Meandering Along the Missouri River

The Missouri River.  We would see it daily and crossed it on bicycle twice this week.

The Mighty Mo became our orbital destination for the 2026 edition of RASDak.  The ride was a very scenic expedition starting in Platte, SD, heading north and crossing the river at Chamberlain then heading to South Dakota's capital of Pierre, next head down the west side before turning east and crossing to the east at US 18 near Fort Randall.  The next day we headed north back to Platte.  6 days of epic riding.

PROLOGUE

I-29 rain squalls kept coming.  Prospects for a wet ride?

Saturday morning, May 30, 2026.  We rode our bicycles to downtown.  Needed cash for our trip.  Stop at our banks.  Needed to kill an hour before we could drop Lady Liberty Jane off at the Hotel de Dog.  $74 for a room with a window.  Last year they offered rooms with televisions for $64.  This would be our last ride in Des Moines for a week.  Our SUV was loaded before this excursion.  Put Libby, in the truck and drop her off at the pet resort come home and swap vehicles after one final check to see if we needed anything else.  A checklist.  Always next year.

Driving to RASDak, unless it starts in Sioux Falls, seems to take a long time.  I-80 west to I-29 north then I-90 west.  Crossing the border, we feel like we are there but no, a few more hours to go.  Upon arrival, it felt like coming home for Christmas.  We smile hug and handshake all our friends we have made since 2012, the last Tour de Kota, 2013's inaugural RASDak, Faces to Falls, and every subsequent ride we were able to participate.  There exist a bond among people who do crazy things together once a year.  Brotherhood of Bicycling South Dakota.  Sisterhood, too.

No issues driving to Platte except for the cop and our air conditioner.  Coming into Parkston, SD, the speed limit of the two lane highway was 65 mph and a sign appears to notify that 45 mph is the new limit as one enters town.  Tap the brakes to cut the cruise control and let the car slow down on its own terms.  There is another vehicle in front of us that we were not tailgating.  Then a police car coming from the opposite direction.  Well into the 45 zone both of us were still well above that speed and hit our brakes at the same time.  MOTHER TRUCKER, the enforcer of the LAW turns around.  However, no red and blue lights.  He may have merely hit the end of his/her tether.  Do they still sell radar detectors??

Somewhere on I-90 we turned the fan down on the a/c.  Perhaps moved the knob closer to red.  After a stop, the fan for the a/c did not blow air.  Tried every trick one can do while driving at highway speed.  recirculate air, defrost, vent, a/c on and off ect.  No joy.  We could hear the fan but could not feel it.  Mary started searching for repair shops on the Google.  Maybe the cabin air filter got clogged.  Just had the oil changed and I thought that checking the filter was part of the process.  Crap.  I was right.  Happened to meet another Honda owner who knew exactly where the CAF was located.  Pulled the glove box off and saw the ice next to the filter.  Let it thaw and then use a screwdriver to remove the bar that is in the way and then pull the filter out.  Perhaps check the drain hose while I'm at it.  An easy Saturday project awaits!

"No love at all in the house of dolls.  No love lost, no love lost"--Joy Division lyrics popped in my head when I saw this.

Last meal before the first day of riding.  Steak sandwich.  Protein and carbs!

Food is inexpensive at Shorty's!

Upon returning from the safety meeting the ice melted away.

SPOILER ALERT Not only did RASDsk bring much needed rain to South Dakota, yours truly watered the parking lot!

Explore Platte, SD.  Stretch the legs a bit.  See that the bikes function properly after being stuffed into a Honda Pilot and hauled the length of a state.  Food and the mandatory safety meeting at 6pm held in the Lyric Theater on Main Street conveniently located by Shorty's.  Put the bikes in the school overnight.  We slept in the car that night.  No need to deal with a tent.  It rained that night anyway.

Étape 1 RASDak DAY 1 PLATTE TO CHAMBERLAIN 61.5 Miles

David Sunde taking off from Platte.  He is my cycling hero.  It took a lot of hard work for him to throw a leg over that bike and plant his arse on that saddle to ride at this very moment.  Also of note, Berry Fast Bicycles roadside bike support and overnight support.  And Todd's red Toyota SAG vehicle.  Todd was a strong rider but a stroke eliminated his ability to ride this so, he volunteered to help.  Glad he is here.  I have used both vehicles as a SAG.

For those that took the optional 8 extra mile route, this was their first view of the Missouri River.

We rode down that hill the last time we were here.

Mary's bike in the back.  New to us this year are the $29 6-pack cooler handlebar bags.  We did look at LBS but felt that $60 to $99 was excessive.  Mary needed a larger bag and I'm tired of carrying everything in my jersey pockets or backpack. Mary placed her map on top, I chose the Cateye sticker.  Worked out quite well.

Nothing says "I love America" better than a large red, white and blue cock!

Kasey Abbott, volunteer Tour Director of RASDak, on the route!!

