Smokey Row to Smokey Row: A Coffee Ride

 

We were supposed to be in Minneapolis.  We were supposed to see OMD (Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark) at First Avenue.  We were supposed to be against the rail up against the stage waiting for that short server, God bless her, wading through the crowd with a tray of PBRs as we danced to History of the Modern and singing about the end of the Universe.  Then load up on screw top white Monsters, a large coffee and get on 35 South and drive the 4 hours back to Des Moines in the pitch black darkness of Minnestoa and Iowa, stopping at the Kum & Go at Diamond Jo's Casino just to get a reload on coffee, a snack and to see the blue haired woman who is just a trip at 2 am.  God bless her, too.  Mary's request for the day off was granted.  I do not work on Fridays.  But due to an illness in the band the gig has been postponed until June of 2025.  What to do?

Mary suggested that we do the Pleasantville, IA, to Pella Smokey Row Coffee Ride.  This is something we created.  Load up the vehicle with our bikes and drive to Pleasantville, unload and ride to the Smokey Row Coffee Shop in Pella, IA, drink a coffee and then ride back and have another coffee in Pleasantville at their Smokey Row.  We have done this twice before although the last time ended in a bloody mess.  Why not?  I need to ride and riding in Des Moines in 2024 has been nothing but closed trails, roads and "easy" pain in the ass "work arounds."

The SRtSR ride is a mix of county highways and trails, all of which is paved.  Road bike action!  Park in front of the Checkerboard Cafe in Pleasantville and head east to County Highway G40.  9 miles later turn north on Highway 14, cross the mile long bridge, we measured it, and turn east again on G28 and climb to Cordova State Park, 12.5 miles from the start.  At last, a trail, the Volksweg Trail that rolls along the north edge of Lake Red Rock and ends in Pella.  Google Maps has this as a 52 mile trip.

We left our house about 9 am to give the sun a chance to warm things up.  It was in the 50s and the high was forecasted to reach 68° F.  We decided that light long sleeve jerseys would be best.  Let the legs be uncovered and no jacket or gloves.  The wind was in the low teens from the east northeast.  Tailwind for the return.  Quick run to the drive thru at McDonald's for breakfast sandwiches and a drink.  Of course, needed gas for the Pilot.  Someone's Jeep Grand Cherokee died in a turn lane causing all sorts of issues delayed us a bit more.  Eventually, we got to Pleasantville and parked on the main drag on the same side of the Smokey Row, the Checkerboard Cafe was across the street.  Unload and roll.  

Finding the way out of town is easy enough.  Just head east and take the first right, go two blocks and take a left, G40.  This county highway is relatively flat with a few rollers.  There is an adequate shoulder marked with rumbles to ride on and give cagers more room to pass.  The surface of G40 is fairly smooth as is the shoulder.  There are spots of gravel washed up from the shoulder or gravel intersections that are easy to avoid.  It is harvest season so there were a lot of farmers out in the field.  Not much for grain trucks on the road, however.  But a good number of men in overalls and seed store caps driving pickup trucks on the road.  No issues.  This is why I use a mirror and ride without headphones, ear pods or a stereo.  I like to hear what is behind me.  I have 300,000 songs in my little brain and usually a tune is playing at all times so the need for audio equipment is unnecessary.

Action photo of Mile Long Bridge.  I miss real cameras.  I took better photos when riding with them. Believe it or not, there is enough room to ride a bike between the white line and the railing.  I've done it several times and I'll do it again.

G40 ends with a downhill to the stop sign.  This is where the ride goes on Highway 14 for 2 and a half miles.  A larger shoulder to ride on and more traffic.  The mile long bridge soon appears.  Google Maps labeled it as Mile Long Bridge as it crosses the Des Moines River.  Not much of a shoulder here but bicycles are very visible.  Be aware that there are divots that allow the rain to drain off.  Expansion joints cross the bridge at several locations.  They look worse than they feel.  It wasn't until the return trip that I got my arse off the saddle when rolling over them.  Should have done this from the start.  Hy Vee has several semi-trucks going up and down 14.  They are courteous and gave us wide berth.  After the bridge the shoulder returns.  Climb a bit and soon G28 appears, turn right and climb a bit and Cordova Park will be on the right.  That was at 12.5 miles.  Now the "safety" of the trail.

The new part of the trail has yet to show up on Google Maps.  Rest assured, it has been there for 5 or 6 years.  Smooth, windy and small hills.  The first mileage marker appears, Mile 13, IIRC.  When Robert's Creek parking lot and restrooms appear so does the trail on Google Maps.  It was here that we had a bad crash.  On the return I was contemplating the need to slow down for the curve near the restrooms, not that I was going super fast and WHAM!!! I was on the ground.  My front wheel must have been grabbed by the lower surface of the original trail and the higher surface of the new trail section.  As I lay there, I felt something and looked up and saw Mary's bike flying above me.  She ran into me after I crashed.  Those nanoseconds seem to take a lifetime.  We were scraped up and bleeding.  The chain of my LeMond got sucked between the BB and crank.  I had to straighten the front wheel to be proper with the bars, too.  We hurt.  Mary's head hit the ground, fortunately, she always wears a helmet.  I crashed on my side as usual.  Fixed the bikes and brushed ourselves off and rode the 14 miles or so back to Pleasantville.  We were too bloody to visit the Smokey Row, looking like we were part of the Pulp Fiction cast.  I thought about going back and spray painting that crack and donating a bench dedicated to this spot.  I think they resurfaced that spot and there is a bench there now.

