Day 25 (Thurs July 14) Pierre to Chamberlain, SD (Halfway Across America)

After a day of rain, today we got some sunshine and hot weather for our 84 mile trip to Chamberlain, South Dakota.   But we still had the strong easterly headwinds from yesterday.   So instead of windy and rainy, it was windy and hot.  At least we were dry.   There is not much we can do about the weather, so we drank lots of gatorade and water and simply dealt with the heat.

Today we also marked the "halfway" point in our 3700 mile journey, just 25 miles east of Pierre, SD.   As we departed Pierre, SD, we followed the flooded Missouri River on the north side of the riverbed some 84 miles into the river town of of Chamberlain, SD.   We rode thru the large Lakota Indian Reservation and saw some awesome views of the Missouri River country.   We started out at 6:30 am.   By mid-day it was 95 degrees, so we were riding into a hot wind as well.   The 4H Club is the bane of all bikers.  Heat, Humidity, Hills, and Headwinds, those culprits can make for a long day in the saddle.   Today we had all for.  We had some long uphills that got really hot, and humid.  The headwind helped cool us off a little, but it also slowed us down.    So this was another long and tough day in the saddle.   However, the great scenery on the Missouri River made it all worthwhile.   Here are some pics of the day:


Leaving Pierre, SD, fog along the flooded Missouri River.  The Missouri River is the largest river in the United States, flowing 2,540 miles from its source in Red Rock Creek in the 14,000 ft peaks in Southwestern Montana to about 400 ft where it joins the the Mississippi River in St Louis.   Lewis and Clark traversed the River starting in St Louis.   They gave it the nickname "the big muddy" for all the sediment the river carried.


More views of the Missouri River  (the far banks look like the hills of California)


Railroad tracks along the north side of the Missouri


More hay in the Dakota Farmland (Lewis and Clark said this land would not support cultivation...Ha!)


The first of the big hills today.  What a pretty road!

Cresting the Hill - Mike on the Missouri River

25 miles east of Pierre, SD, we cross the halfway point across America


So we all celebrated by taking pictures


Blythe and Mary decide to kiss the ground at the halfway point


Some great scenery on the Lakota Indian Reservation


Blythe and Mary decide to catch up with us (after the halfway point)


In fact, they decided to pass us altogether  (they are moving pretty fast in this heat)


A small Sioux Chapel on the Lakota Reservation


The sign at the small Sioux Chapel.  The Lakota Reservation includes several bands of the Sioux Tribe including the Lakota, Brule, and the agricultural Arikara.  A big Sioux chapel serving all the tribes is  found in Chamberlain, our destination tonight.


An American Flag on the reservation!  (See the strong headwind)


A view of the flooded Missouri from the Lakota Reservation


Corn underwater in the flood


A bend in the Missouri approaching Chamberlain, SD  (This is the largest river in the USA)


Hill's leading to Chamberlain (flooded by the mighty Mizzou)


Horses along the Missouri (a great view coming in to Chamberlain)


One last hill to climb - the Missouri in the Background


Barry pointing to Chamberlain.  (I can't see it yet, but I sure hope we get there soon!)


Now I see it by the two bridges across the Missouri!


We check into the Best Western, tired and hot, after a long 84 miles!

Dinner tonight was at the local restaurant on main street.   The hotel wireless didn't work with my Mac Computer, so I camped out in the nearby MacDonald's and used their wireless network.   This is life on the  road.   One has to make do.   Lot's of great scenery today.   We got past the 4H Club (heat, humidity, hills,  headwinds) and are inching our way closer to home.   Tomorrow we go to Mitchell, SD, a nice little short 72 miler.   Standby....

Love to All,

ME