16.07.2012 Salmon, ID

Day 53: LRFS to Salmon, ID

Monday July 16, 2012, 100 miles (161 km) - Total so far: 1,716 miles (2,762 km)

Not the earliest of starts, but I hit the road heading north. It felt great being on the bike again but at the same time I learned real fast that my climbing legs had deserted me. I reached Challis, ID and it was a perfect stop for a restroom/stretch/water break. While coming out of the grocery store I met a guy traveling around the west coast with his dog and was currently hopping around the different hot springs in Idaho. We got to talking and he was kind and bought me some lunch. We chatted for awhile sharing stories and then I realized I better get going since I had no idea where I was going to stop for the night. It was my first day back so I did not want to push it too hard.

The route north on 93 provided some beautiful riding but at the same time some questionable stretches through narrow canyons. I was lucky and hit minimal traffic so it made it to be a pleasant ride. Had I hit traffic it would not have been nearly so. I rolled into the Salmon River RV Park and it was getting to be time to start planning on where I would find a place for the night. I decided that it was early enough that I would push on for Salmon, it was only another 22 miles or so. 

As I started getting closer to Salmon the sky took a turn for the ugly. Huge black clouds were blowing in fast behind me and I found myself racing the storm to Salmon. I really didn't think I would make it and was desperately looking for adequate cover. Luck would be on my side today, I spot a gas station to on the side of the road and rush for the canopy. Within 5 seconds of pulling under the canopy the sky just opened up and the hardest rain I had seen in a long time just emptied on the town. I waited around under the canopy for a little over a half an hour hoping it would let up. Eventually it did ease up and I ventured the rest of the way into town. Still in a light rain I start looking for a place to stay. The choices, several motels or a campground. Being the first day back on the road, tired, hungry and wet I just say screw it and get the motel. 

I wasn't planning on doing a hard day right out of the gate but once the sky starts turning like it did it is quite the motivator to turn miles in a hurry. 

11.07.2012 to 15.07.2012 LRFS

Day 48-52: Getting Back to My Bike

After some fun filled adventures with Tas, it was time for me to resume my ride. She dropped me off at the Greyhound station in Las Vegas, NV and we said our good byes, she to head back to Texas and me back to Idaho. During the short time I waited for my bus there was one drunk couple thrown out, 2 ambulances and one additional dispute as well as a family who couldn't read directions and decided to cause a scene showing their ignorance. The drama that is Greyhound.

I took the Bus back to Pocatello, ID. I spent a couple days visiting with some of my new friends that I met at LRFS. While there I found an awesome barber to get a nice hair cut and shave. I then got a ride back to Idaho Falls, ID to my friends house. She gave me a ride to ARCO, ID and my friend Kathy picked me up there and I rode back to LRFS with her. So after a Greyhound bus and 3 rides I have made it back to LRFS and my bike.

I spent one more night at LRFS visiting with the Central Washington University crew that was there and tomorrow I am back on the road heading towards Missoula, MT and then the coast.

02.07.2012 to 10.07.2012 Adventures with Tas

Day 39-47: Adventures with Tas

When one of my new friends from the 2012 class at LRFS told me she was heading down to southern Utah, I took the chance to head down with her. We drove down to Moab, UT where we went for a short day rafting down the Colorado River and visiting Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. From there we drove over to Bryce Canyon National Park and then on to Zion National Park and finally to Las Vegas, Nevada. Again, I am not going to list a detailed description of this here, since it isn't exactly bike touring related (though I did see a lot of bicycle tourists going through this area), instead I am going to just post a couple photos.

21.06.2012 to 01.07.2012 LRFS

Day 28-38: Time off at LRFS

What started out as a couple of days off turned into 10 days off. It is truly hard to leave this place with its beautiful scenery, wonderful people, and amazing food. While here at the field station I helped out around the camp and in the kitchen, went out into the field with the students (a lot more fun when you don't have to do the academic work) and went on a few excursions around central Idaho (visiting Hot Springs,  Redfish Lake, and Sun Valley).  

I am not going to do a lot of detailed descriptions of the fun that is central Idaho, instead I am going to just post a couple of photos.

20.06.2012 Lost River Field Station, ID

Day 27: Idaho Falls, ID to Lost River Field Station, ID

Wednesday June 20, 2012, 101 miles (163 km) - Total so far: 1,616 miles (2,601 km)

Got a good start, cheating and taking a ride to the west side of town to avoid morning traffic. The day rolled by with no wind to speak of and easy terrain. The route today (hwy 20) crosses the INL, so it is several miles of just nothing, but also with light traffic. I reached Arco, ID just after 13:00 for lunch. Stopped at the Pickle Place, its a nice place to stop if you are passing through. As I was getting ready to head out Emily started rolling by and stopped and we chatted for a good while. She is heading from San Francisco to D.C. with stops along the way to see National Parks and Friends. I was surprised, I didn't expect to see any other cyclists in this area.