The scene of the crash.  I almost could smell my blood.

From here the original surface of the Volksweg Trail is our home.  The trail enters and leaves canopy quite a bit.  Beautiful views of trees and the lake.  A few weeks from now the foliage will be at its peak.  Only one black walnut tree along the way.  There were plenty of leaves and insects on the ground.  We noted the color of the woolly caterpillars, to see if more of them were brown or black, to guess what winter would be like. More brown, mild winter, more black hard winter.  Click here for more info Weather Predication Accuracy of Woolly Bears  Be cautious on the bridges and the curvy wooden ones.  Some are shaded, full of leaves and still were wet from last night's rain.  Also be aware that there is a long stretch of shoulder to shoulder length cracks that make the ride uncomfortable unless you are riding fat tires or low pressure tires.  These really need to be repaired.

At times the Volksweg parallels G28

Two turkeys!  As close as I could get without startling them.  One was still there on the return trip.

After the cracks and playground, we entered a tunnel that took us under Highway T15 to the picnic area.  It was here that we left the trail, fearing that the trail would be closed because they are working on the dam, and took T15 to Idaho Drive and after about a mile or so we resumed riding on the Volksweg.  Just look for the gas station on top of the hill.  The trail took us all the way into Pella.   

This must be the place.  Smokey Row Coffee Shop, Pella, IA

Barely visible on the table, my iced coffee

The Orange Cone Plague has hit Pella and we detoured from the trail to get to downtown near the square to the Smokey Row.  No bicycle parking.  Tons of people on the sidewalks and cars in the streets.  It is a Friday during Banker's Hours, don't these people have jobs or school for the children.  I got bumped by a bag that some kid was carrying walking side by side with 4 of his family.  I thought to myself that the East Village would sacrifice their first and second born for such foot traffic.  What is going on?  The we looked at the square with it's replica windmill, Netherland's style, home coming event for Central Collage.  Sports related holiday!  I was glad the coffee shop was not busy.  I had a cold brew with oatmilk and Mary had an iced latte with a cookie.  She asked if we were going to eat.  I should have listened better.  Nope, caffeine is an appetite suppressant.  I should have thought of her.  Could explain her headache during the ride back.

After the consumption of caffeine we reverse the course.  Drivers were friendly as the endless parage of SUVs paused to let us cross the street at Central Campus and return to the trail.  The ride back was much faster as we now had a 10 mph tailwind.  I believe we were an hour shorter on the return.  Wind makes a difference.  Nothing to note except that the cracks seemed worse.  A roadie on a Felt, still in big ring, stopped with us at an intersection and we all bitched about the trail surface.

We stopped to use the restrooms at Robert's Creek.  No water available but I felt like I had enough.  Mary mentioned her headache and I remember that I had a baggie of Aleve in my backpack that I took to our South Dakota adventure, and I gave her the allotment.  Empty bladders for the last time and roll home.  Although no incidents on 14 or the mile long bridge I was happy to see the sign indicating the turn for Pleasantville 9 miles away.  I did a countdown.  More harvesting equipment and dust.  Glad I took my Claritin.  P-Ville did not appear until we were right on it.  Trees too tall Mary said.  Frustrating.  I did my best riding here.  Finally had some speed and I felt like my hill game on the rollers was fine.

History Lesson.  On G40 aka Stringtown Road

Very delish drink!  I could have drank a gallon.  Only one swallow left in my water bottle!!

We loaded the bikes up once we reached the car and then went into the coffee shop.  I was really in the mood for a gallon of Gatorade but settled for a caramel apple refresher with caffeine.  It was green and delicious.  And then once again the drive into the sun and home.  Mission accomplished 54 miles.

Further reading and better photos click THIS BLOG FROM 2020.  Same ride, better photos.

Season Changing Coffee Ride to Carlisle

Saturday September 14, 2024

And a wonderful morning it was!

Today's ride plan was simple.  Take the traditional route to Carlisle, IA, then hang a left on Highway 5 instead of the right on SE 45th.  This would allow us to get to E Pine Ave for some empty back country paved road and hill action that will lead us to the Easter Lake Spine Trail.  We did not plan to take that trail, instead we were going to push on to Indianola Ave and explore the sidepath there to see what it offered.  I had been viewing said sidepath since early July on my way to Avondale Vet Hospital with our new puppy, Libby.

