Days 23 & 24-- Little Bike on the Prairie

The 4 H's continued on Day 23. We left at 6:30 am for our 75 mile ride from Pierre, SD to Miller, SD. We slogged through the headwinds and humidity to Miller, a small, orderly town. The relentless winds and heat were challenging all riders. At the end of the day, some of us had dinner at a local cafe with a giant cowboy on the roof (pictured). When I saw that, I knew it was my kind of place! I had a wonderful dish of fresh walleye--a dish you just don't find on the west coast. After downing 6 big glasses of lemonade--continuous hydration--I headed back to camp. The heat continued--around 90 degrees at 10pm. It finally dipped into the lower seventies by 3am.

We left the next morning at 6:30am for DeSmet, SD. My energy and spirits were still up, as were the headwinds. By Huron, SD at mile 40, a huge thunderstorm roared through. The storm caught up with me at the checkpoint that happened to mark the "halfway point" (pictured) between Seattle and DC (approximately 1,700 miles)!

It was in just outside of Huron that one of our team mates, Brack Hattler, was injured in a bike accident. Fortunately, it was not life-threatening, but it was quite serious. Brack is back in Pittsburgh now, healing. We miss his (and Jean Ann's) comraderie and wish him a very speedy recovery!! We all think of him often and will continue to do so all the way to DC. He is definitely with us in spirit and always a part of our team!

We ended the day's 80-mile ride in DeSmet, a very pretty little town with a beautiful park to camp in. DeSmet is where Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House on the Prairie" is located. We walked by a museum and "the little house" (pictured). The rain really cooled things off and wrung out some of the humidity. I slept well in preparation for our last day in South Dakota. There is a fifth "H" that I neglected to mention--Hospitality. South Dakota is home to some very wonderful and hospitable people. The 4 H's must build character.

Onward to Minnesota!

Marty