I felt foolish that I was just at my friends house and forgot to ask for directions to where I am going. It has been 7 years since I have been here and I knew the general direction but couldn't remember the exact way to get here. I just followed what I thought was right and ended up getting here just fine. Lost River Field Station is home to the Idaho State University Geology Field Camp (as well as other field camps) I love it here. I got to visit with PKL, Scott and was really happy to see Cathy again. I will be staying here for a couple days before continuing north.

18.06.2012 Idaho Falls, ID

Day 25: Riverside campground to Idaho Falls, ID

Monday June 18, 2012, 71 miles (114 km) - Total so far: 1,515 miles (2,438 km)

Headed out, its seems to be easier when you are heading to a friends place instead of an unknown campground. The road wasn't bad at first but then the wind picked up pretty strong. I stopped into Saint Anthony, ID for lunch and a break. I met another cyclist while I was on my break who was traveling around the continental US. After a short conversation I headed back on my way. The wind continued to blow hard. I came across a lady who had wrecked her car previously and was dragging part of her wheel well and front bumper on the ground. I stopped and helped her get it secured so she could drive home.

Somewhere along the way you could just make out the Grand Tetons, wish it wasn't so hazy.

Hwy 20 then changed into a limited access highway and the nice shoulder all but disappeared. There was a beautiful 4 to 5 foot shoulder, but the rumple strip went the whole way across, what a waste of a nice shoulder. And when this wasn't the case it was construction all around Rexburg, ID. Luckily once I got past Rexburg the road conditions got better. My friend gave me directions from Rigby so from there I left hwy 20 and took back roads the rest of the way.

Visiting with my friend for the next day and half.

17.06.2012 Riverside Campground, Island Park, ID

Day 24: Ranch to Riverside campground, Island Park, ID

Sunday June 17, 2012, 57 miles (92 km) - Total so far: 1,444 miles (2,324 km)

Slept in a bit today, had breakfast and then Steve gave us a tour of the ranch. This truly is a beautiful place. After a couple of photos we were on our way (around 11:00). I rode with Patrick and Charlie for about 12 miles and then split directions. I never get to travel with anyone for any significant amount of time. The wind was a bit strong which made it slow going. Eventually I made it over Reynolds Pass (which wasn't that bad) and reached both the Continental Divide and Idaho. Idaho began with a nice downhill to the beginning of Island Park, ID. I stopped into a C store and the guy recommended heading to Riverside Campground if I could make it that far. (At the time I really doubted it) I rode on to Mack's Inn and got some dinner. Between the meal and the reduction in wind I made good time riding all the way to Riverside Campground. Quickly got organized and in the tent to get away from the mosquitoes.

16.06.2012 Ranch along Hwy 287

Day 23: Bozeman, MT to ranch on hwy 287

Saturday June 16, 2012, 81 miles (130 km) - Total so far: 1,387 miles (2,232 km)

Up at the normal time, had breakfast and an appreciative goodbye to my host and was on my way. I stopped by the Co-op on the way out of town and picked up some food. The ride started out nice and continued to be good. In fact the stretch between Bozeman, MT and Norris, MT was the best stretch I have had the whole trip so far. It was warm, but not too warm. The first descent was AMAZING. It then went down into a beautiful canyon. It get tight in sections but I felt safe. A Note though, I was heading west, going east seemed to be tighter than on my side of the road. So I do not know if I would have enjoyed it the same.

Stopped in Norris, MT for lunch, then the climbing began, but the advantage of todays climbs are the payoffs at the ends. As I got into Ennis, MT two other cyclists touring the Trans-Am (Charlie and Patrick) also came rolling in. I joined them for the rest of the day. We bumped into a camera crew claiming to be shooting a documentary for sci-fy about something or other. As we were stopped at a bar a ranch manager came up (Steve) and offered us to stop by and visit his ranch. This bar was the only time I was ever denied a refill of my water bottle but instead offered to sell a bottle of water.

We decided to take him up for the offer, and arrived in good time. The place is really amazing, sitting along the Madison River. After a delicious dinner cooked by Charlie, we sat around the table until after midnight sharing stories. These past couple days have been great.

15.06.2012 Bozeman, MT

Day 22: Livingston, MT to Bozeman, MT

Friday June 15, 2012, 25 miles (40 km) - Total so far: 1,306 miles (2,102 km)

A short day, heading over Bozeman pass into Bozeman, MT. I stopped and talked with a guy who use to tour for awhile before I got to far and then continued on my way. The pass really wasn't bad at all. It did seem to increase in gradient as I got closer to the top after crossing into the next county). The descent really wasn't too fun either. The shoulder could have been wider and less gravel for my taste.

