Day 25: Pierre to Chamberlain,
South Dakota
July 15, 2004
Miles: 84
Today at the first SAG stop, we reached the half way point in our
journey. Only 1800 miles to go now.
Last night the weather report predicted headwinds for most of the
route. Instead we awoke to a threat of thunderstorms towards
Chamberlain; they dispersed before we got there. A cloudy start
turned into a hot (low 90's), humid sunny day. The winds were
mild. I started to notice the humidity long before I felt the
heat. On the two climbs just before Chamberlain, I could felt the
temperature rise on my arms; it quickly dissipated once I got to the
top
and back into the breezes.
The route, once we got away from Pierre and the trucks split off on to
another road, was pretty quiet. The road went up and down some,
but nothing major.
Here is how a lot of the hay around here seems to be packaged:
Here is the Missouri River from near Chamberlain. To the north:
To the south, including Chamberlain:
I've been meaning to mention an unnerving aspect of South Dakota
highways, something we've seen since Rapid City. The material
they use to patch cracks in the asphalt is much softer than what I've
seen in other states and at home. When you ride parallel with a
patch, your rear tire squirms quite a bit. Even after you've
experienced it several times, it is still gets your attention.
Return
to Trip Itinerary
