in control. The support team of Jim (the mechanic from VT), Bud (60 year old, monster rider, lowest ranking worker and sympathetic rebel), MN Jeff and sweetheart Cathy were quietly and respectfully supportive.

As we moved east a series of tragedies that I saw as just Karma befell the leadership. Mike broke his ankle while changing a flat on the van, we lost 3 riders, 2 hotels were overbooked and at dinner and breakfast 3 times we ran out of food, Mike came down with influenza and disappeared for 2 days. These events along with the riders and sympathetic crew beginning to collaborate and get to know one another better began to breed some discontent. All of this, combinned with mellow, Minnesota Jeff and Kathy making some of the decisions led to a desire for change, i.e. sleeping later, more than a half hour between breakfast and "load/departure", dinner at 6 or 7 rather than 5 PM, and more fresh fruit and local produce at the SAGs rather than bananas and plastic Wall-mart oranges. WE WANTED MIKE SHIPPED OUT!!!!! And I thought it might happen ....... but sadly, no such luck.

Mike is still with us, but he seems a bit humbled and somewhat subdued and is showing some small signs of loosening up. Meanwhile I and and a growing number of other "bad apples" continue to swim in the lakes and rivers, have a few cold ones at the bar, ride side by side or even go to the left on a deserted road, show up on time or even late for meetings, go off route to see the sights, sleep out under the stars and increasingly have a lot of fun together.

I will close with some photos of the past few days in Canada which has been very enjoyable and about which I cannot not say enough nice things. The green and increasingly New England-ish scenery, friendly and unpretentious people, smooth well kept, bicycle friendly roads and courteous drivers were a joy.

A Canadian farm with the ubiquitous corn

I tried to get the Maple leaf flag

A nice bike path through Canada

The bridge over the Niagara River to the USA

Two more long Michigan days have brought us to Port Huron. Yesterday was one of those days I had been warned about, a day when you have "wooden legs". The 113 mile ride on Tuesday had taken more out of me than I realized. I my effort to remind the people up front that I could easily ride with them if I wanted to, I had extended myself more than I realized. Also with having lost much of my once voracious appetite at one too many "feed bag buffet" lines; on Wednesday I was out of gas from the start. I spent the day dwadaling around in the middle of the pack, and stopping for a nice big burger and a piece of pie at lunch. Sorry for not posting last night because when I got to the motel and had another buffet dinner, exhausted, I went to bed at 7:30 and slept right through until 6:30 this morning.

Following are some interesting pictures of the Michigan landscape and then I will follow with today's ride beginning with a rain delay and ending with what could be the beginning of some very intriguing drama within the ranks of the penguins. I may be at the helm of a mutiny that is mounting against the ABB commander.

Central Michigan is mostly flat but green and with a large number of wind mills.

More corn .... it's everywhere

Today, Thursday began with heavy down pour and thunderstorms. At breakfast we were told that there would be a one hour delay to the previously announced orders for a 6:00 AM breakfast and a 7:00 AM departure. And instead of Mike Monk (M squared, or M&M) the ex Air Force commander who is normally in command, we were being led by his 2nd in command; Minnesota, mellow Jeff. Apparently M&M after having broken his ankle way back in Idaho was now down with a mysterious influenza and not to be seen. Now ..... there are a few, among my few readers, who know me well enough, to know of my issues with authority figures. And some careful readers might have detected some bristling on my part at the military way in which the trip is often commanded. But I will let events unfold on their own, but clearly something is unfolding with the leadership of the penguin troops.

More insight will follow as things unfold and I have more time to elaborate, but right now I need some rest.

A picture of beautiful Lake Huron and my swimming spot for today. And a beautiful lake side marsh.

