Day 27, Saturday, July 18, Mitchell, Sd (1310') to Sioux Falls, SD (1400')

Another day riding through an area that looked even more like Illinois than yesterday. Picture left. Many corn and bean fields have large areas where the crop has been drowned out. The corn ranges from waist high to tasseled out and much higher than our head. 72 miles with a side wind from the North, we were headed pretty much straight East, and very little climbing so it was a easy day and an early arrival. Ken Zika will arrive tonight to join our group as we ride from Sioux Falls to Niagra Falls. We are well over the half way mark with 1958 miles so far. The mechanic was were busy tonight, as 2000 miles is about the life of a chain. I waited to long to change mine and now I cannot ride in the highest gear on my rear cassette. This is so different than going for a 30 to 50 mile ride a couple of times a week with regard to wear and tear o n the bike and the body.

You have heard of the Flying J Ranch and the R Bar R ranch, but I am betting you have not heard of this one before. I think it might be a dude ranch.

Now for a day off and then off to Minnesota on Monday.

As Ken mentioned the corn is tall here already! This is a spot where I took shelter and reached as high as I could without reaching the tops of the tassles. Today I experienced more of the broadening experiences a trip like this brings: description of weather this time of year in Tasmania and an explanation of some of the characteristics and habits of the Tasmanian Devil; discussion of musical performances and classical music preferences of our 80 year old rider who has dedicated his life to teaching music in his local college.