The wind gives and the wind takes...

A much needed recap of the last two day.  Last night we were at the wonderful Super 8 Motel in Rapid City, SD - needless to say I could not get the wi-fi to work.  Overall, I am in a much better place mentally since my last post.  (Thanks to all of your e-mails and texts of support!!!)  Yesterday was Mount Rushmore Day.  The ABB plan was to ride 72 miles from Hot Springs, SD to Rapid City, SD -  Climbing up Mount Rushmore.  Given my feelings from the day before and the fact that the downhill from Mount Rushmore was a 2 miles 10% grade I decided to just delete that from my day.  So I planned to ride up to the first SAG stop at mile 32 and then get in the van for the remainder of the day.  I have to say it was the best decision I made.  After Mount Rushmore, there was still a lot of climbing and even the super riders told me that the downhills were a little sketchy because of the condition of the shoulder.  I ended up having a stress-free day.  Because I was in the van, I did not get to do the whole "Mount Rushmore visitor experience" - but I'm OK with that - see pics below.

Last night Lucy and I chose to forgo the usual dinner and went to Mexican with Nancy and Adrienne (see pic below) - great choice.  We laughed for hours!! 

This morning we were riding 57 miles from Rapid City, SD to Wall, SD.  Since it was a "short" day we got to sleep in - luggage load was at 8:00 AM (normally I am biking between 6 -7 AM).  Plus I decided to leave with the group, instead of early since it was supposed to be an "easy" day - rolling hills and 20 miles on the interstate.  Well...a headwind went into high gear after our first SAG stop at mile 23 and has not stopped.  You know it is brutal when you have to pedal just as hard downhill as uphill.  By the time we all made it in to the hotel, our "easy" day had morphed into a day you would not want repeated.  Luckily (not!) the winds are expected to be the same tomorrow for our 117 mile ride to Pierre, SD - it will be a long day - plus we will ride into a time zone change so we will lose an hour.  Hopefully, I get in before 9 PM!

Some of you may have heard of Wall, SD - "famous" for the Wall Drug Store.  There were at least 8 billion billboards leading into Wall about the store - let me tell you - it is not even really a drug store - it is a 3 block long tourist trap with EVERY type of item you could want from western wear to pie.  We took a walk around - see pics below. 

Don't be surprised if there is no blog tomorrow - unless the wind gods suddenly decide to blow in our favor, I will be on my bike for many, many hours.  If I succeed, it will be my third century in one week. 

At the bicycle monument with Bob, riding up to Mount Rushmore

The beginnings of Mount Rushmore

Washington Profile

Jan and Andreas riding up to Mount Rushmore

Wall Drug - this is the only sign that would make you think it was a pharmacy

Lucy and Jim at Wall Drug Tourist Attraction

Buck Naked Wine

Nancy and Adrienne (Mom and daughter) - their favorite time of the day!