Day 23: Hulett WY to Lead South Dakota

 Did I mention how thankful I was to be staying at the hotel this past weekend?  So many reasons: #1 this morning we started the day dry- last night a hail storm swept through the campground. #2 we had 10 less miles to ride today as we rode them on Saturday and #3 we got an early start!  

The day was a perfect ride!  Cool temperatures, great scenic  route, and even some tailwinds!  We had a 3 short climbs 1-2 miles at 4-7% grades but the downhills more than made up for the climbs. It was around mile 30 that we crossed into South Dakota.  Unfortunately no welcome sign.  Again, we made short work of the first 40 miles and were at lunch by 9:30 in Belle Fourche.  

After, lunch we had a gentle climbed (mostly 1-3% grades) for most of the post lunch ride.  From lunch we made our way to Spearfish SD.  We stopped for some coffee which fueled me on for the afternoon!  In Spearfish we picked up highway 14A the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. Scenic it was!  We stopped one more time at the Cheyenne Crossing store which was right before we started a 3 mile climb with mostly 6-7% grades but some 8-10% were thrown in.  The cool temperatures and some tailwinds made it totally doable!  

Tonight we are staying in Lead S.D. At the high school. It is an old mining town built into the side of a cliff.  Our campsite is up 88 steps and we had to haul our luggage up the stairs!  Almost, the hardest workout of the day!  

Stats for the day:  79 miles, 5,010 feet of elevation gain

Little town of Aladdin WY


Coffee Break in Spearfish

Riding in the canyon

Goat climbing the canyon walls

Bridal Falls


Terri, Myself and Kim at Bridal Falls


Kim and Scotty at Cheyenne Crossing

Today’s profile

School mascot the Gold Digger  

The 88 stair climb to mountain field with gear!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 56 Star Lake to Lake Placid

Image
We started our day with breakfast at the same restaurant we had dinner at last night. It was great service!  It was ready when we showed up, no waiting in line and they had both french toast and pancakes along with eggs, bacon and other good food. Definitely two thumbs up!   Our ride today was along route 3 which is a bike route with very wide shoulders. Again, pine tree line, rolling hills, scenic  and we passed several lakes along the way. The skies were blue, sun was out and temperatures were cool. You really couldn't ask for a better day of riding.  Picnic was at mile 39 in Tupper Lake a beautiful stop.  Then on to Lake Placid from there.  We stopped several times today for pictures, coffee, explored a bike shop with our final destination being the Crown Plaza for 2 nights.  We ate dinner at the hotel with about several others group our group.  It was definitely not up to the same quality as Niagara Falls but we enjoyed the company!   Sta...
Read more

Day 58 Lake Placid to Plattsburgh

Image
 We are getting used to these late starts. Today, we had breakfast at our hotel.  It was really great!  Made to order omelette, potatoes, french toast. So good!   Then, we finally hit the road at 8:15 our latest start yet!  Today’s route was in general downhill with some fun rollers mixed in. Kim rode with Terri and I because Scotty and Barry her usual riding buddies decided to do the optional whiteface mountain climb. It was an 8 mile climb with 8-12% grades. Those that did it said it was the toughest climb to date but very beautiful!   Even without that climb, today’s route was stunning!  Couple of waterfalls, a covered bridge, rivers and Ausable Chasm to name a few!  Again, the roads of NY were great and the weather just like a perfect fall day. Definitely, a very memorable and fun day!  We made it to our final destination of Plattsburgh NY by about 1:00. Tonight, we are staying in the doom rooms at SUNY.   Stats: 57 miles, 2,146 feet...
Read more

Day 63 Durham NH to Gloucester MA

Image
 Last day of riding!  Just doesn't seem real. We ate our last breakfast together at the college then spent the first part of the morning on New Hampshire backroads before crossing into Massachusetts.  It was a little warmer today and we faced a bit of a headwind today. I guess that was Mother Nature’s way of slowing us down so we would cherish this last day together.  Our first destination was the High School in Gloucester where we waited for everyone to to arrive. Then we did the last mile with police escort to the Harbor for the ceremonial wheel dipping.  Ride stats:  65 miles, 2,887 feet of elevation gain   The evening was spent on a harbor cruise drinking margaritas and reminiscing.  This was such an amazing trip thanks to the Cycle America staff!   As always, these endings are bitter sweet.  You are ready to be home with your family but hate saying “see you down the road” to your new friends!  Never say goodbye as we all promis...
Read more