Across Lake Michigan yesterday (Monday) which turned out to be a long and tiring day. Then a 113 mile century today has rendered team penguin a tired and ornery bunch tonight. Yesterday was supposed to be a rest day. It started off okay and we were able to sleep late. But after breakfast our orders were to report for duty at the ferry dock at 13 hundred hours (military time for 1 in the afternoon). It was a hot day but the 6 mile ride was not the problem. The problem was arriving an hour early, then standing and waiting in the hot sun, first to get on the boat and then a delay of the boat departing while some huge wind turbine pieces were squeezed into the cargo bay, and then the 4 hour crossing combined with an hours loss entering the eastern time zone. This had us arriving in Luddington, Michigan at 8:30 still with 10 miles to ride to the hotel. On top of that we were starving because about all there was to buy on the boat was popcorn and hotdogs.

Unlike most of the others, peckish and hungry, who dutifully rode to the hotel out beyond town in the "land of Wall-mart" for a choice between McDonalds or Taco Bell, I and 2 other incorrigible friends stopped in the quaint harbor at a micro brew pub for a quick burger and a cold beer. Needless to say it was getting dark when we safely but now happily arrived at the hotel, to be greeted by the anger and hostility of the commander for having violated the rules by riding in under cover of dark.

The next morning, (today Tuesday) upon arising early the penguins were not a happy group. In addition to the previous night's late arrival, a incident from Sunday still was lingering. A middle of the group, pack of 7 riders (actually it was 2 groups who had temporarily melded), crashed in a massive, cascading snowballing heap of bloody road-rash and twisted handle bars on Sunday afternoon. Miraculously no one was seriously hurt and the bicycles all could be patch back together, but the carnage of bodies and frayed nerves, hurt feelings and even some finger pointing was psychodrama for the long ferry ride and added to today's somber mood.

Uncharacteristic of the others, though still still in the dog-house, I felt great. I spent today empathizing with the other penguins and socializing as I rode up through the group after as long a breakfast and as late a start as the commander would allow. I finished the long century up with the WTS (way to serious) folks in time to help unload the luggage, a futile effort to gain the Commander's favor.

No pictures of today's ride, it was a lot like Wisconsin but following are some photos of the crossing of the Lake.

It was a big boat and I did get my 2nd swim in Lake Michigan to keep cool as we awaited our departure.

The eastern shore of Lake Michigan.

View as we landed at dusk

Wisconsin has been a lovely state, much like Vermont and home with rolling hills and dairy farms. Yesterday we rode about 90 miles from Wisconsin Dells into Fond du Lac. This was our 5th long day in a row in which we have covered over 500 miles in 5 days. For the most part I seemed to have settled in and like many of the others established a rythem that is comfortable.

Much of the state we crossed on bike paths or on well kept county roads. Yesterday we finished in Fond du Lac on the foot of Lake Winnebago. Beside the many farms and lakes there were many wind mills.

I actually found the windmills to have a gentle grace and beauty, certainly less optrusive and unsightly than the ubiquitous telephone poles and wires that we all accept and take for garnted. The Wisconsin farmers live side by side with their windmills and I heard little or no noise, except for a gentle whooshing and far less damage to wildlife than the road kill carnage that is normal and accepted due to automobiles.

Yesterday I had a nice swim in Lake Winnebago and today in the much nicer and colder Lake Michigan.

This is me at the light house where we swam on Lake Winnebago.

As a reality check rather than a rider profile today I wanted to rave about how great this ride is, but also to give a list some of the everyday things that I will not miss at all when the ride is finished.

1. Spending 50 straight nights in 50 different motel rooms.
2. Packing up and moving every day
3. Eating breakfast in a hurry without time for a newspaper and a 2nd, let alone a 3rd cup of coffee.
4. Putting on sunscreen at 6 AM
5. Getting up at 5:30 AM
6. Having dinner at another "feed bag buffett" ... pronounced buff-it.
7. Listening to another "safety lecture"
8. Fake scrambled eggs without any toast and rubbery under-cooked beacon.
9. No fresh fruit 
10. Iceberg lettuce with ranch dressing.
11. Sleeping in a bed all alone with only a lumpy pillow to hold on to.

..... but every morinig when I settle into the saddle on my trusty "old gray mare" as I have begun to call my blue Cannondale bicycle, I feel like I am 8 years old again and starting out on another fresh day of adventure, and wouldn't trade this ride of a lifetime for anything.