Once I reached Bozeman, MT I stopped into La Tinga for lunch. It is a great authentic Mexican restaurant right on Main Street. I arrived in town super early so to kill time I gave myself a riding tour of town. I visited the University (Montana State University) and hung out in a park playing with a dog.

I met my host for the evening, another fabulous warmshowers experience. Had a great dinner and sat around sharing stories and getting advice for the road ahead. They also gave me a sticker and told me about the Bike Kitchen that they are helping run which helps recycle bikes and get them back into the community.

Good day, moving on ... almost to Idaho!

14.06.2012 Livingston, MT

Day 21: Reed Point, MT to Livingston, MT

Thursday June 14, 2012, 62 miles (100 km) - Total so far: 1,281 miles (2,062 km)

Today started on a nice frontage road and paralleled I-90 most of the day. I stopped in to Big Timber for lunch and then pushed on towards Livingston. I was originally planning on going on to Bozeman today but by the time I reached Livingston I was tired and really didn't want to have to deal with the descent from Bozeman pass at the very end of the day. I shopped around and found a relatively cheaper place to stay and am calling this a day. A real short day to Bozeman tomorrow.

13.06.2012 Reed Point, MT

Day 20: Billings, MT to Reed Point, MT

Wednesday June 13, 2012, 64 miles (103 km) - Total so far: 1,219 miles (1,962 km)

Got an alright start this morning. My host gave me a alternate route to leave Billings than the ACA route, so I opted to follow that route. It was a go route except for the construction which had two sections of gravel riding (again I am loving having these wider tires). Making great time so far as I passed through Laurel, MT and continued on to Columbus. I stopped in Columbus, MT for a late lunch, by this point it is getting very windy and I am going very slow and it took me awhile to arrived in Reed Point, MT. Not only was it windy, but the sky was looking threatening.

There really isn't much to Reed Point. A C Store with limited hours, a post office, a bar and a camp ground (Old West RV Park). I originally stopped to get water and use the rest room and then push on to Big Timber. But I started talking to the new owners of the campground (who just recently purchased it) and decided it would be better to just stay here for the night. They were super nice and it was a great place to stay for the night. I also went down to the Waterhole Saloon and had a couple drinks and learned about the area.

12.06.2012 Billings, MT

Day 19: Hysham, MT to Billings, MT

Tuesday June 12, 2012, 80 miles (129 km) - Total so far: 1,155 miles (1,859 km)

Today was originally suppose to be a short day, but was moving too quickly for that. I made it to Worden, MT shortly after lunch and a boy was there having a lemonade stand and he gave me a free glass of juice. I was talking to a couple people and they said it really wasn't a bad ride between their on Billing. I called my host for tomorrow and he said that it would work better for them if I stayed today instead of tomorrow so it worked out well in that sense too.

So I pushed on to Billings, MT and when I arrived in the city, my host gave me better directions via bike path to get to his place instead of taking the roads. It was a nice bike path which was so much more relaxing than the very busy highway. Another great host, Woody and MJ provided a great stay and were a wealth of information on the history of the area as well as recommending routing and giving me a heads up on what to expect. Woody also helped me with some basic fixes for the bike which have made a good difference.

11.06.2012 Hysham, MT

Day 18: Miles City, MT to Hysham, MT

Monday June 11, 2012, 73 miles (117 km) - Total so far: 1,075 miles (1,730 km)

Up early, another cool, damp start to the day. I guess its good so I can wear my yellow jacket on my first day on interstate 94. The interstate really isn't bad. Traffic is mild and the shoulder is nice and wide. I didn't have to ride on the interstate for long, there are lots of frontage roads that follow the highway which don't really have the nice shoulder but also don't have an traffic.

I stopped in Forsyth for lunch and then continued on to Hysham. I stopped in at the town park which although the restrooms are closed its a decent place to camp. That is if you don't mind sleeping under the pavilion. The grass has sprinklers that rotate through different sections of the grass and are constantly on, so if noise bothers you, it may not be the best place. As for restrooms, the bar is open for at night and the C Store is open early in the morning.

Sat talking with some local kids for awhile before calling it a night.

10.06.2012 Miles City, MT

Day 17: Baker, MT to Miles City, MT

Sunday June 10, 2012, 33 miles (53 km) - Total so far: 1,002 miles (1,613 km)

I made it only 33 miles and it was already after 13:00. I stopped for a break around mile 26 and tried to hitch a ride but with no luck. I rode on stopping when I saw a line of vehicles to try again but nothing, though I did see two zebras in a field which was unexpected. I then got lucky at the 33rd mile mark when while still on my bike I just stuck out my thumb and a truck passed by, then turned around and came back to see if I was just making myself noticed or needed something. I was grateful for the ride, the remaining 50 miles will take me well into the night. Shortly after pulling into town it started raining again. I opted for a cheaper motel and started planning out my route for the next stretch. I am now back on the Lewis and Clark route once again (I had been following the Yellowstone Trail (hwy 12) the past several days). Instead of following sections 3 and 4 I opted for my "shortcut" and am now following section 8 south towards Billings and Bozeman.