Obligatory Crossing I-90 photo

We rolled in the area that Lewis and Clark trod upon.

Brule County

David made it!  This bike he purchased two weeks before Tour of Wyoming, did that ride on this bike and shortly afterwards had a stroke that forced him to rife trike recumbents.  He said he never really bonded with the bike.  He sold/gave it to a friend to ride.  Now he they are reunited!  Had to eliminate some modifications his friend made and try to bond.  Last year he brought his other roadie to ride a few days with but getting off the bike was a challenge.  

Made coffee via my JetBoil French Press upon waking up.  The rain was over.  Wise decision not to tent.  Wet roads for a bit.  At the 11 mile point we opted for the extra 8 miles, there and back, to look at the Missouri River from Snake Creek State Park.  Once back to the route proper it was north for quite a ways.  Mile 52 we stopped at the 4H building where the Brule County Bulleyes were raising funds to help the youth team compete in the BB gun competition at the Daisy Nationals later this year in Arkansas.  In my notes it says, "is this really the last hill?"  I cannot remember now what that meant but I think it was there because somebody told me there was only one more hill and that hill did not really seem like a bad hill.  Last time RASDaK overnighted in Chamberlain, we came in from the north.  This time from the south.  The lack of hills made me feel like the city was not there or never going to appear.  Double that feeling since the school is located on the outskirts.

We camped at the school on the south side.  Windy.  But we got the tent up in the wind AGAIN, the last time was in our yard, and it was not fun, showered and made coffee.  The school in Chamberlain is located above the town.  Unless one wanted to ride down a very steep hill and subsequently ride up that monster, we were done with biking.  But Mary remembered a convenience store about a mile and a half where we made the turn at a Honda motorbike dealership.  We made that trip on bike for soda and adult bevies.  Shuttle service was available to those that wanted to go to town proper.  

Dinner that night for those not venturing into town was provided by River City Grill featuring Filipino BBQ--eggrolls, BBQ pork sticks and fried rice.  Very good! They did have issues setting up, however, since their location was on the south side of the school, the front, the relentless wind (where was this wind when we needed it??) prevented the pop-up catering from setting up a tent to provide shade for the employees.  Despite the valiant effort of the crew, the wind won and the tent was put away.

Étape 2 RASDak Day 2 Chamberlain to Pierre 87 miles

Top of Shiver Hill

Blue water!

The road and hill goes on and on.  This one was not bad. The headwind made it tougher than it should had been.

Ditch Gnome

Someone thought I was going to put this on my bicycle.  Nope.  I was moving it to the intersection so more people could see it.

T-Rex of the Ditch.  Jim found it and placed it here against a sign.  We were hoping to find more.

Jim from Philly now Maryland.  Look closely, the T-Rex he found is about to bite him in the arse!

On the reservation now!  Notice that it has been designated a 'Purple Heart" reservation.

The unofficial reservation welcome sign.  This was the only cannabis sign I saw this year.  Our previous trip through Fort Thompson lead me to believe that there would be quite a few dispensaries like on Pine Ridge. 

Aptly named street in Fort Thompson.  Yes, it was windy.

An oasis for cyclists.  Had 10 minutes to spend here as the "sweeper" wanted us to roll on or SAG.  I don't blame the SAG drivers for they put in long days to help us.

Gertie has a full bin of dirt to eat.

Scored a Geocouch at the Pitstop.  Geocouches are illegally dumped upholstered furniture.  One must ride their bike to the discarded chair/couch and have their photo taken while sitting on said chair/couch and their bicycle must be in in the photo as well.  Randy from Kansas started this over a decade ago and has a map showing where the accepted finds were located.  Look up Bike Geocouching on Facebook.  This is my 130th.

My notes were rather blank when I first sat down to transcribe my thoughts onto paper.  One line, "hills and headwind."  Hours later "Ditch Gnome and T-Rex" appeared as a positive memory.  Then the negative notes, "how up is up?" "get moving."  The second reference to climbing refers to leaving Fort Thompson.  That hill seemed to go on for 8 miles.  The last note is when Gyle, the SAG Sweeper, told us we had 10 minutes left at Mac's Corner.  Back of the pack I was.

Started with a hill.  A very steep hill.  Down.  Despite wearing a jacket, I was cold.  Shivering.  Shivering so hard it felt like my wheels were bent.  Speed wobbles.  Just coast down this one because I am sure that there is a big climb ahead somewhere.  Chamberlain proper.  Should have made the effort and visited this part of town last night.  All the hallmarks of a fun town.  Could have taken the shuttle last night but we hung around the school.  At the top of the hill, I ditched my jacket.  I wish jackets would magically disintegrate after 5 miles of riding unless they were truly need.

Spent most of the ride climbing hills and taking photos and yes, fighting headwind.  The first 38 miles was north into the wind.  Photos gave me some time off the bike to rest.  I found a child's stuffed gnome doll on the side of the road and decided to take him to the nearby intersection for better visibility.  I half expected to see a snake underneath it.  Gnome of the Ditch.  Later, I saw a rider place a t-rex stuffed animal against a signpost.  The rider's name was Jim, and we would later ride together throughout the week since we ride about the same pace, slow but steady.