In Wisconsin today I was a little homesick because it was a lot like home. We had a 90 mile ride through rolling dairy farms. The cooler and more humid weather felt familiar and some of the older homes and farms looked quaint, like New England. It was very different from the western states with their immense grand scenery that to me was hot and dry and a bit alien and impersonal, sort of like I imagine the moon to be, not green and intimate like New England. With this I am a bit homesick. I miss Sarah and the kids who are all together without me at home for the summer. It was a little bit bitter/sweet to think that after this weekend we only have 2 more weeks to go. I am looking forward to Sarah's opening and to being back in Stockbridge again.

That being said we had a lovely ride today. We passed through some really nice little towns. Making me feel homesick were the town centers with little coffee shops and local bakeries like we have in the Berkshires. Today for lunch I stopped with my friends Kevin and Randy from San Francisco for a delicious piece of home made rhubarb pie and a BLT with fresh juicy tomatoes and home made bread.

Some pictures before I close and a "rider profile" on my friend Kevin.

Almost half of today's ride was on this hard packed bike path. Lovely if not a bit jarring on the hands and wrists. .

The path began in Sparta, Wisconsin which claims to be the "bicycle capital of the world"

They have the first old rail bed to be converted to a bike path which features 3 tunnels.

The tunnels were carved from solid rock and one was almost a mile long. It was very cool with dripping water and dark inside. I led some yoga chants I once heard at Kripalu that were awsome.

 
This is Kevin McTighe from San Francisco. He is about my age and retired after working for the City Parks Department. Kevin is a strong and very experienced rider who I can almost keep up with on the climbs, but likes to hang onto my wheel on the flats and the long rolling hills especially into a headwind. Most of all he likes to have fun and pause and smell the flowers or to pet the animals, have lunch and a piece of pie, take a swim and can always sniff out a good pub. Though now in SF he is a Mainer, born and raised on a farm just up the Penobscot above Bangor. He tells stories about growing up on a dirt road drinking goats milk. He never tasted cows milk until he went to elementary school. He lost most of his hearing when young because as he says "I was a sickly child" with multiple bouts of fever. He is a lot of fun and a very smart guy; under rated by many, having a brother and sister who both went to Harvard. Most of the time we ride together at or near the back of the group.

Leaving Minnesota today and across the Mississippi River and into Wisconsin it was an 89 mile ride. We had a cloud cover so the temperatures were very comfortable. I had a momentary mental lapse this morning and packed my phone into my bag by mistake which was loaded into the truck. So no pictures today.

Two items of note are that the landscape, with dairy farms, began to resemble home. There were some gentle rolling hills and smaller farms many set into hill side settings or along small streams. The weather was cool and humid, just like at home.

The other item of note today is that we lost another penguin. Ray one of the 2 chaps from London took a spill on, of all places a 13 mile stretch of bike path. He landed hard and broke his collarbone and dislocated his shoulder. It was a brief mental lapse and he was not hurt badly but will be unable to ride and is flying back to England on Friday. He was very disappointed but in good spirits as he said his goodbys at dinner tonight. he was a really nice guy and his British accent and humor will be missed.

The crossing into Wisconsin across the Mississippi was celebrated with a swim at a very nice sandy public beach on the MN side. Sorry no photo.

I have been asked by some readers about some of the other penguins, so today I will post what I hope will be a series of features on some of the riders. This is Melanie Johnson who lives in Spokane Washington. She is 71 and the oldest rider on the trip. She is usually one of the first out in the morning and proudly always the last to finish. She is a life long cyclist who had logged trips up the Mississippi River and another trip with 2 friends from Miami to Bangor Maine. A few years ago she lost her right eye to an infection caused by a contact lens and almost gave up cycling. But is conquering her fears in dramatic fashion with this ride. She one of the few who will sometimes get some help in the sag wagon but is riding by my guess 99% of the miles. We all help and look out for Melanie who always rides alone because of her vision problem. She is a gutsy lady not at all hesitant to speak her mind.

A native of Minnesota, and grew up about 60 miles south of the Twin Cities where her father ran the local creamery. She is adored by many nieces and nephews though never married herself. She is a retired social worker in Spokane after previously living in Southern California.

