Day 27—July 15, 2006—Mitchell, SD to Sioux
Falls, SD—72 miles—747’ climb
We were all
set to load at 6:45 this morning but someone heard that temps were supposed to
reach 110 in Sioux Falls and winds were supposed to blast out of the south at
30 mph . . . so we decided to load
half an hour earlier (6:15 am) to allow riders an earlier start. Some were so
anxious to beat the heat that they left before breakfast, with me close on
their wheels.

Because I’ve
staffed the ride before, some of it seems like Groundhog Day . . . the SS in Canistota was one of these days.
Again people everywhere were building their floats for the annual big Sports
Day Parade, big wind and dust in the only place available for the SAG, high
traffic at the little corner grocery behind which we set up, riders sailing
past in all the confusion, not seeing the Little SAG Stop under the Big Grain
Elevators.
Cyclists
rode through a couple of sunflower fields and many soy bean fields but mostly
the order of the day was cornfield after cornfield (see photo above), the houses few and far between and sitting like small
treed islands in a sea of corn. There were only a couple of very small towns
along the route. The cornfields in this part of the country are filled with
pheasants. We saw many today . . . and yesterday . . . and the day before.
Well, the
temp never did reach 110 (thank heavens). It bottomed out at 99F and the south wind at 20 mph, but it was still a
tough day for those bringing up the tail who ended up out in the sun and wind
until 2 pm. All were very pleased to have a day off.
OVERHEARD ON THE ROAD TODAY:
* “Out here they have a name for wind . . . but I’m too
polite to say it.”
* “This day beat me up. I think it’s the cumulative
toll.”
* “Hoorah for rest days!”
SHOW & TELL:
Stu, Abe, Lois, & Annie have named themselves in honor of their usual
Lanterne Rouge position in the riding pecking order. This evening they revealed
their team tees, the back of which proudly proclaims them “The Final Four” in
3-inch letters.
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