Taken when RASDak rolled through in 2021, the year after the Covid Lockdown.  This sign has been removed however; the red letters spelling "QUARANTINE" are still on the fence on the southside of Fort Thompson.  Can you blame them?  They did not create that virus or ate bats.  I kid, I kid.  It was the 5G towers the US installed.

Fort Thompson was the only town on the route.  The grocery store was our destination.  Gatorade and a sandwich.  We were here in 2021.  The town felt hostile and weary of strangers.  This time it felt friendlier and cleaner.  Mary and I made our purchases and then sat in the shade of a tree with another rider.  This rider pointed out another rider who was in the parking lot "watching" some local's dog.  "A woman came up to him and asked if he would watch the dog while she went shopping.  The guy did not know the dog's name?  Speaking about dogs, rolling into town I saw a man walk his dog toward town.  Glad he did not have a leash because his dog was on the other side of BIA 4 but later looked both ways before crossing the highway and rejoining its human.  An elderly woman driving a Mercedes Benz gave a friendly tap of the horn and waved as we rolled out of town.  A brief skunky odor was in her wake.  The hill out of town seemed to go on for 8 miles.  The wind unrelenting.  

Mac's Corner was the next stop.  Rehydrate and grab a bite.  Gyle showed up.  "10 minutes and time to go."  Damn, back of the pack!  Fortunately, the route took a left and we had a favorable crosswind.  Unfortunately, although it felt like speed doubled, my back and shoulders were tense from climbing and fighting headwind that I could not take full advantage of the change.

The Pitstop was our next stop.  Back before RASDak began in 2013, this was a stop for Tour de Kota in 2009.  The Etzkorn family reopened it for us this year.  The brother dumped two upholstered chairs on the side of the road, without permission.  That met the qualifications for Geocouching.  I've sat in over 100 such abandoned pieces of furniture but this one hurt.  I should have checked my shorts afterwards.  There may be holes.  I know, eww bedbugs.  Not if they are out in the elements without human blood for years.  People are more likely to get them from hotels and motels.

There was a rumor about a hill that I never paid attention.  I thought they meant a hard steep hill to climb.  Then the sign appeared.  Yellow triangle with an icon of a truck going downhill.  I ignored it.  The wind had kept my downhill speeds tame today.  Why would this be different.  Soon I'm going about 39 mph.  Crap, I missed my chance!  Had I been thinking, I would have shoved the throttle to the firewall and engaged WEP, war emergency power, and tried to set a speed record.  Yep, I am that person.  Big belly whopper of them all.  Climb like a dog, low cruise speed but a demon down the hill.  43.4 mph or about 4 mph shy of a single bike record.  The climb back up was not bad at all.  

The rest of the trip in was basically flat.  I caught up with Jim or he caught up with me, and we rolled into Pierre together.  When he fell back a bit I could hear him say "I'M NOT GIVING UP.  I WILL FINISH THIS RIDE!"  We stopped one or twice as my mantra goes "a minute or two off the bike does the body good."  Probably emptied my bladder as well.  At the final rest stop a woman asked if we needed a ride in.  Mouthy Chris almost said sure, "you got a hot tub or pool and drinks?"  Must be the tiredness of the ride.  We declined and ate grapes and drank water.  6 miles left.

Back of the pack.  Perhaps we were among the last 3 to make it in.  A woman on an late 80s Cannondale road bike in the photo at Mac's Corner was the last I believe.  Find Mary, grab luggage, set up tent on the football field, shower and grab the last shuttle to Beck's Auto for a free pizza dinner.  All the beer was gone but there was still soda.  The fine people at Beck's were taking down the tables as we ate.  We got enough to feel bloated, and the shuttle driver took us to an ice cream shop for dessert.  Then back to the high school.  In 2021 we got in early and spent at least an hour walking downtown.  We did venture to a convenience store but did not find one.  Plug in our phones and rear flashers and return to the tent to sleep.  At least it did not rain like it did in 2021.  When the REM and dreams hit, get up repeat.

The post card.  Mary mailed one to me.  Another was placed under our vehicle's windshield wiper when we got back to Platte.

ÉTAPE 3 RASDak DAY 3 JUNE 2 PIERRE TO LOWER BRULE 63 MILES

The best photo I have taken in years.  Leaving Pierre, crossing the Mighty Mo.

Casey Tibbs, rodeo cowboy, 9-time World Champion, actor and horse breeder. South Dakota native.  On the way out of Pierre. Casey Duane Tibbs

Starting to look like west river!

The river is in the background.

Maddie, Fred the Smoothie Guy's free-range partner, has her "safety" scarf on.  I need one, too.

Ride into the sky!  Don't worry, there's more!