The ride from Worthington to Rochester today was a lot easier after a good 10 hour nights sleep, although not without some getting lost and getting pulled over by a MN State Trooper. I started late but felt strong after a big breakfast. I was poised to make a move, ride hard and try to catch as many riders as I could, until at about the 30 mile mark, I passed a group of riders who had missed a turn. I surged past thinking they knew where they were going and rode out hard looking for other penguins. But after about 8 miles of seeing none, I began to worry and looked at my route sheet realizing my error. The penguins I had passed who had led me astray, had turned back after a 1/4 mile. I had to retrace 8 miles thus adding 16 miles to a 100 mile day. The other penguins felt terrible and responsible for my blunder and not able to catch me did sent one of the support vans who found me after I had turned back. My pride dictated that I decline a ride and now last and way behind, I forged on. I was now last again but by the end of the day was into the rear of the pack. Thankfully the day was much cooler with cloud cover from the threat of thunderstorms.

The ride through MN was mostly farms, but sadly many houses abandoned as big mega-farms had bought the land.

We now are seeing more dairy farms, another beautiful farm with the threatening storm clouds behind.

After getting back on route the day was uneventful, until my final adventure of the day. While now, dutifully following my route sheet and just entering the surprisingly large city of Rochester, MN, home of the famous Lahey Clinic, I was pulled over by a MN State trooper. With his siren and lights flashing, I was livid and those who know me well, know of my issues with "authority figures". Uh-oh ...... He asked for I-D and when he saw my clean cut photo was immediately suspicious. Good sense fortunately prevailed on my part and I followed Sarah's good example of how to behave. He had pulled me over because in dutifully following my ABB route sheet it had put me on a busy and agreeably slightly dangerous main road, with a recently built bicycle path parallel along side the road. I was not arrested, issued a summons or even reprimanded, but instead was directed by the nice officer right to my hotel on a beautiful bike path. He even showed me a great spot for a swim in a cool clean lake along the way that I never would have found otherwise.

An old gravel pit filled with water, which was the great hidden swim spot I found thanks to a MN state trooper.

Believe it or not this is a bike path in Rochester MN. About 12 spans crossing a highway and a river. I am hoping to lobby the Commonwealth of MA will build one a fraction of this size to get bicyclists safely to Monument Mt. HS when I get home.

Back to back century rides as well as a welcome visit from my Minnesota friend Bjarne has put me 2 days behind on blog entries. Not to worry though, all is well, unless a night spent being attacked by mosquitoes, being mistaken for a "hobo dude" by some partying local youth, being pulled over by a MN State trooper or 15 extra "bonus" miles " getting lost on a century ride are cause for worry.

I will start with the evening leaving Worthington, MN when I set out after dinner for a night sleeping under the stars. The hotel was wretched and after a great night in South Dakota left Monday evening with great hopes for another pleasant night. I rode the first 20 miles of the 110 mile route scheduled for Tuesday. It was beautiful as the sun was going down and cool, which was a great relief from the mid day heat. All went well until just after the sun set when I turned down a remote, deserted lane between a corn and soybean field to bed down in some tall grass. But the second I stopped and began to set up I was attacked by a billion mosquitoes. Apparently, unlike SD, in MN the land of ten-thousand lakes, the 10,000 lakes bread ten gazillion mosquitoes.

After a quick exit to cut my losses, I rode in what was now a very dark, moonless night about 8 miles to the very small town of Heron Lake (population 678), which turned out to be a very lovely little village. There was a park right in the middle of town with a very cute gazebo in which they had mounted the towns heirloom bell, a huge 3 foot diameter bell with a knocker the size of a volleyball. There was about 2 feet of clearance below the bell and that is where I settled in to sleep. Miraculously there were NO mosquitoes in the village! I was sleeping comfortable when about 1 AM I heard voices of some very obviously drunk and stoned youth. They saw my bicycle and came over to investigate and upon discovering me, were astonished to find what they described as an "old man hobo dude" sleeping under their town bell. The highest of the 4 thought he was hallucinating and was certain that I was "the hippey dude" from the movie "Back to the Future" who put garbage in his car as fuel. They insisted I party with them but when I told them about my bicycle ride across the country, agreed I need some rest. Continuing to call me "old man hobo dude" one invited me to his house for a real bed and another offered up his trampoline, but I wanted the peace, quiet and security of the town bell.