Our traditional Carlisle route involves riding to Easter Lake north shore but instead of staying on the trail take a left at the stop sign on Evergreen and taking that past the Great Ape Trust and climb SE 45th and taking a left on Army Post/highway 5 for a quarter mile riding into the metropolis of Avon Lake as we curved our way into Carlisle on its north end.  Morning Glory Coffee was our destination.  Often we continue to the Summerset Trail and ride to Indianola, IA.  We have been riding this area for what seems like 20 years.  We enjoy the curves and the hills and quite honestly, the break from other cyclists.  Our house to the Summerset Trail is a jet over 12 miles.

Between Avon Lake and Carlisle, the corn is turning brown.  Summer is ending.

When soybeans turn yellow, better prep for winter, fellow. Along E Pine Ave

A few things I noted.  First, Summer is ending.  Corn and beans changing colours, from deep green to brown and tan and yellow.  The second thing is that traffic has increased in this area.  Every year more and more cars from the Highway 5 stretch to Carlisle.  We left at 9 am.  Probably hit that town by 10 am.  I never gave much thought about the trail from Easter Lake to Carlisle, deemed it unnecessary for us and too flat for a good work out.  But someday it will be completed and will offer a break from cars.

Morning Glory Coffee.  Drive through and pick-up window only but tables outside.  Gourd and PSL signage indicated that autumn is near.   IIRC, the car in the drive-thru ordered about 18 items.  I had a hot coffee.

Destination reached.  Mary had an iced latte and I had a large regular coffee with oat milk, I'm cutting back on fat so no more half and half.  As we sat outside, no indoor seating, I noticed that there were a lot of Ford Mustangs in this town.  Two dark red late models, a 1979 Indy Pace Car replica (no official Indy decals) with a perfect set of the famous Metric wheels, a 1966 notchback and a Mach-E which does not really count as a Mustang.  I was impressed most by the 79, its engine even smelt like 1979, oil and old engine smell.  Great sound, too.  Time to leave.  Same route back to Avon Lake with a stop at the park for restroom needs.

The restroom hut at North Park, Carlisle.  Had to make a stop to prevent an "accident."  Wasted time except for this photo.  But I left feeling more confident!  What a pretty shittar!

After Avon Lake, we turned south on SE 45th instead of north the way we came.  Then a right on E Pine Ave aka SE 72nd.  The plan was to take E Pine to Indianola Ave.  However, bright orange and white striped barricades gave us a better opportunity.  We stumbled upon the not officially opened trail to Carlisle otherwise known as the Karras Kaul Connecter, named after the founders of The Ragbrai.  Of course we took it!

E Pine Ave.  This home goes all out for Halloween.  This year, so far, Caitlin Clark and dog.  Last year there was a thousand times more skeletons. You know you are old when you look at these displays and wonder where they store all this crap after the season.

The surface is concrete.  There are many black walnut trees lining the trail.  There are hills and curves.  There are sheep and goats.  Not a fan of walnut trees but loved the challenge of elevation changes and curves.  Cut into the countryside it is scenic.  Shoulder work is complete, just need the seeded grass to emerge and grow.  A well thought out drainage, too.  No signage as of yesterday.

The final stretch to Carlisle.

Smile on my face while entering Carlisle.  I found it easier to take photos while riding when I used a real camera instead of a phone.  I may have to get a camera.

Nice curvy climb and descent!  Of note the shoulder work.

The trail goes all the way into Carlisle and merges into the Scotch Ridge Nature Park which already possesses a concrete trail.  This leads to the aquatic center and the Summerset Trail, 3 miles from Scotch Ridge NP, which ends 11 miles later in Indianola, IA.  There are a few steep hills.

First signage.  This is at the Scotch Ridge Nature Park.

At Scotch Ridge with distances back to Des Moines.

A nice area.  Wooded with at least one hidden lean-to off the trail.  A steep climb along the way as well as a nice bridge.  We encountered people walking on the trail.  On commented that she would not be able to climb the hill.

This is the climb in Scotch Ridge Nature Park.  For those that get winded, good news, there is a bench at the top.  Watch your speed on the way down, 40 mph is possible!

The only thing not finished other than signage is the underpass at Army Post Rd.  To get here, exit Easter Lake at its southeast corner.  This is the Easter Lake Spine Trail.  Right before Army Post Rd there will be a section of trail that veers east and goes to a tunnel underneath that road.  Currently, the area has been staked, gravel laid and one can see it from the Easter Lake Spine Trail and Army Post Rd.  Just a little more time...

From the Easter Lake Spine Trail south of Army Post Rd looking at construction.  Since July I have been taking Libby to Avondale Pet Hospital on Army Post and noticing the work here.  A new housing development is also under way here.

View from E Pine Ave showing the future connection of the trail to the completed portion.  After years of riding on the Easter Lake Spine Trail to its abrupt end on E Pine I wondered how they were going to bulldoze the trail to Carlisle.  This is a half mile or so from the ELST.

The arrow shows where the tunnel is located underneath Army Post Rd.  Credit goes to Mary for spotting it.