The view behind the previous photo.  It was not the hills were extremely steep, it's just that they were long and never ending.  Seemed like 50 miles of this.  Quantity is a quality of its own.  Add a headwind and it becomes a double whammy.

Our road.

Bureau of Indian Affairs highway.  Not Bees In Area, although there are bees present.

First time seeing signs like this.  The Kul Wicasa Oyate, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe has a population of less than 1700 people.  Keeping tradition and working for self-sufficiency.  Resilience and survival after 200 years of broken treaties, loss of land and the dams that flooded their hunting grounds.   

Final road to the school where we spent the night.  Look, Ma, I'm higher than the water tower! Note the wet road.  The shoulder, despite being wide, was rough and full of sand.

Named after a very important 19th Century leader of this tribe, Tatanka Wakan.

Teresa, me and Tanya after cleaning up after the ride.

Drum and dance demonstration.  We were told that the dancers had 15 minutes notice of this.

Prospects of a stormy night.  I knew something was going to happen, so we made the decision to sleep inside the school.  Of note, the self-propelled camper belongs to Fred and if you see it pulled over on the side of the road with tables out, stop there.  The U-Haul is our luggage vehicle. 

People still tenting.  We did not want to pack a wet tent in the morning.

Mary got a new drivetrain in Lower Brule.  Shiny chain and cassette.  Peter from Spoke-N-Sport from Sioux Falls, SD, did the work.  He also checked on the bike throughout the rest of the week.  In 12 hours it would get wet.

We finally are West River!  The beautiful South Dakota landscape.  The land between here and the Bad Lands are good for grazing livestock.  Way west of here is the Bad Lands and west of that the Black Hills.  Compares East River to dull agricultural boredom like my home state of Iowa.  Hence, West River is where my cycling heart really lies.

Despite the wonderful change of scenery, third verse same as the second.  Hills and headwinds.  Five brutal climbs...with headwind.  I found myself with that 3-yard Stare, head down and look at the immediate front, thankfully the wide shoulder of the road.  Every minute raise my head and look around.  Check the mirror.  Listen, use ears.  I can hear cars long before they appear in my mirror.  Grind  and grind.  Keep the wheels moving albeit slowly.  I can hear the people behind me as they pass.  In the morning they talk.  Later in the day they breath heavy.  Huffing and puffing, gasping for air.  I don't do that.  I just swear under my breath.  Maybe I don't try hard enough.  Hold back so I have enough energy to complete the day.  Why kill myself?This track comes to mind on this day.  "With the right attitude, you will succeed, Blue. Resent that discontent!--Worloch by Skinny Puppy  Apparently, despite the triple, the Century Machine and 5 time chosen bike for this ride, lacked the gearing for such hills.  Make note to rectify this when I get home.  Bigger cassette.  Or a new bike!  Head back down and grind these hills out.  Cannot even coast because of the wind.

Rest stops were running low on water and food.  Drivers were coordinating resupply of water.  Not an issue for me because I always top mine off and haven't touched the second bottle for the first two days.  I do recall actually finishing the first bottle and swapping it for the second, placing the former upside down in the latter's cage but the second bottle never came close to being drained.  Mary and I start every day with a Larabar for the bike bag, and I managed to accumulate extra snacks along the way.

I believe it was on this day that Tanya Shattuck passed me.  We exchanged pleasantries and then she moved ahead.  Looking at her bike I exclaimed, "You're in big ring!"  "Yes," she replied like it was normal to ride in tough gears into a unrelenting wind that offers no quarter.  Damn, such power.  She soon passed Mike, whom I will introduce in the paragraph below, and when I caught up with him, I said that the rider two ahead of him was in big ring in this headwind.  He was surprised.

Support vehicles are bringing riders in.  I see the bikes of riders who are young, thinner, fitter and faster than me SAG.  I must be doing something right.  Yet others continue on.  I catch up with Mike from Indianola.  He is retired and volunteers at the Street Collective. The last big hill was a tough one.  At the bottom I waited by Todd's SAG car and took a break.  I watched Mike roll off.  A few minutes later he was barely making progress.  No one was.  My turn.  Downshift to the very bottom gear and stare 3 yards in front of me.  Stopped for a break at one point.  A blue pickup pulled up and asked if I needed help. Nope, I got this.  I roll on.  Someone turned his bike hard left into the middle of the highway and almost ran into the blue truck.  No harm, course corrected.  The driver was aware of our plight.  Soon a cloud blocked the sun, and I felt a bit better from the sunblock.   

Mike beat me to the grocery store a few miles from the school.  This place was an oasis, a life saver.  Not only was the last climb over but an airconditioned stop with food and beverages were here.  I bought two quarts of Gatorade and one unit of Gatorade electrolyte drink plus a "gas station" sandwich.  There is a room with a table in back.  Mike had a half gallon on chocolate milk plus food.  First the electrolyte bottle was chugged.  Then I started on the sandwich which was difficult to chew because my jaw muscles were too tense from the ride. but I managed.  As I opened the Gatorade there was a terrible noise.  It sounded like machinery was nearby and we both looked at the ceiling.  Rain?  

