Journey with Jeff

July 12, 2018

Day 25 – Kadoka to Chamberlain, SD – 115 miles, 3,320 feet vertical, and passing the HALFWAY mark!

From now on, we have more miles behind us than we have in front of us.  Even we can’t believe it.  

Dear friends, when I signed up for this journey, I had my doubts.  I’m pretty sure we all did.  Seriously?  Riding our bikes across the entire country?  Why, that would be extraordinary.  

In the musical, Pippin, we hear the story of Pippin, a young prince on his search for meaning and significance in life.  Pippin has special significance for me since I played keyboards in the orchestra pit when my son’s high school performed this back in 2000.  [Shout out to Roger Ames, Laura Stern, Neil Saggerson, Jeff Gilden and Susan Babkes for the wonderful drama department.]  It was a magnificent play back then, as it was during the Broadway revival in 2013.

The boy prince is searching for existential fulfillment and he embarks on an ambitious quest for an extraordinary life.

Well, Pippin should have signed up for this ride.  It is extraordinary. 

But, each day is ordinary.  We wake up. We have coffee and breakfast. We pack our bags and pump our tires.  And we go for a bike ride.  When we get to our next city, we get cleaned up, meet for dinner, listen to the Rap update for the next day, have a lot of laughs and go to sleep.   Rinse – Ride – Repeat.  That’s it.  Very ordinary. 

String fifty of them together, though, and you have something extraordinary.  

Our ordinary 115-mile day started out at sunrise and with a strong headwind.  Arghhhh.   I started out with my paceline buddies because when there’s a headwind, “it’s a good day to have friends.”  Unfortunately, with a long day ahead of us, I chose to break up with them early, lest I blow out my legs before even getting started.  

The early highlight came at the 20.5 mile mark, where ABB staff had painted the spot on Hwy 248 that marked the precise halfway point of our journey.  We had covered 1,850 miles, with 1,850 left to ride.  It was an emotional moment for everyone and we all lined up for our ceremonial photos.  

Compared to the amazing vistas we’ve covered, this stretch was starkly boring – just a straight shot due east over rolling hills and farmland as far as the eye could see.  Oh, and did I mention the headwind?  And yet, this is why we’re here:  to see the country.  To see all of it.  The amber waves of grain.  The purple mountains majesties.  From sea to shining sea.  And if that includes 115 miles of farmland in South Dakota, well, sobeit. 

Not only did we cross the mileage halfway point, but we also crossed into our third time zone, and so lost another hour when we entered Central Time.  We had three SAG stops, and because of the heat, we also stopped several times at various service stations to hydrate.  (I was drinking iced cappuccinos across this stretch.  Don’t even ask me how much sugar was in there.)

To keep us amused, ABB staff called for a poker game today.  Two dollars bought us one card at load-and-go, an additional card at each of three SAG stops and a final “community” card at Rap.  My cards just got worse as the day went on, and although I pulled out a pair of fours (pathetic), it was no match for the winning hand – a straight.  

Once the early chit chat portion of the ride was over, I spent most of the day riding solo and reading (listening to) Trevor Noah’s wonderful book, Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood.  Mr. Noah kept me wonderful company for most of the day. 

As the sun began to set in the west and the sky darkened and my Garmin was running low on fumes, I pulled into the hotel parking lot in Chamberlain.  It had been over 11 hours since I started (12, if you count the hour we lost.)

Maybe today wasn’t so ordinary after all. 

Please enjoy these photos of the day (although, be warned, there was a whole lotta nuthin’ for many miles.).  And check out the updated map at Where’s Jeff at jeffblye.com  Look at all that GREEN!!! 

July 11, 2018

Day 24 – Rapid City to Kadoka, SD – 58 miles, 2,090 feet vertical

“Just, WOW!” could have been an alternate title for today’s post.  In fact, I’m tempted (and tired enough) to just let it go at that and say, please enjoy the photos.  

So, I’ll be brief because we have a BIG day tomorrow (more on that later). 

Today was an ABB “featured” ride with a 25-mile ride through the Badlands National Park.  Some of us have been itching to use our Senior Lifetime Passes for entry, but ABB arranged for us to bike in with just a signature at the entry gate.  Those of you who have already been here know that the geography, the geology and the vistas are simply spectacular.  (And if you haven’t, please get out your bucket list and make an entry – NOW.)  

Because it was a short day (only 58 miles), we were allowed to cruise along and stop at will at most of the viewpoints for pictures and awe.  Speaking of pictures, I’ll let them do the rest of the talking for Badlands. 

A second treat awaited us after exiting the park, and with a little half-mile or so detour, many of us visited the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site.  Great Plains or Ground Zero?  This area of the country once housed 1,000 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) targeted primarily at the former Soviet Union (now Russia).  Hundreds are still housed here.  Sobering.  Indeed. 

Tomorrow is a BIG day for us on several fronts.  First, it’s big on mileage at 115 miles.  Second it’s big on start time.  Early rollers set out at 5:20am and the main group starts pedaling at 5:50am.  Third, it’s big on time zones – we cross into Central Time and lose an hour of sleep tomorrow night. 

But MOSTLY, it’s big because at the 20-mile mark, each and every one of us will stop at a specific marked spot on the road, get off his or her bike and take a photo marking the official HALFWAY POINT OF OUR JOURNEY.   Who would have thunk it?  

Be sure to check back tomorrow for my post, entitled:  When the Extraordinary Becomes Ordinary. 

