August 25, the first ride

  Today was the first bike ride.   My lack of training for the biking really showed up.  It was a beautiful day.  Not too hot and not much of a breeze.  Starting in Custer we planned to ride to Hill City.  It was a pretty ride.  It was a completely uphill ride also.



 Riding up old train beds the grade isn't steep but it is relentless.  Up Up Up.  Your pedaling the entire time.  Now my legs felt fairly strong but I sure wish I had never smoked.  I was puffing like the old steam trains that used to climb this grade. 

    We stopped often so I could get pictures and rest.


  The mountains are just beautiful and we drove over many wooden bridges and meadows.








  Small pretty streams it was a beautiful ride through tall pines and the smell.  Just heavenly.  Rick, who wasn't looking anything but strong rode behind me giving me encouragement.  " Almost to the peak, Take your time", your doing great!  No Hurry!  After about 4 miles I was ready to jump off my bike and kill him.  Why doesn't he sweat and why is he is such great shape when he eats more then me.  And here I was suffering and wheezing and wishing I had never suggested the stupid ride.   My asthma was acting up and the joy of the scenery was rapidly losing its charm. Poor Rick.  We are so mismatched.













    Finally we reached the peak and I saw Crazy Horse.  It was a great view. It doesn't look like much more has been done since I was there 10 years ago.  Will they ever finish it?




 However.  I decided then and there that was as far as I  was going.   Hill City was downhill, but then we would have to climb right back up to here again before we started the decent to Custer.  I told Rick I would wait for him while he finished the ride and we could ride back to Custer together but he didn't want to.  I felt terrible as I know I ruined the ride for him.  He was quiet the rest of the ride.  What a awful partner I am. 

    Riding down however was heavenly.  I was now really able to enjoy the sights and took more pictures.









     It was quiet and beautiful.  Quiet because Rick wouldn't talk to me but still the birds were happily singing.  We saw a baby rattlesnake on the road so I was careful where I stopped and walked. 








Surprisenly the ride only took us a little over a hour. We decided to take the scenic way home and stopped in Keystone so I could get another necklace I wanted.  Spoiled me.  Then we drove to Rapid City for groceries and back for a pork chops, rice and a cold beer.  As always sitting on deck listening to jazz.




 We managed to get the radio to work and that is all it would pick up.  Happy for us.

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