After being woken a few more times during the night by several screaming freight trains that passed nearby and rattled the ground, I arose before dawn to retrace my path back to the mosquito field to retrieve my very critical prescription sun glasses. I was very sad not to be able to get a photo of either site because I arrived in the pitch dark and left before daylight.

The rest of the day was a killer! It was a  brutally hot (100 F+) 110 mile day with rolling hills and a steady wind from the east. After a night of marginal sleep I arrived in Mankato, "looking like shit" as Bjarne described. I did recover with a cold bear and dinner before going to bed at about 7:30 with no time or energy to post a blog.

Moi, "looking like shit" as Bjarne said

Moi with Bjarne and his cousin from Norway, looking a little better after a shower

Richard from Sudberry, MA and one of the ubiquitous MN corn fields

Sioux Falls

We entered Minnesota today. It was a hot 90+ degrees but with a cool but not as cold as I would have liked Lake Okabena at the end of the modest 62 mile ride. Tonight we are in the small town of Worthington in a Super 8 that is sort of the bottom of the barrel of our typical hotel. It is a nice little town but we are in the outlying "mall sprawl Wall-mart" part of town. So I am going to forgo the cramped noise air conditioned no-tell motel for the luxurious fresh air and cool breeze of my alternate room outdoors under the stars. I am better prepared after a acquiring some additional gear yesterday and will be very comfortable.

I hope to have more time tomorrow night for a more detailed post tomorrow in Mankato. It is a 112 mile ride and expected to be hot. But sleeping out, I will get an early start and hopefully get in before the mid day heat builds.

Great bike path leaving Sioux Falls, note the shadow of the riding photographer.

More bike path

Now for my adventure leaving Mitchell on the way to Sioux Falls. This was to be, what is now a relatively easy, flat 72 mile ride, aalthough it was going to be very, very hot. Well, remember those farmers I said I had met and chatted up going into Mitchell? Four really nice guys who told me all about their crops and life on the farm. When they asked about my group of friends, dressed up in brightly colored spandex and out in the hot hot sun, I could only explain it by saying we were "city folk" (which by and large we all are), who were looking for a little piece of what they had .... that is, compete freedom, peace and quiet and solitude in a very big wide open land. This they understood. When I asked how we could get more of what they had, their answer was unanimous and simple. Stay out of the mid-day sun and sleep out in a haystack under the stars. They told stories about youthful, all night rolls in the hay and watching the sun go down and the stars come out. They said that the haystacks were warm buy never cold and as dry as it has been, mosquito and insect free.

Well you can guess the rest. I went AWAL after dinner. I enlisted Charlie to load my bags in the morning and sign me in. I had the next days route sheet and headed out about 10 miles out of town until I found a wide open field with rolled up hay.

This is where I spent the night. I had an old sheet and a pillow case from the hotel and a sandwich for the morning. I slept like a log!!!

My view where I watched the sun go down and the stars come out.

I was very comfortable and after a good nights sleep I resumed the ride way and signed into the first SAG stop ahead of everyone.

This was a picture with my shadow taken of a similar line of haystacks as the sun was coming up.

All in all it was a great adventure that I am sure will be repeated. Today on the off day in Sioux Falls, SD, I visited a sporting goods store and picked up a light weight ground pad, a hammock and an outdoor bedroll. This will give me more comfort and expand my options as I head east and might have to deal with insects.

I am not really into camping, but this will work. I finish the days ride before it gets hot ..... swim in the river ..... check into the hotel and have a nice shower and maybe a nap, a cold beer and dinner ..... then when it cools off, as the sun goes down, ride a few more easy miles and sleep under the stars. I get to wake up as the sun comes up and do it all over again.

