Hello South Dakota
July 6, 2008
Today Kelli and I completed another state and entered the great state of South Dakota. We didn’t have the strong headwind that we expected so we were pleseantly surprised to make good time for the first 60 miles. After stopping for lunch we headed for our final destination of Hot Springs, SD. We had two good climbs and we finally got the strong headwind we were expecting earlier in the day. We celebrated the completion of the day with some Dairy Queen and a dip in the hotel pool and hot tub.
The landscape was amazing. Eastern Wyoming and Western South Dakota had rolling hills of green grassland. There were some great rock formations and the sight of the Black Hills of South Dakota were stunning. Unfortunately, the photos do not do the landscape justice.
The group of riders are really getting close and it will be a sad day when we have to say good-bye to this group of amazing individuals.
On a side note. The staff of the ride talked about times where we will be riding our bikes and reach a stage of being brain dead that makes you do funny things. Today, while Kelli and I stopped for lunch Kelli locked up our bikes. Well, when we came out of the resturant I quickly noticed that there was something a little interesting with the way Kelli had locked up the bikes. Kelli’s wasn’t actually locked at all! I had to take a picture just to jab her a little (like she doesn’t get it enough from me already).
Semper Fidelis.
July 6, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Dear kids:
It was such an amazing and cherised time being with you and the others bikers at Casper and getting to know them along the bike route and at the SAG stops.
For those that are reading Nathan and Kelli’s blogs you can’t possible comprehend the wonderful people that are surrounding the kids. All the riders are the greatest and kindest people one could ever hope to meet and their compassion, support and love for the kids was the first thing I and my Mother noticed.
They hugged us so many times but than the boonies of Wyoming didn’t produce lunch along the 120 mile sage brush ride and so I will contribute some of their joy to the food that we served.
All kidding aside, they are all so incredibly gifted, colorful, humorous, athletic, geniune in their spirit and so giving to each other and those around them that you are really blessed in their presence.
My Mom and I talked about how hard it is going to be for Nathan and Kelli to have to say goodbye at the East Coast to all these new life long friends.
They are great people and there is a common link forever that will bind this group and they all shine so bright with goodness that you feel such happiness to be among them and than add everything up and one realizes how much this journey is going to impact Nathan and Kelli. Equally, Nathan and Kelli in return are impacting all their lives with their zest for adventure, determination, love and also that fact that they are really cute and sweet together.
The kids are the young members of the riders and these riders really watch out for the kids.
I hope any of you reading this, will try to find the kids along the Minnesota route or further East and get the chance to be at a SAG stop. It is so much fun meeting all these people and showing support, cheering them on to another SAG stop and of course, seeing Nathan and Kelli.
You have to go and be at the stops to understand how great this Bike Across America program is, as writing this message doesn’t do justice to the emotions and energy this group has.
It is a blast! Go see for yourselves.
Nathan and Kelli: I am glad that your riding into Hot Springs made for another good day. I prayed all night long that the thunderstorms would stay away and that you could have an easy ride so that you could take in the beauty of Eastern Wyoming and Western S.D. because Middle Wyoming SUCKED!
I saw Breeze at Keystone and he hopes you can stop by Kemps Camp. Grandma didn’t see one turkey and she wondered why we drive all the way to S.D. to hunt when we have a backyard full of turkeys. Breeze has some news about the Turkey Track Club.
Grandma and I had a wonderful day at Custer State Park surrounded by 1,500 buffalo that blocked the road and they stood within 3 feet of the Yukon snorting at us and Bitsy went nuts! They are huge animals and it was scary being right in the middle of that size of a herd.
Grandma was awed by the Needles Highway, Mount Rushmore, Black Hills and the Badlands. Her memory and age has made her forgot these historical sights but she enjoyed the trip so much as she wanted to see you two.
She wondered all day long how her 2 babies were doing and I thought she was talking about Aza and Norah but she said, “I am worried for Nathan and Kelli.” My goof!
Be safe and give my best and love to the others and to the BAM staff.
I can’t wait to see you again. I am so happy for you both in riding across America and raising funds for injured Marines. God Bless.
Love you. Mom
July 7, 2008 at 9:03 am
Hola! Just to let you know, I’ve been following your trip and am enjoying living vicariously through you two. I’m impressed by you both.
May 5, 2010 at 8:30 am
Hello. Your trip is very impressive, especially facing the fact your biking! However, I was wondering if I could use one of your photos for an art project. I attend UW Milwaukee and your middle picture (with the pasture and sky) would be extremely beneficial towards my project. I would use it for non-commercial use and strictly academic use.
Thanks
Nate
June 6, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Sorry Nate – we don’t check this very often. I hope you just used the photo, we have no problem with that. Let us know if you need anything else. Good luck!