Today, even with the ride, I reached 1000 Miles!!!

09.06.2012 Baker, MT

Day 16: Bowman, ND to Baker, MT

Saturday June 9, 2012, 47 miles (76 km) - Total so far: 969 miles (1,559 km)

Got moving along the usual time (around 08:00). Its a cool, windy, damp, uneventful day. Stopped in Marmarth for lunch and then pushed on to the border crossing with Montana (three states down). Although North Dakota flew by in two days, Montana is going to take me awhile to cross. Although I only covered 47 miles, it took me awhile to do it thanks to the wind. Again the sky has been threatening and as soon as I checked into the Sagebrush Inn a thunderstorm began. I found a dry place under an overhang where cars would pull up to unload to cook dinner and just relaxed. The internet is down and I don't get service so didn't get a chance to check on weather or the route for tomorrow. It is 83 miles between Baker and Miles City, MT so I am hoping the winds are not as bad because there really isn't anything in between.

08.06.2012 Bowman, ND

Day 15: Watagua, SD to Bowman, ND

Friday June 8, 2012, 97 miles (156 km) - Total so far: 922 miles (1,484 km)

Up at the usual time, packed up and headed downstairs for breakfast (again, I highly recommend this place if you are passing through). The weather is improved over last night but more storms are in the forecast. I continued along hwy 12 and stopped in Lemmon, SD for lunch. Lemmon's claim to fame is their petrified wood park. After visiting the park and finishing lunch, I rolled on and entered North Dakota (completed my second state). Stopped in Hettinger, ND for a break and to refill my water, but it was too early to stop for the day. I continued on looking for a good place to camp (Reeder had camping at the park, but it was right along the tracks and no restrooms) and the sky started looking threatening again. I rolled into Bowman, ND and found a hotel. It seems that this stretch is going to get pricey. Due to the oil boom and pipeline, most things are booked during the week (weekends are easier) and prices are higher than I had been seeing previously.

07.06.2012 Watauga, SD

Day 14: Selby, SD to Watauga, SD

Thursday June 7, 2012, 89 miles (143 km) - Total so far: 825 miles (1,328 km)

Started the day waiting for the rain to stop, it was only a brief shower so it wasn't long. Then stopped by the store to pick up some fruit and snacks for the day. Rode along with Ben until our paths split (he continued north on hwy 83 towards Bismark, ND and I headed west on hwy 12 towards Miles City, MT).

I continued back to the official Lewis and Clark route that we split from yesterday and passed through Mobridge, SD where I had my second breakfast. The riding today is not bad at all, but the wind is definitely no longer in my favor. It continued to be an uneventful day. I stopped for lunch in McLaughlin and pushed on to McIntosh. By this point the wind has picked up a bit and the sky is looking threatening. I remembered an Inn a little ways down the road listed in someone else's journal so I pushed on, I made it about half way and had to ride the last 5 to 6 miles in the thunderstorm. But I arrived to Watauga in tack, just a bit soggy.

Staying the night in the Dakota Countryside Inn. It is a wonderful place and the owners are super nice. They only have 10 rooms so I was lucky to get a space since I didn't call ahead. There is a group of 7 hunters also staying in the Inn. They let me join with them for dinner and even had homemade pie for dessert, then it was off to clean up and get to sleep.

06.06.2012 Selby, SD

Day 13: Pierre, SD to Selby, SD

Wednesday June 6, 2012, 100 miles (161 km) - Total so far: 736 miles (1,184 km)

Last night another cyclist arrived and also stayed with the host. He made breakfast and then we got on the road. I felt so much better and rested after a wonderful two days in Pierre. When cycling alone, spending a few days with others really makes a difference, and my back is feeling better after letting it rest. This was also my first experience with Warmshowers. It was a great experience and the host was amazing, made me feel right at home.

Ben and I set out from Pierre and continued along the route following 1804 north. In addition to having someone to ride with, we also have a tail wind for the day and a pretty good one at that. We make it all the way up to Bob's Steakhouse before stopping for lunch. We find a nice shady spot with a view behind the steak house, eat and enjoy a rest. After lunch we pushed on along 212 toward Gettysburg, SD but turned north on hwy 83 before reaching it. These sections heading east break the easy riding by providing for a strong cross wind. We cruise up 83 and eventually arrive in the town of Selby, SD. As we come into town we find a little ice cream shop and order milk shakes. We sat for awhile talking to some of the locals before finding our way to the park for the night. The park also has a public pool which let us use the showers. We had dinner and set up camp under the pavilion in the park.