Yes, it was raining.  Raining very hard.  We went to the entrance to confirm.  Two dogs entered the store and a young employee kept scooting them out to no avail.  The doors had sensors and opened every time a dog approached.  The young man gave up.  Our rest was extended.  Like the persistent dog, we were safe.

The last few miles were flat then downhill.  There was a wonderful view of the river to our left.  A wide shoulder appeared but its surface was rough and full of sand and rock and road debris, now all of which were wet.  Keep speed in check.  Our overnight is at the bottom.  It did not rain at the school.  We decided to sleep inside because rain was in the forecast and on its way.  Mary said her front derailleur was giving her trouble shifting into big ring.  She took it to Peter of Spoke'N'Sport.  New cassette and chain ect.  Should have had her old cassette placed on my bike.  The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe offered dinner and latter we gathered for a presentation of that tribe's history and a demonstration of drumming and dancing.  Then we watched the clouds roll in.  There was a drought in the area but we cyclists brought the rain!

Étape 4 RASDak Day 4 Wednesday June 3 Lower Brule to Burke 50.8 Miles

My first view of the river this morning.  Wet roads.

The best I felt that morning.  A few miles later, not so good.  This jersey was given to me by a dear friend, Colin Lamb, back n the 1990s when our Ragbrai team had a bus.  I was thin back then.  Then I out grew this.  Mary found it in her collection while packing for RASDak.  Tried it on and it fit!  Several people asked me if I was in the Airbourne.  No, sorry, I failed to serve my country.  This jersey is from a titanium bicycle manufacturer.  The Corsairs on the shirt are US Marines during WWII, not airborne paratroopers.  Subtle difference.

Off road options.  Wrong direction but still an option.

At the Gus Stop, Gregory, SD.  Sent this photo to my children.

Nothing says "I love America" better than using a red, white and blue biffy/kybo/porta-potty.

Inside the school.

More rain.  Overnight and into the early morning.  Gyle said that a SAG for the first 15 miles would be available.  The road was rough like the road from the store to the school yesterday.  And wet.  That's a double whammy.  I leapt at the opportunity.  Avoid rain and bad roads and skip 15 miles.  Quickly grab our luggage and put t on the truck.  Perhaps too quickly.  I placed the bags on the trailer then stepped on the bumper while using my left hand to hold onto the handle and lift myself up.  Walking up or down the wet rain-soaked ramp with bicycle shoes on was to be avoided.  I did not need a stupid slip or fall now. BUT when stepping off the bumper afterwards was bad.  I put all my weight on my right leg which quickly reported that the hamstring injury, non-bicycle related strain, was not healed and now worse.  It had been bothering me all week and it took a few days to figure out what I did to damage it.  Fortunately, it did not bother me much while riding.  Two Aleve once a day kept that fire from going wild.  No time for the RICE protocol; rest, ice, compression and elevation. Our bikes were loaded on the trailer and we hopped/limped into the Honda Odyssey and were dropped off at a convenience store in Reliance, SD, Hieb's Cenex.   Here we got to view the Missouri River from inside a horseless carriage.  

10 miles later we crossed the White River which is an appropriate titled river due to the light grey/white color it receives from its journey from the Badlands.  Then a long climb and a stop 3 miles later hosted by the Hamill Horsemen's Club.  This stop is noted for tables of food and drink and a large baby crawling on the ground and gravel driveway.  That kid needed a bath when he got home!  

Back on the road again for more hills and headwind.  Somewhere before the next stop, Iona, my chain dropped between the bottom bracket and crank.  Of course, I lubed the chain last night, so it was a messy affair involving turning the bike upside down to rectify the situation.  No dry lube, Tri-Flow's finest wet.  I guess that is why 99% of bike shorts are black.  Attitude going south.  At Iona I only used the restroom to wash my hands and then proceeded to fall over on the bike, river rock driveway, and dropped the chain again.  Not helping my mood.  No harm done except a dirty leg and bruised ego.  Fix the chain and wash my hands again.  This time I found a discarded rag in the trash possibly used for painting, and I snatched it to get more lube off the chain.  I still have it.

More hills, mostly rollers but with the headwind, a battle.  There was a sign indication that Platte was 31 miles to the left.  I was very tempted.  Paved road.  Crosswind instead of headwind.  But my car keys were with my luggage so riding to the car would be in vain.  Other people saw that sign and had the same thoughts.  I only stopped at the next rest stop to switch water bottles.  Use the second bottle for the first time all week.  I placed the empty bottle in the cage upside down.  12 long miles to Gregory, SD.