BUT those that do not fear a ride on a quiet backroad can cross Army Post Rd on the ELST and ride on to its fruition at E Pine Ave, hang a Louie and ride that road a half mile or so to where the Karras Kaul Connecter is already completed.  I have been riding this road for a few years and have had ZERO issues with traffic, which is light and residential.

Personal thoughts:  I was impressed.  Great surface, some challenge, too.  I love my traditional route, though, for its winding hills.  Trails are great for getting base miles in and building endurance, but we require hills to get in shape for our bicycle excursions/tours.  Although the new trail has a few steep hills, road hills are better because IMHO they are wider, usually allow for the building of momentum, lack sudden switchbacks and allow us to build speed without running into other cyclists.  Mary said this we need to make this a loop, both the new and traditional route.  Also this offers a new way to get to the Summerset Trail, Indianola, Milo, Lacona, Chariton, Ottumwa ect

NOTE: the never ending work on the Carl Voss Trail forces a detour.  We ride to MLK and take either the sidepath or lane to SE 15th and take that to Harriet (ARL) and cross the river on the narrow sidewalk on the bridge to reach the unmolested portion of the Voss trail.  It appears that the work on that trail is nearing completion as asphalt has been laid at SE 14th heading to SE 6th.  BUT we had to take the detour and on SE 6th, a street I would not have been on if the trail was open, I picked up a piece of glass because I was kind to a POS Buick Enclave and got out of the middle of lane.  I saw the pile of glass and tried to thread it but knew I was fooked.  Sure enough after arriving home and putzing around for a bit, when I placed my bike on its rack the rear, always the F'ing rear, it was flat and the troublemaker was visible.  Time to get my hands dirty.

Troublemaker circled! Despite this minor issue, I am glad I made it home without walking, less than a half mile from my house, and more importantly, the bastard is very visible for removal and peace of mind.

Wind Warriors: RASDaK 2024

 

The best daily map with the glacier ponds

Once again we loaded our bicycles and gear and headed to South Dakota for the annual bicycle ride across that great state.  This one was a bit different yet oddly familiar.  It was the "Glacial Lakes of the Prairie" ride, a tour of the northeast part of the state where glaciers left small bodies of water.  Two things made this familiar. First, this route was a loop not unlike the very last TdK, Tour Dakota 2012.  It even crossed into TdK territory, Brookings and Dell Rapids, SD, for example and there were signs to some of the cities we visited in 2012.  Second, it was very windy just as TdK was for the first few days.  It was so windy that even South Dakotans were complaining!

RASDaK normally starts in the west and goes to the east, like RAGBRAI.  I found the loop good.  It solved the logistic issue of getting to the beginning.  We would park our vehicles at the eastern terminus and load our bikes on a moving truck and gear on a bus and take said bus for something like 5 or 6 hours to the beginning over the ride.  More "jet lag" and expense, somewhere in the $100 ballpark for that ride.

One thing we learned in 2012 is that South Dakota can be an extremely windy state.  Best get up early and get to the overnight by noon.  Wind picks up in the early afternoon.  The first day of TdK 2012 the final 21-mile stretch was straight south into a 35 mph headwind with gusts up to 50 mph!  No turns, no quarter.  There were double pacelines going 6 mph.  I could manage 8 mph.  10 mph was redline.  The next day we had a tailwind but that first day is forever etched into our brains.  This year for one day was extremely brutal and all ride long.

Prologue the Gathering

Joe, myself and Mary at the local watering hole in Garretson, first visit that day.

This bicycle was ridden all week by Matt.  Previously he rode and older Schwinn that was yellow.  Takes a brave and dedicate cyclist to ride an antique like this in an age of light bikes with better gearing.  respect. 

Jeff trying to get Witcheepoo to calm down!

Witcheepoo wanted to join us!  Garretson

Jeff and Mindy saying good bye.  Mindy was smart and went home!

Mary does have Confederates in her family tree.

Jesse James' famous 70' jump over the gulch.

On Saturday June 1st we unloaded our bikes and gear at the high school in Garretson and then parked our vehicle at the football field where it would wait until Friday afternoon.  IIRC, there was a chance of rain so the decision was made to sleep in the school's gymnasium instead of our tent.  Easier than packing a wet tent in the morning.  We met up with friends, many who we only see on RASDaK, and headed downtown to find a watering hole and have dinner.  Joe, Dave Sunde, Jeff and Mindy, Rich and others were there.  Since Garretson is renown for Jesse James' 70' horseback jump over the gulch here, a street dance was organized.  Good times.

Day 1 Garretson to Brookings 59 miles

I am always in awe of the sacrifices tiny communities have made in defending our nation in times of war.  Sure, large cities also contributed to such causes but the impact was probably felt greater in towns such as this as a greater percentage of their population was sent into the breach.  After WWII these communities shrunk even further with the transition from agriculture to industrialization.  Men and women sought life in bigger cities for "better" opportunities.

The sign shows a sunrise but my camera did not perceive it.

