Bike Across America – Days 28 and 29

Monday, July 17, 2017

Start: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
End: Worthington, Minnesota
Mileage today/cumulative: 69 / 2,058
Elevation Ascended: 1,217′
Weather: Sunny, 75° at start; sunny, 91° at finish
3D Relive Video (approx. 1 minute)

Rest days are good but it sure was nice to get back on our bikes again and head east. Sioux Falls was good for massages, afternoon naps, and a Lycra-free day but it’s not going to show up on any Best Places to Live lists. To their credit, the city planners built a nice bike path that we spent our first nine miles on today, but otherwise it’s not yet a cycling or pedestrian friendly city.

Once we got out of Sioux Falls, it was a short ride to the Minnesota state line, where we took photos and celebrated entering our fifth state (and adding a new state to our cycling map). The humidity level kicked up a notch today and we’ll be adding bug spray to our growing list of things to apply every morning. Our pores may be permanently clogged by the end of this tour.

Today’s landscape was corn and soybeans for as far as the eyes could see. Unlike central South Dakota, which is suffering from a drought, the corn fields in southern Minnesota look healthy and provided some Field of Dreams photo opportunities. With fresh legs and, at 69 miles, the shortest day we’ll ride in the coming week, everyone made quick work of the route. Bev and I rode the second half of the day by ourselves and worked efficiently to cut through the wind and maintain a strong pace.

Minnesota holds a special place in my heart because so many old friends from Wells Fargo still call it home. I  loved traveling to Minneapolis on business (even in winter) because the people here are extraordinarily kind. When we checked into our hotel today, the staff were Minnesota nice and so excited to see us roll in. They had an entire table with granola bars, bottles of Gatorade, and fresh bananas set out for us.  Welcome to Minnesota!

Mother Nature is shaping up to throw something new at us tomorrow – rain. Staff and riders have all been surprised by the complete lack of rain in these first 29 days but that streak could end tomorrow with a chance of thunderstorms building on a day when we’re riding 111 miles. We’re hoping to outride it but, if not, we’ll be ready.

The Falls in Sioux Falls. Eh… Photo credit Martin Stabler.
The coffee dispenser in a South Dakota hotel. Only one of these buttons is needed.
Look out Minnesota – Team Pea has arrived!
In hindsight, this looks creepy. And, of course, safety first – always wear your bike helmet in a corn field. Photo credit Booze Alan Tucker.
Cycling Field of Dreams? Photo credit Martin Stabler.
Do not got to hotel first – go directly to Dairy Queen. Photo credit Martin Stabler.

 

 

 

 

5 Replies to “Bike Across America – Days 28 and 29”

  1. Greg, if you think corn peeping in a helmet is creepy, just imagine that picture with your helmet hair. That would be eerie and disturbing.

  2. Roll on, my Sweet Peas! Sweet corn? Either way, I hope the rain holds off tomorrow until after you’re safely in your hotel. Great pictures, thanks for sharing every day!

  3. I’m in Minnesota too! Just arrived Sunday afternoon .. I’m from Duluth . Thanks for the friendly complement. Enjoy .. it’s tall and narrow so you’ll be outta here soon .

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