From 2013

From 2013

Gregory is always a fun town.  Giant pheasant across the street from the Gus Stop.  Home of the Gorillas but I did not go down Main St for the photo.  Need sustenance.  Two quarts of Gatorade and a sandwich.  8 miles left. East this time for a crosswind.  But I was done with riding.  Commuter traffic was picking up.  And the red convertible SAG car was there.  To ride with Todd one needed a partner.  The car rolls when two people SAG.  I found someone.  Off to Burke.  The guy I SAGed with was in pain.  He expressed concern that his legs would cramp up from sitting in the car.  I must be putting enough effort into riding.  Bikers breathing heavy and others cramping up.  Leg cramps were the furthest thing from my mind.  Now my hamstring, yes, that will stiffen up a bit.

Étape 5 RASDak Day 5 Thursday June 4 Burke to Wagner 60 Miles

East River

I wonder if this was one of the dams that flooded the land of the Lower Burke people.

I wonder what my Great Pyrenees would do if she saw a coyote...

I can't believe I ate the whole thing!

Even the birds want to kill you!

Ride that bike up the hill.  YOU CAN DO IT!!  Perhaps the third time I biked up this hill during RASDak.  Did not bother me a bit.  There is a convenience store at the top and no more hills afterwards.

Lord Calvert country.  This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad!  Take the shot!

Rich telling the tale of this safety vest.  A rider named Gayle was bounced of the road (not on RASDak) and was hospitalized.  Very lucky to be alive.  Apparently, at the hospital he asked if his bike was ok.  The CCC, Custer Cycling Committee used all their funds to purchase this vest for him.  Says "Crash Test Certified."

Top is a quote from Mark Twain, "Get a bicycle. You won't regret it. If you live."

The flags in the school gymnasium. US, South Dakota and Yankton Sioux Tribe.

Things changed for the better!  New direction, east.  Wind was better.  Road was flatter.  We were riding faster!!  All things forgiven.  Checked my notes.  Only two words, "Fast ride."

Other changes included more convenience stores to revive at.  Highway 18.  RASDak has been on this road before.  IIRC twice.  We crossed the Missouri River this day.  We were no longer going to be "West River."  Sad.  Despite all the moaning you suffered through reading to this point, West River is where my cycling heart really lies. But crossing that river gives opportunity for speed.  And then the climb out of the river valley that new- to-RASDak riders moaned about.  I did not.  I looked forward to it.  It would be my third time climbing this monster.  But what kept me smiling was the knowledge that there would be an airconditioned convenience store at the top and no more climbs afterwards.

Just a great day to ride.  Breakfast at the school.  20 miles to the first stop.  15 to the next.  Then prepare to cross the river.  Last time I was riding with Gary who did not participate this year.  The time before I was a speed demon.  Going downhill on the same bike I rode this year, I was puzzled about the oncoming semi-truck driving on the shoulder.  Odd.  Then I realized, after looking over my shoulder, that there was a semi behind me.  Not that I was taking the lane, I normally ride as close to the shoulder as possible.  But the truck behind me was giving me a lot of room.  Lesson: mirrors are necessary.  Speeds 30+ mph and up turn humans deaf.  The roar of the wind is all I hear when trying to top 40 mph.  Had I known early that there was a "friend" behind me I would have taken the wide paved shoulder.  But when lust for speed takes over, the shoulder seems verboten, less room to maneuver, rocks and debris.  Today, I held back, stopped to take photos.  Cross wind was not helping.  I hit 42 mph.

Stopped at the scenic overlook to take photos before crossing the bridge and visiting the visitor center on the opposite bank.  We shared the bridge with big trucks and wide loads.  The dam provided the last crossing of the Mighty Mo before Nebraska.  30 or so miles upstream there is a bridge on Highway 44, so yes, this is an important crossing.  BUT safe for bicyclists.

Among the things to do at the Visitor Center was the rest stop hosted by The Friends of the Tabor to Platte Rail Trail.  This will be a great trail once completed.  Work has started and the usual politics is interfering, but I look forward to its completion.  Learn more about the trail  HERE CLICK ME.  

We also went into the visitor center proper.  The wildlife displays and fossils are fascinating to view.  Important history.  Did I mention clean restrooms???

Time to climb the hill.  Just up the hill where the RVs are at there is a convenience store that we have used in the past but not this year.  Despite all my complaints, I like this hill.  Long and today a nice crosswind.  If I remember correctly, the first time we took this road it was freshly paved.  Now it has the red chip rock treatment and the shoulder is safer, no bad life-threatening drop offs.  Special treat: Corvette rally.  Oh those men and women with their toys!  Mostly the newer super-car looking ones but whenever I saw a C3 I'd give a thumbs up, C4 convertibles, too.  Anything newer just does not do it for me.  No C1s or C2s.  Lots of Vettes in many groupings to keep my mind off the work.  At last, this hill was behind us.  Turn left for the casino and try to win enough scratch to purchase a Vette or turn right and purchase Gatorade and a sandwich.  Right turn, Clyde.