At the 43 mile rest stop on the way to Brookings.  I ate a banana and trail mix here.

Sherman, Firefly or Tiger?  Road to Brookings.

The tank was filled with lager beer The devil himself was engineer--Love & Rockets, 'Bound for Hell'.

 My first thought whenever I see an old train

Up before dawn.  Some people got up before 4 am.  Threat of rain.  I could not find coffee.  My bad as I could have gone to the breakfast provided by the Garretson American Legion but my body runs on coffee and I normally skip breakfast and nibble throughout the day having a real meal at 6 pm.  Took me 14 miles to choke down a Larabar.  31 miles from the start we arrived at the Moody County Museum.  I asked someone there if there was coffee and she told me to help myself at the Keurig machine at the museum desk.  Outstanding!  All the pods were foo foo flavors but I had two cups of something with a nutcracker on it, Christmas blend.  Drank it black but added water to lower the temperature for fast consumption.  This is the way I discovered.  My attitude improved greatly.  Later I had a banana.

I rode a bit with Pete and Emil Knappe as I did a few times last year.  Emil, Pete's father, has a new bike, a Trek Domane e-Bike.  Lots of tailwind and cross but not that bad as I kept my speed above average.  The sky was looking dark and rain was going to hit soon.  The last bit of the ride took us to the Dakota Nature Park and Larson Nature Center, a lovely trail that ended in the city and we found our way to the school just before the rain hit.

Once in Brookings, set up sleeping pads in gym, shower and then a walk downtown for food, coffee and a ATM.  Ate at George's Greek restaurant, split a pizza with Mary and stopped at the Cottonwood Coffee Shop.  After walking back to the school we grabbed our bikes and headed downtown again for photos and an extra 3 miles.  According to my notes, dinner was burgers at the school although the route info said dinner as on our own.  My notes could be wrong.

Day 2 Brookings to Milbank 78 miles

Fog

Another rider disappearing into the fog.

Goodwin, SD

The mural on the long side.

Possibly the first time a Honda Ridgeline has been an official SAG vehicle on a large organized bicycle tour.  Would love to have seen a 1st generation NART do this.  Note tent on top.  The new owner of Spoke-N-Sport, Peter Oien.

How up is up?  Climbed all day.  Not big hills, just slight elevation increases that went on and on and on.  Nag nag NAG!  Some of them looked like hills, most seemed like false flats.  Headwind, too.  Fog, but I enjoyed the fog.  Rainbows, God's signal that he would no longer drown us all OR a sign for certain Pacific Islanders to drink beer.  You pick.  Cold brew coffee and a Larabar for breakfast.  My legs were dead by the mile 25 rest stop and I was reminded that we were climbing.  Dave Sunde rolled in on his Bianchi and we helped him off it.  Apparently, he lost the key to the battery on his trike and had to switch bikes.  John from Berry Fast Bikes had to drill the lock out and install a new one before the trike could be used again.  It was tough for Dave and he stopped at the rest stop.  I had some trail mix at mile 43 and skipped the lunch there.  

Rolling hills and eventual lunch break in Strandburg.  It was along the to this town, I call Stratosphereburg because of climbing that I discovered what "PWC" and "DNP" meant.  The road was littered with PWC and DNP spray painted on the side of the road.  They marked the future homes of "Pass With Care" and "Do Not Pass" signs.  We landed at the general store and I had a burger and two Gatorades for $9.50!  Best deal out there!  Outside there was a house getting resided with bricks but no work on Monday.  The project looked stalled.  The owner pulled up in a white truck and asked about our ride.  Said that he has two Harley Davidson motorcycles that he does not have much time to ride.  Also said that his parents gave him a bicycle for the purpose fetching mail.  That lasted for 1 ride.  Then they gave him a Cushman scooter.  Said that he has his eye on a third Harley but his wife said no.  Been working on the ice rink in Watertown 60 hours a week and that has pushed back his completion of the brick job.

$9.50 including tax!  Burger almost half eaten before the photo.

The general store in Strandburg, SD

1946 Cushman Scooter.

Downhill time!  Unfortunately, the chip rock road had many harsh expansion cracks.  Not the kathuwnk kathuwnk type but BAM BAM and BAM BAM.  No matter what speed I hit them at it hurt.  Tried standing up but that made my feet hurt.  I worried that people would either crash or bust wheels or get flats on this section.  Fortunately, this stretch was not long.  John, a SAG driver was at the final intersection.  Asked if we needed anything, water, snacks, PBR...I locked my wheels up for a PBR.  10 miles left to the overnight, why not?  Back on the road we passed a couple that we passed on the bumpy section.  One had a flat tire.  Rear wheel.  Always the rear.  Our bikes spent the night in the maintenance shed while we slept in the gym.  

Coffee--breakfast of champions!!  Milbrook HS

Eric's socks.  And why not?