More of the same across South Dakota today which has given me an idea for tonight after talking with some farmers today at a popular lunch spot that was kind of like the Elm Street Market of Prarieville SD.

Due to my adventure for tonight I will be late with today's post. I will catch up tomorrow when I have modest 70 miles into Sioux City and a rest day. ..........

Later ....... on rest day ..... First I will do a post on the ride into Mitchell, SD.

On the ride 71 mile ride into Mitchell, SD we saw the countryside gradually change from ranching and cowboys to corn, soybeans, winter wheat and farmers.

The farms were huge and had been consolidated because there were often abandoned houses where smaller farms once existed.

I made the day into a relaxed ride with several stops to do some shopping at a Native American reservation and picked up some nice gifts for some of my "loved ones". After the great birthday package that Sarah had sent I was inspired to be able to reciprocate when I get home. But to my loved ones ..... don't get your hopes up, because whatever I buy, I must be able to carry with me for the days bike ride and then still fit into my small travel duffel bag that is limited (and the military regime who runs the ride does check) to 35 pounds

Today we were required by the C-O (commanding officer)  to wear our ABB uniforms. This time I obeyed orders!!

Missouri River in the distance. It is much bigger than I expected, and clean and quite cold.

We rode South Dakota along the Missouri River from the capital Pierre to Chamberlain today on my birthday, a not too difficult 84 miles. Terrain was generally rolling hills of 300 to 500 feet of elevation as we climbed up and down a few bluffs along the river heading in a southeastern direction. The winds were pretty light but it did get hot toward midday and by afternoon reached into the 90's. We had left at 6:00 so most everyone was in before it got too hot. I inspired what is now a growing group of penguins into the Missouri River again for a very refreshing swim. Other riders are beginning to believe me that a swim or even a walk into the cold river is absolutely the best thing for tired aching muscles, not to mention refreshing. Today it was a really nice sandy beach and there were about 12 of us who went in. I have found that the way to find the best swimming hole is to find some young kids as we ride into town and just ask. Today a group of about four 10 year old boys on little kid bicycles gave us an escort right to the best spot.

The ride today for me was very mellow. I went out late and made my way up to the middle of the pack, receiving birthday greetings from all who I passed even some singing of Happy Birthday. All day we rode very quiet, deserted back roads, so I could hear when my phone rang, and there was cell service so I was able to receive birthday wishes from from Sarah, Hannah, Harry, Sarah's sister Prudy and my sister Janice. Each time I answered my phone I stopped to talk and fell to the back of the pack. I would then rejoin the ride and pass the same people, who again wished me a Happy Birthday. It got quite funny and we had a lot of fun.

There is definitely a wide variety of people on the ride, quite a few who are in the WTS (way too serious) group mostly up front. I am sure they are having a good time in their own way, but fortunately there is also a hard core group with a more relaxed style for having fun that I enjoy.

Today's "road kill" picture was very sad, an entire family of raccoons gone and left scattered across the road in an instant. Unfortunately my photo of the whole family ...mama, papa and 3 young-ens didn't come out and this close up of the mama is a bit blurry. I think it is because I had been sweating so much that the phone camera eye was compromised. I will try to do better tomorrow.

It was a hot day for a 117 mile ride today, so we left early. I went out as early as allowed at about 5:15, thinking I was one of the first out. But before leaving I took a quick spin through the small town of Wall. I wanted to get this 120 mile ride in before it got to the predicted 95+ temperatures. There was a strong wind out of the south, so most of the day there would be a strong cross wind that at times would be a tailwind as we headed in a northeastern direction to Pierre. It was not a day with the wind in our face where I absolutely needed to work with a group, so I headed out alone thinking that when I was caught by a group I wanted to ride with I would settle in.

This is the terrain for the day in central North Dakota. One picture says it all. But in amongst the long straight a ways there were a lot of long rolling hills. And as I rode, feeling unusually chipper and spry at 5:30 AM and as I chatted up and passed some of the friendly and more mellow riders, I could see ahead one by one what turned out to be some of what I thought were the stronger riders. Feeling pretty good I wanted to get this ride over before it got too hot so one by one I chased down and was surprised to be able to overtake 4 or 5 guys who on other days, especially early on, I never could have caught. When I finally caught Tim from Virginia, who is way too serious, rides hard every day and was pissed that I caught and passed him, I knew I was having one of those days and was "in the zone".