9 miles left.  Flat road.  Cool breeze.  Ignore the optional loop.  No need for extra credit.  21 additional miles, some of it gravel.  I do regret missing the Yankton Sioux Teaty Monument pictured above.  Just outside of town there was a stretcvh of road construction.  One lane now.  Time to annoy vehicular traffic.  Try to give them enough room to pass.  There may have been a flagman.  Into town, the school was to the right just after construction, set up camp, shower and change clothes and eat.  Because of predicted rain, we opted to sleep inside in the school gymnasium.  Wise choice as it did rain that night.

Having overnighted in Wagner before, after setting up and cleaning up, we walked to the park.  There was a farmers' market and food trucks.  We chose a pizza from the nearby Casey's and did purchase beer from Choteau Creek Brewing Co's beer truck in the park.  A very cloudy Hefeweizen and it was very good.  We sat on blankets and chairs under shade trees just below the beer truck and celebrated.  

Rich from Custer showed us the safety vest that will be presented to a cyclist that was bounced off the road into a ditch by a car.  Serious incident that required hospitalization.  When he regained consciousness in the hospital, Gail asked if his bike was ok.  True cyclist!  Never mind the tubes and monitors and whatnot plugged into him or the pain and physical therapy in his future.  We all laughed.  We all have probably asked the same question.  And if such a near-death experience happened to us, we would ask that again assuming we believed that we would be able to ride again someday.  It is a reality that we face every time we plant our arses on a bicycle saddle.  Streets, highways, gravel roads, singletrack and even bicycle trails, it could happen.  But we love cycling and will continue to ride bikes for as long as we are able until we age out, have that encounter that convinces us otherwise or die doing what we love.

Étape 6 RASDak Day 6 Friday June 5 Wagner to Platte 50 Miles

Double rainbow on the way out of Wagner.

The entire rainbow. Photo credit Teresa.

Tanya and Teresa preparing to leave Wagner.  IIRC I was the photographer.  

Right to left, Mary, Teresa and your friendly author.  Photo Credit Tanya

This must be the place!  The oasis of RASDak 2026, Fort to Fort.  17 miles to go but I'm stopping to have my fill!!  I earned this!!

Inside the brewpub!

My second IPA

Tim and I in the brewpub.  "Don't take the photo," said Tim, "it will make me look fat."  Oh Lord, my neck!!!  I should have listened.

Buy the shirt, get a beer, $25 IIRC

 

Mike and I the last time we saw each other.

I forgot her name but she rides a sleek orange Specialized.  I was in a great mood this moment, well, ever since I reached the beer palace.

No snow of ice this year but I've seen snow in ditches on RASDak before

 

 

 

A visual of the wind across the fields.  Funny thing was, when I was uploading this the sound was coming through my speakers.  At 4 am I thought there was an issue with my speakers or my stereo or something outside my window.  Killing the music did not stop it.  Finally the light bulb went off... 

 

Stared at these trees before reaching them.  I wonder what killed them.  Sun bleached beauties.

I admit I was disappointed when I reached said intersection.  No danger found.

 

 

Not an advert for Liberty Mutual.

 

 

None of these hauled the emus.

 

 

 

Gus Stop is a convenience store change in the area of South Dakota that we we riding in.  Every time I saw one I thought of this record. This album is from 1980 and I found it in the "alternative" section of Zzz Records in Des Moines.  Gus is a Canadian band from the late 70s that plays rock & roll and their 1983 lp, On the Verge, ventured into new wave and relased under the new name Gus & New Breed.  The 1980 release is good and he is still around.

 

Will there ever be a rainbow?  Yes, two.  Rain was on the way.  We had the option, strong suggestion to wait an hour or so before leaving to avoid the rain.  But it was not raining now.  I was more concerned about the construction zone, one lane.  Waiting for the rain would only increase the amount of traffic on the road.  No brainer from my brainless dice, go for it.  Looking to the west we saw the double rainbow and dark clouds behind them.  Our bikes had seen worse.  They were trashed anyway and in need of a good cleaning.  We've ridden through worse.  Last day.  Just get through the construction zone before the morning commuters woke up.  Making our escape we met Tanya and Teresa at the door.  Took their photo for them and said our good byes.  We got through the construction zone without traffic or incident and made the right turn to Lake Andes.

 

 

There was a Gus Stop, gas station and convenience store, in the town of Lake Andes.  Along the way there the rain caught up with us.  Light rain, nothing miserable.  At the 10 mile mark I ditched my rain jacket.  I noticed a trail on my right.  It was part of the Platte Rail Trail.  Cool.  I hope it is completed while I still am able to ride bikes.  More of it was visible as the town appeared.  Gus Stop time.  Food and a drink.  Put the jacket back on and head back out on the road.