My Black Cat jersey was a topic of conversation.  One rider thought it was a school mascot!  No, it is a brand of fireworks, "the best you can get" and I wore it in honor of my friend and fellow cyclist Eric Crabb who passed away in 2019.  I also wore his cycling socks with a mug of beer on them.

Reward!

Bottoms up!

Kraig Rust would have shamed us, no beer.  But we were on school property.  Dave Sunde on his trike.

We walked through the cemetery to get caffeine at Casey's after the ride.  The next morning we walked our bikes through it again to get coffee at the start of the ride.

Day 3 Milbank to Sisseton 54 miles

Brochure for Sisseton

Sunrise in Milbank

Fred.  He sells smoothies along the route.  The proceeds go to people needing organ transplants.  He had a liver transplant so he knows their needs.  The first day he was playing Abba's dancing Queen.  I stopped and danced for a bit and requested SOS! I failed to get a photo of Maddy, his dog.  A very nice dog not unknow from running into restaurants, bars and schools! I regret not purchasing a drink from him and by the day I realized that he was selling drinks I would be too late to reach his base of operations.

Truth in advertising but this road to Peever, SD, was not as bad as some we rode the day before.  On this road the bad spots were filled with a purple sealant which was easy to avoid.  

Wow!  That man lived through Hell and survived!

Peter and Emil Knapp making the turn for a smoother road and friendlier wind.  BIA 7

At the buffalo

The orange hydrate is from Iowa.

Two of the people that built the iron buffalo

Song to The Great Spirit building on the campus of Sisseton Wahpeton College

Tribal HQ

Bureau of Indian Affairs highway 7. Nice road with a shoulder.

Free trail mix that I took for on the bike food.  After awhile, my jaws were sore from eating this.

Never believe these.  We were looking for a giant hill, which we did see before turning on BIA 7 thus did not have to climb it.  Look at the scale first.  What we climb was a miserable "false flat" which sapped our speed and strength for 5 miles until the turn.

New sculpture in Sisseton.

Stopped here in the afternoon and the next morning.  Because I paid with a card I get offers in my email.  Don't know when I will return.

At first glance from a distance I thought that this was weathered but upon closer inspection it was intentional.  On a shed in Sisseton.

In the center of the above mural.

Therapy session.  Note the clear bags.  They were for riders that have yet to check in.

David and Joe outside.

Great day!  Only 5 bad miles of climb and headwind.  Wonderful tailwind on final stretch.  Cloudy with the possibility of rain but we beat the wind.  Seems to be a theme on RASDaK, get up and roll early to beat some cycling disaster.  Today had to beat the rain.  Stopped at Casey's for breakfast.  Mainly wanted a large coffee and a breakfast sandwich.  

A few miles after rolling through Wilmot, SD, we entered the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation.  Highlights included the sculpture of a buffalo and the final turn.  This was during the headwind climb section.  A welcome relief.  Two of the people that created this art project were there to answer questions.   When I first saw the buffalo I thought it was real!

We turned north and rode into the Agency Village home of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate (Nation) of around 14,000 members of two bands of the Dakota Indians that are part of the seven bands of the Dakota/Lakota/Nakato Nation often referred to as the Great Sioux Nation.  The rest stop was at the Sisseton Wahpeton College.  We took a side trip to photograph tribal headquarters.  Because they were in session we did not enter and paid our respect by not getting too close.  Returning to BIA 7 a local and tribal member pulled up in a SUV and talked to us.  My complement of the HQ building produced a reaction I did not expect.  He said that the money and resources spent on that building would have been better spent on education as he pointed to the college.  "70 to 80% of us live below the poverty line.  We need to stop the mentality that handouts are the way to live."

Sisseton High School was our overnight destination.  We declined to set up our tent and slept inside.  After our showers, Mary and I walked downtown for lunch.  A few of us opted for a Mexican restaurant but we ended up at a pizza Hutt.  Along the way there we photographed the new in progress sculpture.  we also saw a Tribal police car.  Both tribal and city police patrol this city driving the renown Ford Explorer.  The horse mural and the Sisseton mural were photographed during this walk.  Upon return we sat in a trailer for a therapy session with friends before attending dinner at the Family Life Assembly of God Church.  The mayor was there and we were all given a bright yellow t-shirt.  Dave Sunde and his wife gave us a ride to dinner but we walked back.  Gotta burn some calories.

Day 4 Sisseton to Clark Heading South 50 miles (supposed to be 86 or 104)

The warning came early...

The view from my sleeping bag.

Looking back on Sisseton.  Yes, now I can see that I climbed a hill.

We would soon ride that hill into the wind.

The Lake Traverse Indian Reservation

We live along the big river in what is now known as the state of Iowa.

This day has entered RASDaK lore as the toughest day ever.  Everyone that rode that day will tell their grandchildren and mightily bored they will be!  WNW wind sustained 27 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.  National Weather Service Wind Advisory was issued.  And climbing.  Significant portions of the route was into the wind.  Relief came whenever we turned south but despite improving our speed a lot of energy was expended keeping the bicycles upright and in the proper lane.  To make it more fun, with 30 miles of the end, soil was blown across farmland to create dust storms.  

