Monday, July 16. The day started with a bike ride, not quite 7 miles of lovely singletrack around the reservoir. Most of it was the two flowing green trails around the reservoir, and then there was Granite Ridge. It started as easy as the greens, and we even wondered at one point why it was labeled Blue. And then we found out. It got steep. And a lot twistier with tight switchbacks made more rideable on the uphill by the naturally unweighted front wheel. Funny though, my heavily weighted front wheel sucked on the counterparts coming back down from the ridge.
And then there was the Ridge. Getting there required climbing out of the saddle, adjusting my weight to maintain traction on both wheels, which is and was fun when you get it right, and you ascend. I couldn't do it all, but maybe tomorrow.
But the Ridge. It was Granite. The trail couldn't be better named without using a second adjective starting with the letter 'F'. It wasn't friendly. The trail designer made the most of the impressive (granite) formations, with the narrow trail winding around huge boulder-like chunks of rock that are actually also under dirt and rocks you're riding on. We walked a bunch. Cool features that with experience I could learn how to set my pedals and front wheel to wheedle through, and others I have no idea how I will ever clear cleanly. One chunk of granite I couldn't even walk my bike over, and ended up twisting my rear wheel and my handlebars, but nothing permanent. All in all, a great ride, especially when we encountered a trail maintenance crew! And Steve Miller Band playing! A perfect end of a challenging and glorious ride.
Then we drove. Twenty miles back to I-25, then after another 10, we got on US 85 heading North. We stopped in Torrington for the wine we didn't get at Applejack on Sunday. (I need to keep a separate page for the BBI, Black Box Index. It's what we drink, and the price is all over, from $14.50 in Montana to $26.98 in Colorado.)
Google Maps led us to Wind Caves NP (only the 7th park created), where we found a campsite and after checking out the Visitor Center (reservations for tomorrow's cave tours go on sale at 8am for the 8:45 tour and the rest of the day), we found a nice hike that offered good views of the hilly prairie terrain. Storm clouds grew, and the approaching peals of thunder along with decreasing temperature and increasing wind gave us impetus to get back to Ernie, and then enjoy the spectacle with a cocktail!
Alas, the rain mostly fell to the North, so no flash floods for us, just a tasty dinner after looking at maps and talking options for the next week and a half. From here, Custer and then Badlands, before up the Missouri River into North Dakota to US 2, and take it East. Between WikiCamp and AllStays and paper maps from Visitor Centers, we should be able to find our way.
We are also in a no wifi, no cell service area of the country. Our phones come alive as we travel near bigger towns, and Sharon does her best in these windows to check messages/email/fb, but we are off the grid in many ways.
South Dakota Pictures are at https://photos.app.goo.gl/6Zym5bhyQ6k5XoZ39
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