 

Leaving town I noticed, everyone noticed that the weather gods were giving us some more hospitality.  I recall looking a a large sign that said "Thank you for stopping" with a scenic image of a person sitting in a canoe fishing in the lake, then all of a sudden a very strong headwind began.  Laughable!  I should have stopped and photographed the sign but it took all my strength to keep the bike moving forward.  Soon a hill appeared.  Here we go again!  But it was not as bad as it seemed.  Slowed riders down, yes, cleaned their clocks, no.  Eventually the wind calmed down or became a decent crosswind.

 

10 miles from Lake Andes I stopped to take the jacket off again.  Threat of rain was nil and I was heating up.  Finished the last of the Gatorade I purchased at the Gus Stop and prepared to resume.  Phone starts ringing.  It is my drug dealer.  Not the fun drug dealer that I neither had or have, but Unity Point Specialty Pharmacy asking when to deliver the next two syringes of Repatha.  Injectable cholesterol medicine since my body does not put up with statins.  I would not be able to ride a bike if I was on a statin.  Probably would be on dialysis, too. Progress.  In 2012 I would not be able to receive such a phone call because cellular service was extremely poor out here back then.   Eventually, I reached Geddes, SD, home of Platte Creek Brewing Co.

 

Mary was ahead of me and I rode with a woman into town.  Found the brewery without issue.  I credit my "beerdar."  Got to give Kid Rock props for his line, "I can smell a beer a mile away."  He should have called it a career right then and there.  But other peoples' beerdar failed them.  Mary's failed like the others.  Apparently, the town of Geddes did not want to cooperate with RASDak or blew them off, YET at the last moment and not communicating with RASDak, set up a food stand at some park and had a sign in hopes of making some quick cash off the riders.  I never saw the sign.  Eventually, Mary and used our communicators and told her where the real stop was.

 

Now this stop was not the epic stop at the bar in Carter, SD, during the first RASDak, Faces to Falls, where we drank them blind because the Route Master, Kasey, decided that the day's ride was over and we would all SAG in.  I remember every other member of Mary's Heroes purchased a 30 pack of Busch Light to take with us on our way to Winner, SD.  Lots of beer in that bus indeed!  But now we were mature and happy to purchase from the barkeep the products of the establishment.  Buy a shirt and get a beer!  Mary was anxious to do a one and done and get to our car and head home.  NOPE!!  We suffered a lot this week and I was going to have a few more.  17 miles of empty road could wait.  We stayed for a few more.

 

That 17 miles we pure East River, reminded me of Iowa, flat agricultural land.  A few highlights such as the dead sun-bleached trees I photographed and some property with a line up old trucks and a fenced area of emus. And after a while Platte appeared and we found our car safe and sound.  Grabbed our gear and loaded up.  Yes, we showered.  Said our good byes and hit the road.

 

Until next year...now 3 days of touring bikes to ride with The Ragbrai 1 day.

 

My apologies for such negativity.  Those specific 3 days were very tough for me.  I don't know how to train for that since there is not the equivalent conditions here.  Ride harder...

 

TITANIUM 

 

A look at bikes I found interesting

 

 

 

Custom frame from Chris Kvale Cycles Minneapolis

 

Every year.  Original color of this bike was pink.

 

Single Speed!

 

 

60's vintage Paramount with Campy.  Last year Matt rode a Sears roadie.

 

52T

 

I think he used this derailleur on the Sears he took in 2025.

 

 

Steel is real!  Reminds me that I need to refurbish my vintage Treks.

 

This bike is named "Princess." 2nd or 3rd RASDak appearance.  Don't let the color fool you, Ruth commanded a combat ship in the US Navy.

There may have one other Seven this year.

Lightspeed.  Built in Tennessee.  Made me think, where did all the Merlins go?

LeMond made titanium bike!  I never saw one before.  Owner gave it to his son.  Thinking 2007.

1993 Trek 5900.  OCLV frames were built in 1992 for the 1993 model year.  Lunar Purple.

 

Jim's 1988 Trek 520 sans panniers today.  Of note are the flat bars instead of drops.  He is a strong rider.

 

I remember when Cannondale released there, 1988 or 89.  52/42T chainrings. Seems massive these days.  I miss our 91 R400.  It was the best climber back in the day.

ELECTROKARDIOGRAMM

 

My health.  Weight down and only varies a pound from time to time.  BP under control.  Clean bill of health from my cardiologist.  Amazing what happens when alcohol consumption drops significantly despite what I drank here.  Left shoulder bothers me occasionally. Legs and knees perfect.  Well no, right hamstring was bothering me.  Overstretched in May.  It healed enough for me to forget about it but reappeared during RASDak and it took three days of riding to remember how I originally injured it.  I'm glad I packed the Aleve.  Normally I do not use NSAIDs.  Raising a family, the bottle was always empty when I needed one or 3.  Learn to live without them.  Attitude, I'm working on it.

 

RASDak

 

Ignore my negativity, I love this ride.  I know what I need to work on.  Attitude, speed and hills.  How does one train for the hills we climbed?  Ride into headwinds I guess. Very well organized.  Beautiful scenery. Great people.  Until next time.

 

Peace out!