My first 100 mile day!

04.06.2012 Pierre, SD

Day 11: Fort Thompson, SD to Pierre, SD

Monday June 4, 2012, 64 miles (103 km) - Total so far: 636 miles (1,024 km)

Since I stayed in the motel last night, there was little to pack, but instead of getting an early start, I stayed in bed a bit longer, and got another shower in the morning. Unfortunately, a soft bed when my back was use to hard surfaces ended with me sleeping wrong and now my back is a bit tight.

A beautiful morning for riding. Perfect temperature and no wind to speak of. With a sore back (which actually feels perfectly fine while I am in the saddle, only can't really stand) I opted to take the Lake Sharpe Option, riding north of the Missouri River instead of south. This option has a long gradual climb at the beginning of the day but then levels out to just some rolling hills along the river for the last 20+ miles. The climb was long and gradual so no problem at all. There was a good stop for breakfast at about 12 miles (Macs) so I stopped and purchased some Powerade and honey bun. By the time I reached the "flat" section of the day I looked at the clock and realized that if I kept up the current pace I would reach Pierre, SD before 1:00. I have never reached an end destination this early in the day. I did slow down a bit as the road follows the river it is a nice view even if its not the vistas from the official route and I still got into town just after 1:00.

I stopped and got my chores done: bike shop, lunch, bank, chiropractor and then headed over to my hosts house for the night. Had a great dinner and now relaxing with some ice on my back and updating my journals (which I have been absolutely horrible about updating (or even writing at the end of the day). I also realized I haven't taken many photos, this tends to be due to either weather (I don't take the camera out if its raining, or the right photo moments tend to arise as I am either climbing or descending a hill so I don't stop to get those either. I missed probably 5 really good photos for one of these two reasons.

Taking another day off here in Pierre, SD. Giving my back time to rest and hopefully be a bit more flexible on Wednesday. This also gives me time to finally update my journal and plan out the second leg of this trip (Pierre, SD to Glendive, MT).

03.06.2012 Fort Thompson, SD

Day 10: Snake Creek Recreation Area, SD to Fort Thompson, SD

Sunday June 3, 2012, 72 miles (116 km) - Total so far: 572 miles (921 km)

This was the toughest day of the trip yet. As is the routine, the day starts with a large climb, but after the initial climb it isn't too bad, at least for a little while. As is also tradition so far, the climb before Chamberlain, SD was more than I was really expecting.

I stopped in Chamberlain, SD for a long lunch break and restocked all my water plus purchased extra bottles of gatorade. After lunch the real struggle began. The first climb is as expected, you have to climb away from the river, it was exhausting but not too bad. However, there was no reward for this climb, as I started descending the other side signs warned of "road work" and "pavement ends". Not exactly the signs you want to see for a long descent. By the time I reached the bottom through mostly pavement but sporadic gravel I had no momentum built up for the second climb, which also had several sections of missing pavement (for added fun). This climb took everything out of me, I was already a bit tired from the ride to Chamberlain, SD and the first climb out, now add the heat and this climb just was my enemy for the day. After getting up and over this climb it wasn't too bad the rest of the way to Fort Thompson.

After the heat and the climbs, I am rewarding myself to some AC and TV. After getting cleaned up, I picked some food up at the convenience store next to the motel and watched a little TV while I relaxed and then shortly fell asleep rather early as usual.

02.06.2012 Snake Creek Recreation Area, SD

Day 09: South Shore Lakeside Use Area, SD to Snake Creek Recreation Area, SD

Saturday June 2, 2012, 78 miles (126 km) - Total so far: 500 miles (805 km)

Again starting the day climbing up and away from the Missouri River. Continued on to Fairfax, SD for breakfast, really not much available in town but with a population of around 100 I was really not expecting much. From there the riding wasn't hard on through Bonesteel, SD to Burke, SD. It was a warm day so a few breaks in between to get out of the sun and take and eat a snack. By the time I rolled into Burke I was hot and pretty tired. I found a grocery store and plopped down on the sidewalk in front of it with a cold drink and rested under the awning. As I rested there a lady came out of the store and gave me a snack and another cold drink. It was just the boost I needed for the day. When I was on the AT we would call this type of thing "trail magic" (unexpected acts of kindness from).

As I continued out of town with some new energy I was stopped by Phil who is also cyclist. He is also originally from the East Coast so I stopped and chatted with him for awhile. The stop in Burke, SD was just the thing for a tired, drained day. After leaving Burke, I road on to the Snake Creek Recreation Area. As I came up to the entrance station the girls at the booth told me they were completely filled. It is a long way to anything else listed on the map as camping options so I talked with them for awhile and convinced them to help me find a spot. It turned out they had one handicap spot being held that hadn't been claimed so they put me there for the night. It really isn't a great site (mostly concrete and hardly any shade) but it is right next to the water and rest rooms and it means I am done for the day. I showered and set up camp and made a good dinner.