Skipped breakfast and tried to find a convenience store for coffee but none were open.  My big city life was expecting something to be open by 6 am.  So we found 3 Bean Coffee again and got our coffee fix, Mary opting for hot chocolate.  The first 20 miles were due west with the longest climb of the day.  Another false flat until I stopped and looked behind at where I had come from then the hill was apparent.  But it seemed flat and the headwind did no favors except to keep us cool.  We stopped at the Nicollet Tower after a tough 4 miles and climbed all the way to the top for a wonderful view.

Then back on the bike and into the wind for 16 miles.  I could see the future and did the math.  At my average speed I would be on the road until evening. I was mentally defeated.  Physically I was fine.  After riding through Buffalo Lake, we made it to Eden where we stopped for breakfast, coffee and doughnuts.  Saw Luke, a bagger or bike packer, taking his time eating a real breakfast.  Talked to John Berry, owner of Berry Fast bicycle shop.  He remembered the shooter of vodka I had in the Domane's secret hatch two years prior.  John said we were behind the sweep, i.e. late.  John would "time warp" us from Rosalyn home of the Vinegar Musuem to Webster, SD, in his van.

Another rainbow.

Veteran cemetery.  Unfortunately, I failed to get a photo of the Native American veteran cemetery nearby as I felt pressed for time battling the wind. 

What's that?? Buffalo Lake

I risked ticks and snake bites to get this photo near Buffalo Lake.

Lovely scenery.  I stopped for the yellow contrast.

This video shows how windy it was.

Breakfast time!!

Luke's bike at Club Eden.  He powers through the worst winds and does not SAG.  Prepared for whatever.

Our view during the SAG to Webster.

John's van.  Mobile bicycle shop.  Met him on my previous RASDaK.  He got a kick out of the vodka shooter I had in the Domane's hidden compartment on that ride.  Seemed to set Chad, former owner of Spoke n Sport, off 'infringing on his turf."  But there is a need for his services.  

From Webster we rode south and were subjected to strong wind gusts.  The poles holding the crash safety guard cables were being lifted a few inches from their foundations.  Flat country with lots of lakes, ponds and sloughs.  A farmstead was underwater and all that could be seen was the barn and the farmhouse.  Apparently, this happened years ago, a lot of rain and the water never left.  Telephone poles aligned the highway in water as if they were placed in the water to begin with.  I was told that there are roads at the bottom of the water.  Then the dust storms began as we started to climb out.  The bicycle Infront of me would occasionally disappear every now and then.  My right eye received a handful of dust and that's when I cried "uncle' and gave John a thumbs down and he stopped his SAG vehicle and picked me up.  I should have found a better spot to do that in but when an opportunity presents itself, do not ignore it.  Miracle that we were not hit.  Then again, South Dakota has empty roads.  Mary was ahead of me and missed the turn for Kellers Kountry Korner (yes, KKK) gas station.  John stopped there.  A lot of bikers had called it quits there, too.  We heard over 50 had asked for a SAG and it was still kinda early.  Mary would make it past Bradley, SD, before Gyle driving another SAG told her to get in because she was being blown all over the road.  Not safe.

I saw one of these for the first time ever.  Yellow Headed Blackbird.  It was hanging out in a slough perched on a cattail with red winged black birds whom were not fighting with it.  Highlight of the windy day.

How high's the water, Honey?  30 feet high and rising! White caps??

The first dust storm.  The bright dot in the dust is the cyclist in front of me.

Teresa, my SAG partner.  Forgive me for forgetting the names of the other two.

Gary, the moment he was told that he needed to ride back to the hidden Keller's Kountry Korner for a SAG.

This man completed the century.  Several of our friends did that ride and all came in looking beat and soft voices. 

That evening we went to a Mexican restaurant withing walking distance of the school and nursed our wounds.  I think it was this night I had a 15 minute esoteric discussion with Matt about why Shimano beat Suntour in the OE market for new bikes.  I argued with what I knew, Shimano blackmailed bicycle manufacturers and forced Suntour to be speced on lower end models.  Matt said that he bought two brand new bikes in 1989, a $2000 Trek custom speced 8900 with top-of-the-line Suntour and a $200 bike with Shimano's GS 200 Sport.  The latter and cheaper bike shifted better.  I also introduced myself to Hon and Kim from Colorado.  He rides and she drives.  She's smarter.

Hon and Kim

Day 5 Clark to Arlington 68 miles Tailwind!

Edge of the Earth

Rocks at the edge of the Earth.  Jokes is on flat Earthers, the Earth is fake!  Good isolated place to relieve a bladder.

Peggy talking us about a ride across Minnesota coming up.  Strange, as I type this at 6 am it is 80° F outside yet during this ride in the morning we wore jackets.

Somehow, I'm looking for James Dean in this photo, museum in Badger.

Gary and finally able to talk.