Too make a long story short, I out ran the first SAG stop and at the second SAG was all alone. I was just leaving the 2nd SAG (a beautiful shaded spot) after I had eaten my lunch with Cathy (from MN and on the support team), when a pace line of the strongest riders came in. Bud from San Diego, a great guy and also one of the strongest support riders was leading the line. I probably had about 10 minutes head start on them for the last 35 miles of the 117 mile ride. I figured, based on my past performance, or rather lac of performance on my part in the mountains,  and they all thought they would reel me in, dying in the heat as I faded out there alone. But I surprised everyone, especially myself when I finished, tired and hot with no water, exhausted and totally spent but sitting with a smile alone on a sand bar in the cold Missouri River as they rode in over the bridge into the central time zone!!!. A ride I will never forget and probably never duplicate because hopefully I will not be vain enough to attempt again.

The sand bar along the Missouri River where I swam after today's ride. The bridge we crossed was just behind me.

Charlie my roommate and some other friends got confused and thought today was my birthday and got me a cake. I was thrilled and very gracious and used it as a kick off for tomorrow my real birthday when I expect there will be some real celebration!!! As I have been saying to everyone ...... I am 38 tomorrow ...... that is 38 years until I turn 100.

Love to all!!!

Out of the Black Hills and into the Bad Lands tomorrow with a stop tonight in Wall, ND. Today was a hot and very dry but relatively short 57 mile day. There was not much variation of scenery as my friend Cliff who grew up in Rapid City said "there is not much out there east of his home town. So inspired by the positive feedback and interest in the "road kill" my photos from today are focused there. We got a late 8:30 start and it really got hot by the time I finished around 1:00 it was very uncomfortable.

Antelope along I90

Downtown Rapid City

Road east of Rapid City

Close up of above. I think it was some sort of a cat, it had cat like claws. Can anyone identify this poor soul?

Tomorrow is supposed to be one of the toughest days yet with a 120 mile ride to the capital Pierre, which is pronounced "Pier" as in Pier 8 in Booth Bay. If the wind is from the east it could be tough.

Riding through the Black Hills of South Dakota today was truly a spiritual journey. Having read some about how the Native Americans of the central plains felt about these gentle rolling hills with their beautiful granite rock outcroppings, and their belief that these hills where where all of the spirits of their ancestors rested made the75 mile ride from Warm Springs to Rapid City the best day yet of the trip.

The day began as usual a dawn, this time with a very nice breakfast at a small local cafe in Hot Springs. I again started at the back after a leisurely breakfast and took up a relaxed pace with some strong but mellow riders. First we rode about 40 miles through Wind Cave National Park with some beautiful rolling grasslands climbing about 2 ,800 feet into the Black Hills. As we climbed I kept thinking about this beautiful land that was sacred to the people who lived here for thousands of years before white men arrived. I stopped at one point, thinking about Ed, best man at my wedding who recently passed away and my friend Steve who taught me to meditate, for a very powerful silent meditation among the towering natural monuments all around me.

I will have pictures tomorrow and write more about these Black Hills when roommate Charlie downloads his pictures because my phone camera couldn't do them justice.

Meanwhile I have some pictures of the first 40 miles.

This marker describes how the CCC during the depression put over 31,000 men between 17 and 25 to work for $30 per day of which $25 was sent home to feed their families. Sounds like Socialism and something that might be a fine idea today. I am sure we could pay for it with one less nuclear submarine !!!

My friend Randy from San Francisco who rides with a helmet mounted camera. He has promised to edit and make what should be a great video.

The grasslands and fir trees of the rolling hills leading up to the Black Hills

Tomorrow is a relatively easy 58 mile day to Wall, SD. I should have some more time to post photos and write more about the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Plus the road kill shot was a big hit so hopefully some more road kill shots for Jane.