A long day today, another long one tomorrow as I try to make it to Pierre, SD and finish this leg of the trip on Monday.

01.06.2012 South Shore Lakeside Use Area, SD

Day 08: Lewis and Clark Lake State Recreation Area, SD to South Shore Lakeside Use Area, SD

Friday June 1, 2012, 70 miles (113 km) - Total so far: 422 miles (679 km)

The day started out climbing, up and away from the Missouri River. I stopped into Springfield, SD for breakfast, was told the cafe had been closed so just grabbed something from the convenience store instead of going into town and then got back on my way. A little while after leaving Springfield the rain started up again. Road on in the rain until I reached Marty. I found a nice overhang to get under and out of the rain for a nice break. Once I felt satisfied with the break I continued on my way. The rain stopped a little while after leaving Marty but was threatening to continue on later.

I arrived into Pickstown, SD and considered calling it a day and just getting a room, but the motel was filled with fishermen coming down to the lake for the weekend. Which is a good thing, helps me maintain my budget, but eventually I will give myself a break and a hotel/motel room for a night. I talked to the guy in the convenience store and he recommended the South Shore Lakeside Use Area over the Randall Creak Recreation Area, less people go there and its only $10 instead of what they charge at Randall Creek. I was still going to go to Randall Creek but it looked like it would be more work getting back to the road in the morning so went over to the South Shore since it was right off the road. As soon as I got my tent set up, it started to rain again.

The South Shore's "camping" sites are pretty much a hill sloped down towards the lake. Somebody else had already set up on the only strip of grass that was level between the road and the lake, so I set up next to them instead of the normal camp sites. Later in the evening another family showed up and was too loud, too late as the guys were fishing and not paying any attention to their kids running all over the place. Oh-well, place to sleep and then push on.

31.05.2012 Lewis & Clark Lake Recreation Area, SD

Day 07: Elk Point, SD to Lewis and Clark Lake Recreation Area, SD

Thursday May 31, 2012, 60 miles (97 km) - Total so far: 352 miles (566 km)

First full day in South Dakota. I got a late start, always do when I have to pack up after a rainy night. It didn't take too long to reach Vermillion, SD for breakfast, stopped off at the Market Street Cafe. After breakfast it was off through Gayville, SD to get to Yankton, SD. There is a section between Vermillion and Gayville that has you going down a "hard packed dirt and gravel road" well after a few days of rain it wasn't very "hard packed" so I headed north and took hwy 50 into Gayville. This stretch is under construction so not really suitable for riding but I made it there fine.

Once I reached Gayville I received a moment of comedic relief at the stop sign before turning across the tracks into town. (pictured below). I stopped, did a little hammer dance and progressed on my way. It was still raining when I reached Yankton, so I took shelter at a gas station for a drink and some rest. After I got through town and on the bike path the sky cleared up and it warmed up a bit. I continued down to Gavins Point Dam and the Lewis and Clark Lake State Recreation Area. This is long enough of a day for me, so I am in for the night.

30.05.2012 Elk Point, SD

Day 06: Aurelia, IA to Elk Point, SD

Wednesday May 30, 2012, 75 miles (121 km) - Total so far: 292 miles (470 km)

Today started out really nice, a little heavy on the truck traffic heading into Cherokee, IA but still nice riding. C38 was a pretty nice ride as well, lots of ups and downs as it passes through rolling hills. I will now concede to the fact that Iowa does in fact have hills. I arrived in Merrill, IA in time for lunch and stopped off at Emma Rae's Cafe. Great place, recommended for anyone passing through.

Shortly after pushing on from the cafe, it started to rain. It would continue raining for the rest of the day. Luckily from here the riding was not too bad. I continued across C44 to K18 where I connected with the official ACA route and headed for Jefferson, SD. I completed my first state, its a good feeling of progress and its nice to be on the official route. I took a brief break in Jefferson, SD out of the rain before pushing on to Elk Point, SD for the night. Camping tonight at the city park. There is a nice little plaque marking this as one of Lewis and Clark's camping sites.

28.05.2012 Aurelia, IA

Day 04: Lizard Lake, IA to Aurelia, IA

Monday May 28, 2012, 58 miles (93 km) - Total so far: 217 miles (349 km)

Happy Memorial Day.