I'm calling him Dave and I'm prolly wrong.  Need to tape a dictation machine to my arm for these rides.

John, one of the SAG drivers and my hero!

Another dust storm this time outside of Arlington.  Around here Teresa caught up and asked if she could ride with me.  She does a lot of solo riding but wanted company.  We had a wide shoulder with a few bumps.

Same wind as yesterday but the sustained crept up to 37 mph.  That was welcome as the route had us in the proper direction for such winds.  Near perfect conditions.  South and east.  Deploy sail and shift into big ring.  Highlights include riding with an older gentleman named Dave (I hope I'm right on the name).  His son gave him a heavy looking flat-bar bike and he could move it move it!  The service station in Badger, SD, sold $2 Busch Light tallboys, I had one during my stop.  Got to talk to Gary.  Did not get to ride with him this year unlike last time, our schedules were out of sync. 

Once again, we slept in the high school gym.  it was this evening that I became aware that I picked up a rhinovirus.  Not allergies but constant need to blow my nose.  Two weeks later I am still blowing my nose but stopped taking Sudafed. Sleeping with 100+ people in a gymnasium...  Went to the bars and had a great meal.  Highway Call, a band belonging to the South Dakota Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was our night's entertainment.  They were great!  

Spent the rest of the night calling local liquor stores ISO Clay Turner Straight Bourbon.  I promised my son a bottle and need one for myself.  I knew I could get it near Vermillion, but we did not want to take I-29 back because of construction.  Rather we wanted to take I-90 to I-35.  But no joy and I-29 it was.

Day 6 Arlington to Garretson 77 miles

An inspiration to us all!  Mr. Dave Sunde

Dave Sunde's words

Bryant whose son has a degree in chemical engineering and works for Sazerac, the owner of Buffalo Trace Bourbon.  Currently he is with Buffalo Trace but previously was on the FireBall line.

I get a kick out of interesting mailboxes!

South Dakota is Beef Country.  There is a Team Beef with Jerseys on this ride.

Mascot for the Flyers, Chester, SD.

Crossing I-29

Objective Complete!  Two bottles.  Mary made me give the smaller one to Tim.  Good idea because it would be gone by now!

Last day.  Long for a last day.  Must beat the rain.  The sky turned black.  So hurry, hurry hurry!  Crossed I-29 and rode into Gell Rapids, the final starting and ending town for the very last Tour de Kota.  I wonder if the unicyclist bartender still lives there?  Outside of Garretson, two Sherriff cars drove past us.  A SUV collided with a tractor on a narrow county road.  By the time I got there the BMW was on a flatbed.  Mary said that the tractor drove away.  A bit later a car rear ended another car.  Dave on the flat-bar was stopped before the final push south, debating whether or not to put his rain jacket on.  A few sprinkles had been felt but I gambled and rode without putting mine on.

Once in Garretson, I headed straight to our vehicle, loaded my bike and noticed a flat tire.  SHITE!  Fortunately, I had my portable tire inflator and aired that sucka up.  It held for two weeks and now is in the shop getting fixed along with the brakes.  Drove to the school and picked up our gear and headed home.  The truck stop outside Vermilion and the welcome center sells the bourbon I needed.  $100 later we were back on the road.

Final Thoughts

Not a ride for the faint of heart.  This year the weather, except for the wind, was good.  Not hot.  We have done this ride when it started at 100°F, 50s and rain, too.  We have seen snow in the ditches.  Not hot this year.  My joke about RASDaK is that when you leave town and pass the gas station/convenience store you will not see another one for 80 miles still is true.  The route takes people on less traveled roads and there are not many towns in this state.  be prepared and pack accordingly.  There are plenty of rest stops available and marked on the map for refilling water and food.  If you think this is RAGBRAI you are mistaken.  Get your work done and then party/drink.  People wake up early, 430 am, for a reason, beat the wind and beat the heat.  The SAG drivers do not need to be out on the roads for 14 hours.

This may have been our first RASDaK without a flat tire or.  I was a bit worried as I believe the tires we took were already RASDaK veterans, I think.  Definitely will replace them soon.  Perhaps it was our inability to do training rides this year that spared us the hassle of a flat tire.  Bad weather on weekends and other commitments hindered our training this year.  Having to forego the ride last year for a trip to Wyoming also increased the life of these tires.  No mechanical issues, either. I did wipe the chains down and applied lube to them two times after dusty days.

South Dakota is a beautiful state and I hope to return again and not just for the bourbon.

Weather warning.  Prolly wind.  of course, we are somewhere in the circled area.

Group photo

Another mascot, Arlington, SD.

Best friends! Arlington, SD.

Before the band started there was a limerick contest.  Every contestant had a RASDaK related limerick.  Mine was not so I am glad I did not enter the competition!

At first glance I thought she was holding a knife.

The back of the shirt given to us in Sisseton.  This became a joke for the next few days.  "Hey man, nice shirt!  Where did you get it?  Reply, "I paid about $700 for two of them and two jerseys."

That's all, Folks!