Today we loaded at 5:45 AM and ate breakfast at a nearby JB’s at 6:00 AM. We were very spunky as we started out today. It is amazing what a day of rest will do for the human body. A new member of the tour named Beth joined our merry band of four today. Beth is from New York City and is a social worker there. She fit right in and is a strong rider.

We really cruised through the day. In fact we were on a record setting pace through the last SAG stop at mile 64. However, right after the SAG we picked up a headwind. In addition, we were doing some climbing. Four or five other riders joined us after the SAG. We had planned to get something to eat in a small town of Shawnee but that was not meant to be. There is a bar in Shawnee but not much else that we could see. This meant we must push on until we reached a truck stop at mile 97. About six miles prior to the truck stop, Barb had pulled the Ryder Truck over for us to refill our water bottles and get some snacks. This was a life saver. When it is hot and windy and you are climbing, it is nearly impossible to get enough water. I stood in the shade of the truck and drank one complete bottle and refilled it prior to leaving.

Our group had now grown to about 10 riders. We headed through the wind and heat for the truck stop. When we arrived there I had an ice-cream sandwich and a large Gator Aide. Everyone was suffering from the heat. But I must say, everyone worked well together on the road and this was a big help.

We had been rotating leaders every five minutes and this works fine most of the time. But under these conditions, we reduced the pulling time to three minutes. We had 10 miles to go to make it into Lusk.

We arrived and were greeted in the office of the motel by very pleasant hosts who provided us with ice cold lemonade and fresh cookies. What a treat! After cleaning up Steve, Dan and I, among others, went to subway to get something to eat. Dark clouds have been moving in and presently it is pouring rain outside. This is our first rain of the trip and our first thundershower.

Tomorrow we ride 92 miles to Hot Springs, South Dakota. The last time I was in Hot Springs it was 114 degrees. I hope it is not that hot tomorrow. Can you believe it? Another state will fall behind tomorrow. This means we have covered Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming. We are well over 1/3rd of the way.

Well thanks again for joining me on my ride. The photos we have taken describe this part of the country pretty well.

Click here to see more pictures from today!