Another very windy day. Luckily for me I managed to get a good 22 miles in before the wind picked up. I stopped into Varina, IA and filled my water bottles at the American Legion. They also gave me some orange juice and a donut. Although windy, it is much cooler today than yesterday which helps a lot. The traffic remained light until I reached Buena Vista County near Storm Lake, IA. It then picked up significantly. I stayed just north of Storm Lake and stopped for lunch before pushing on to Alta and my final destination for the day Aurelia. There is not good way to get to Aurelia from where I was except for two busy highways. The only other options were go the whole way around adding several miles or a gravel road which was a direct line to town. Weighing the options and knowing I was a bit early to reach my friends house, that traffic was heavy on the highways and the tires handled fine on gravel, I took the gravel. It really wasn't so bad, just slow going for the next 7 miles.

I reached town and he was already home. So go in, changed and we headed to the store for some grocery shopping. I have been craving a good chef salad for awhile now, so I bought everything I needed (except it was missing the hard boiled eggs) and made myself a gigantic salad. It was delicious. Cost more than I had spent on all three previous days combined, but to me it was well worth it.

Tomorrow they are forecasting another day of this wind (although it is suppose to stay cool) so I have opted to stay in town to pick up some packages from the post office and get some "chores" done. It will also be nice to give my sunburns a day with no sun. (So when you read the next entry and there is a day missing, you understand, no you aren't missing something.)

27.05.2012 Lizard Lake, IA

Day 03: Eagle Grove, IA to Lizard Lake, IA

Sunday May 27, 2012, 38 miles (61 km) - Total so far: 159 miles (256 km)

Today was such a challenging day, really horrible actually. I should have realized it was going to be a hot one when I got up and it was already quite warm. But it really got hot (95° F (35° C)) and to make matters worse, 25+ mph headwinds and/or crosswinds all day. I stopped about every 6-8 miles to rest in the shade and get more water and other cold drinks. I lost track of how much I drank, but it was a lot. As I pedaled on fighting the wind, I would catch myself talking out loud. I would stop realizing that nobody was listening, and then realized that I wasn't even listening and that threw me into a whole other line of thinking. Its only the third day, too soon to go crazy.

Twice I stopped in peoples yards for breaks under trees, each time they gave me cold water. The second time (above 30ish miles) I pulled into a driveway and was laying under a shade tree (I usually ask permission, but nobody answered the door and I really needed the rest). About 20 minutes later I was joined by their German Shepard. Really sweet dog. They invited me in and I ended up spending a couple hours with them talking and waiting for the heat to subside and hopefully the winds as well. Around 6:00 clouds had rolled in and did help with the temps, but the wind seemed even worse, but I needed to push on to make it to where I intended to camp (Lizard Lake). (If you do read this, Thank You, again for your hospitality.) Lizard Lake (well not really a like now) has a very small campground which was pretty much full. I found a spot to set up my tent in the shade.

Another note. I did get to test the solar charger today, which seems to work nicely. It would work even better though had I not stopped every 6-8 miles in the shade so it had very little sunlight except the periods I was riding.

26.05.2012 Eagle Grove, IA

Day 02: Bristow, IA to Eagle Grove, IA

Saturday May 26, 2012, 76 miles (122 km) - Total so far: 121 miles (195 km)

It turns out it did storm last night. I did some rearranging of the picnic tables and moved my tent towards the center of the pavilion. I am glad I did because when I woke up not much else, other than my tent, was dry. Woke up early, on my own without an alarm, which is one thing I really do like about traveling, but I didn't get up until the weather calmed down. So it wasn't until after 07:30 that I hit the road. Made much better time today than yesterday. Followed county roads which were very light and traffic and threaded them together to hit towns that looked suitable to refill the water bottles and have a rest. Most of the towns along these roads are not much more than a grain elevator, but it was still nice to have a place to take a rest. It also made them easy to spot from a good distance away and then I just had to wait until I got there to break (good motivation).

The one problem I had today was that since it started out cool and wet, I forgot to apply my sunscreen. Big mistake, but the end of the day I was pretty burnt. My arms and face don't seem bad at all (except the tips of my ears) but my legs right above the knee got the bulk of the sun. As I moved into Eagle Grove, I decided against cooking some of the too much food I am carrying and ate at Subway, after over 76 miles (a longest for me) I treated myself to air conditioning, a sub and a cold drink. I then proceeded to try and find the police (a lot easier to find when you don't want them than when you do). Did manage to find the station and asked about a place to sleep. They put me up in the county fair grounds tonight. Hot, burnt and tired after a long day, I should sleep well as long as I can sleep on my back.

