Category: Dakotas Tour 2010

Yankton SD: Reunion

Posted on July 21, 2010April 6, 2020 by Rich

Bob and Diane both woke up real early. At the sound of them, I got up too and walked over to use the park’s restroom. It had a great tiled shower with hot water and sinks with mirrors, good for a thorough cleanup. Nice way to start the morning. Randy was up when I returned, and table settings were being prepared by Diane and Bob. They poured coffee for everyone, and then effortlessly (it seemed) started bringing out plates full of pancakes, blueberries, syrup, butter, and cartons of OJ. Did I say our new friends were generous? This was really

Springfield SD: Bob and Diane

Posted on July 20, 2010April 6, 2020 by Rich

Rain in the early morning. As usual, it was a pleasing sound inside my tent, and, as usual, it stopped early on, around 7am. I got up before Randy and decided to again take advantage of the beautiful swimming cove we had, this time with towel, soap and shampoo. Wading out into the water, then up to my neck, it just felt so great. The water temps were around 77F, maybe 78F, very comfortable. A nice breeze flew in across the lake surface. Three bright yellow goldfinches flew past. No one else around at all. What a simple joy. While

Pickstown SD: Six Mile Chicken

Posted on July 19, 2010April 6, 2020 by Rich

63 miles total from Fort Thompson SD to Fort Randall Dam SD

Snake Creek Rec Area SD: River Camp

Posted on July 18, 2010April 6, 2020 by Rich

Up sort of late this morning at 8, and I walked down to Randy’s room. We adjourned to the hotel lobby, where the wi-fi signal was better and coffee was being served. While we sat, Randy booked a room in Sioux City for 7/23, although I offered him hotel space with my family. I decided to give Linda a status call and went for my phone. Damn, where is it? Damn, I know where! I had left it hanging on the wall in my Super 8 motel room in Pierre. I used Randy’s phone to call the Super 8, and

Fort Thompson SD: Scorcher

Posted on July 17, 2010March 27, 2015 by Rich

Up at 7. The Super 8 had a serve-yourself breakfast and I fixed one of those malt batter waffles, plus some toast, a hard-boiled egg, a donut, and some coffee. Randy soon joined me. Winds this morning were coming directly out of the south, but the Weather Channel forecast them to shift later in the afternoon from the WSW. We figured that might help us later if we were lucky. We weren’t. We hit the food market in Pierre, a place called Lynn’s Dakotamart. I picked up some candy, trail mix, and Snickers bars. I’d already made some PB&J sandwiches

Pierre SD: Short Ride Day

Posted on July 16, 2010March 27, 2015 by Rich

I awoke very refreshed at 7am and Randy was already up. He was outside in the backyard with Shirley, observing her attendance to a coop of about 50 chickens. Some of them were exceptionally pretty, bright white with brilliant red combs. She told me that they did not lay eggs yet, and that the family was still trying to figure out why. She let them out of the coop fence and free to roam around the back yard. I guess they were sort of programmed not to flee. Surrounding us were many miles of wheat fields. Brenda and Gordy’s dad

Onida SD: Hospitality

Posted on July 15, 2010March 6, 2015 by Rich

Up fairly early, around 7:30am. Randy justifiably groused about the girls not respecting his tent area, but he felt better this morning after getting some sleep. I reminded him that it was their city park and they probably had that game planned for a while. The restrooms at the park were decent enough for a shave and a quick paper towel bath. Otherwise, I could tell I was getting pretty seriously grungy. Randy rule was that if you can actually smell yourself, you definitely need a shower. We rolled out of the park by 8:15am and visited the food market on

Selby SD: The Selby Record

Posted on July 14, 2010December 5, 2014 by Rich

What a night! Bright flashes of lightening and rolls of thunder woke me up about midnight. I quickly secured the rain flaps of my tent, then lay back to watch the light show and see what was in store. The rains soon DUMPED on us. I lay semi-enjoying this, comfortable on my cushy mattress and in my dry sleeping bag and tent. Suddenly, though, I got real scared when it sounded like someone threw a softball onto the side of my tent. What? A tree dropping branches or watermelons or something? Then another and then another. Huge hits that threatened

Beaver Creek Rec Area ND: Another Oasis

Posted on July 13, 2010December 5, 2014 by Rich

I was up at 7am this morning but Randy stayed racked out in his adjacent room. I considered going out for breakfast but decided to wait for Randy’s company. For a while, I watched the tributes to George Steinbrenner being shown on the TV. Randy arose at 8am but did not want to get ready for riding, only to go get coffee. My cold symptoms were still nagging this morning (sore throat, a little light headed) but I actually also felt energetic and ready to go. But a solid breakfast definitely sounded good to me. I strolled next door to

Bismarck ND: Rain and Rollers

Posted on July 12, 2010December 5, 2014 by Rich

We both awoke fairly early to the spit of a light rain. Randy and I had always pitched our tents a reasonable distance from each other, but last night we’d pitched them a mere 8 feet apart or so. Randy was in a decidedly grumpy mood, stating that he was still really tired and that I had snored. I normally don’t snore, but I have no doubt that I did here, what with my cold and the extra fatigue from riding. I apologized and he said there was no need. He declined my offer of foam earplugs, stating that they