And as always, check out my map at Where’s Jeff at jeffblye.com

July 10, 2018

Day 23 – Rapid City to Wall, SD – 58 miles, 1,860 feet vertical

First things first.  *** Update:  Our friend Jay, who crashed on the descent yesterday, is fine!  He needed a little TLC at the local hospital in Rapid City ( and by “local”, I mean down the block.)  His wife flew out to meet him and they are now back home in Boulder, CO.  Thank goodness for his helmet – a lifesaver.  We all signed a card today and it is on its way to Jay with our good wishes and warm thoughts.  We will be thinking of you, Jay. ***

The morning started off cool and fast.  Even with an 8:00am lazy start, I feared we would get to the hotel so early, they would charge us for the previous night!  And so, it was my intent to loll around a bit at the SAG stop at the 24-mile mark.  Unfortunately, we found out that another highway construction crew would soon be blocking our path, and we all had to load up on the vans and be shuttled a few miles past the obstruction.  It is summer, after all, and that’s when a lot of roadwork takes place.  I was on the last van and an hour and a half later, we would finish the ride with 25 miles on I-90 (yes, the same I-90 that goes to Boston, so do NOT miss your exit, folks.)

By then, it had gotten h-o-t, with temps either just below or just above 100 degrees, depending on whose Garmin you looked at.  And … there was a headwind.  And … it was hot.  And … there was a loooooong climb.  And … there were snakes.  But, aside from all that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?  

I caught up to Jon Dobbs just as we got off the interstate and made it to Wall.  It was still early, so we stopped at Dairy Queen for something to eat and a Blizzard.  Jon had never had one before and he was lapping it up.  “This is quite good,” he smiled, as he finished the last drop.   We can only afford to eat like this when we’re burning a gazillion calories a day.  The other patrons, … um, … do not seem to be bike riders. 

After dinner, at Fat Boy’s BBQ – yes, you read that right – we walked a few blocks into town, took in all the local kitschy faux-old-west stores, and then headed back home.  We have a featured ride tomorrow through Badlands and I have to make sure all my batteries are fully charged! 

Please enjoy these photos of the day and follow along at Where’s Jeff at jeffblye.com 

July 9, 2018

Day 22 – Hot Springs to Rapid City, SD – 73 miles, 6,400 feet vertical 

The day started with a serene romp through Wind Cave National State Park where we were greeted by the sign, “DO NOT APPROACH THE BUFFALO, THEY ARE DANGEROUS”.  Well, that got my attention.  Sure enough, we saw wild buffalo (or were they bison?).  

Did you know that there is a grammatically correct, if awkward, sentence in American English that goes like this:  Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.  Make sense?  No?  Well, you can mull it over for awhile and when you give up, you can check out the explanation here.

We also saw prairie dogs and heard them “talking” to us.  Check out video below and turn up your speakers. 

The big problem today was that we were all ready for a relatively easy 73 mile day with a moderate amount of climbing – 3,400 feet.  Unfortunately (for us), Judy fessed up last night that there was a small typo on the master sheet and that 3 should have been a 6.  Our actual ascent would be 6,400 feet – which would make this the second highest vertical climb of our entire journey!  And … in just about half the distance.  Details, right? Yikes.  

Of course, the highlight of the day was our visit to Mt. Rushmore.  Quite the tourist attraction (and by that I mean, somewhat crowded), and for good reason.   Very impressive and awe inspiring – and that was just the gift shop!  I met Abbe at the entrance and after taking our obligatory photos, we just sat in the “viewing area” and took it all in. 

Leaving Mt. Rushmore, we negotiated a long steep decline at -10% grade, requiring due diligence and frequent braking.  What goes down must come up, and we had some tough climbs in the last 20 miles until we reached our destination for the night in Rapid City.

Please enjoy these photos of the day and don’t forget to track our progress at Where’s Jeff at jeffblye.com

*** UPDATE:  Sadly, we learned that one of our riders crashed on a descent and was taken to the hospital here in Rapid City.  We’re not sure exactly what happened, but it seems he may have lost control, perhaps when hitting some loose gravel on the shoulder.  The helmet saved him, for sure, and early reports are that he will recover.  But, his tour is finished.  Details to follow tomorrow. ***

 

Prarie dogs!!

July 8, 2018

Day 21 – Lusk, WY to Hot Springs, SD – 93 miles, 3,310 feet vertical

“… For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.”
—from I wandered lonely as a cloud, by William Wordsworth

I wasn’t lying on my couch and I don’t think I saw many daffodils, but I did ride solo this morning through some magnificently desolate yet beautiful landscape.  The wind was favorable and the terrain was slightly downhill and so the pace was highly respectable, even without my paceline friends.  But the thrill of being alone – completely alone for as far as the eye can see – was exhilarating.  As hard as it was to stop, I did just that several times to take a photo, or just … to stare and take it all in.

It was another long-ish day with 93 miles on tap, so the main load saddled up early at 6:30. We really enjoyed our one-night stay at the slightly kitschy Covered Wagon Motel (complete with covered wagon atop the roof), but it was time to move on.  No moss grows under our feet on these segments and today would be our last day in Wyoming.  We were scheduled to cross the State Line into South Dakota at the 56-mile mark.

The morning was exquisite.  It was cool and comfortable with the usual morning sun rising in the east before our eyes.  The times were fast for our entire group and I got to the second SAG stop at 68 miles around 10:20.  With only 25 miles left to go, I saw no need to rush.  Everyone was having a great day and there were smiles all around.  

The only hurdles were two climbs near the end – four miles and one mile – that we needed like a hole in the head.  But, we ground it out and made it to Hot Springs.  It was still early and most us went to DQ for lunch and a shake before checking into the hotel.   

Tomorrow is a big scenic day with a stop at Mount Rushmore, but unfortunately we found out there was a typo in our original route sheets and our climbing will be almost double what we thought, at 6,400 feet.  Oy!

Please enjoy these photos of the day and don’t forget to track our progress at Where’s Jeff at jeffblye.com

Thanks.