25.05.2012 Bristow, IA

Day 01: Cedar Falls, IA to Bristow, IA

Friday May 25, 2012, 45 miles (72 km) - Total so far: 45 miles (72 km)

Sometimes the hardest part of any trip is getting out the door. Over the past month I have tried to get all my paperwork situated, moved out of the apartment, cleaned up the bike, gathered all my gear, planned out the first week of the trip, going to wing most of it from there, and made a sorry excuse at getting my lazy butt into shape. The result, today I carry my bike and gear out of the apartment at 10:00 (later than I would have liked) and head off on my way.
I took the pre-trip photos and headed north out of the town. For the Iowa portion of the trip I printed out some of google maps bicycle routes and will follow those as well as a state highway map. This worked out well at first since the google directions matched where I wanted to go. However, this changed when they put me on a 3.5 mile stretch of gravel roads. That is the problem with rural Iowa back roads, not many are paved. So I tossed the google directions and relied only on my state road map.

The riding was nice today, cool temperatures and off and on bits of rain (not really rain but just drops here and there). The route consisted of a lot of bike trails but also some roads and unfortunately gravel roads. The good part about those gravel roads are that the tires have proven vary effective on gravel. I am really glad I got the wider tires. When I reached Bristow, IA I stopped in the town part, under the pavilion for dinner.
Shortly after I started eating it began to rain. This was starting to look like I good place to call it a day and luckily for me they said I could camp the night in the park. They even let me into the restrooms.

Since I forgot to reset the mileage on the bike computer, I am going to follow google maps mileage for this first day. After today I will hopefully remember so that I can have more accurate measurements of the distance traveled. It should also be noted that I am starting with a good deal of food, I had most of it already and figured might as well eat it instead of letting it go bad.

01.05.2012 The Route

The Route: Modified Lewis & Clark

For the most part I will be following Adventure Cycling Association's Lewis & Clark Route. 

The changes:
I will be starting from my Cedar Falls, IA instead of the beginning
I will be deviating from the route in MT, ID, WA and OR to visit friends and family.
The start date is set for 25 May 2012.
This is the initial planned route, changes are likely to occur and will be reflected in each of the days maps.

Planned Route

View Lewis and Clark Route in a larger map


The Actual Route Taken

The new google maps is being a pain in the ass so I am just going to post a map I made in a program I have (ArcMap).

01.05.2012 First Tour Gear List

The Required Gear List: A backpacker going biking

BIKE 
52cm SURLY LHT - stock build (replaced stock seat with Brooks B17, replaced tires with Schwalbe Marathon Mondail)
Additions: Shimano SPD pedals, fenders, 2 water bottle cages, 2 water bottles
Racks: Tubus Tara (front) and Tubus Cargo (rear) racks
Storage: Ortlieb Front and Back roller Panniers, Ortlieb Ultimate5 classic handlebar bag (medium)
Lighting: Planet Bike Rack Blinky 5 tail light (2AAA Batteries), CygoLIte MityCross 400 head light (Rechargeable Battery)
Bike Computer: Sigma Sport BC1009
Pump: Topeak Road Morph Frame Pump
Bike Mirror: Bike Peddler Take A Look Mirror

Tools/Spares 
Bike Lock, 2 tire levers, patch kit, chain lube, Schrader-Presta adapter, zip-ties, gorilla tape, a few spare nuts and bolts
2 spare tubes, 2 spare spokes (come stock on bike), SRAM powerlink (x2)
Bike multi-tool (allen wrenches, chain tool), spoke wrench, Gerber multi-tool (screw drivers, pliers) and pocket knife
Bike Clothes 
Bike Shoes: Pearl Izumi X-Alp Seek IV
Helmet, Riding Gloves, Arm Warmers and cycling cap
Rain jacket and cheap rain pants
cycling socks (3 pair), Cycling shorts (2 pair), t-shirts (2), and long sleeve shirt
Road ID

Camp clothes 
Shower Shoes (flip/flops), Town/Camp sandals, Wool Socks (2 pair)
beanie, baseball hat, Buff, gloves, Sunglasses
convertible pants, athletic shorts, Boxers (2 pair), Long underwear bottoms
t-shirt, Lightweight long sleeve wool top, Midweight long sleeve wool top, Primaloft vest

Camp 
REI Quarter Dome T2 (with footprint and stakes)
Big Agnes Insulated Air-Core Sleeping pad, Montbell ULSS Down Hugger #2, Sea-to-Summit Thermolite bag liner
Petzel Tikka Plus 2 Headlamp (3AAA baterries)
Alcohol stove, wind screen, fuel bottle and lighter, Small pot, and spork
MSR Dromedary (4L), 1/2 L nalgene
REI Camp Towel (medium), 2 bandanas, 50 ft paracord, 2 small carabiners, stuff sacks and assorted zip-lock bags
Toiletries and first aid

Extras 
Sony Walkman (mp3 player with ear buds)(Rechargeable battery)
Sony Cyber-shot (digital camera) (Rechargeable battery)
Motorola (cell phone) (Rechargeable battery)
Timex (cheap watch)
Journal with pen
ACA Route maps, state maps, and compass
Solar panel and charger
Important stuff: wallet, money, contact information, ID, etc.

Food, Water, Fuel