We've made it back to manitowoc WI

Steve clarke and myself Have made it back to Manitowoc on sunday July 22.  We will stop and rest here.

Almost home

Looks like were 150 miles away from Manitowoc WI. Should be there by July 22 or 21.

Sunrise on the road

We have been getting up at 3 in the morning to to ride.  we can get some miles in before it gets too hot.

Hot

Hot

Boy, It Sure Is Hot Out Here, but Those Big Faces on That Mountain Sure are Neat

Nick and I have made it through South Dakota safe and sound! We were able to see some stunning sites while we were here, including Jewel and Wind Caves, the (HOT) Badlands, the breathtaking Black Hills, and of course, Mount Rushmore. You might have the notion that Mount Rushmore isn't all that much to behold, but everything-the drive up, the crowds of people- adds to a simply remarkable piece of art in history. I highly recommend it to anyone! Spearfish, South Dakota will be the place I someday call home, too ;) see everyone soon!

Entering South Dakota

5 states completed and now were heading to Mount Rushmore.

Devils Tower National Monument

Really neat place to stop for the night.

More pictures of the pass

Here are some pictures of the Bighorn.

Shortcut Through wyoming

Good idea, Bad idea, 20 miles.  We traveled along this road/ horse trail.  What an experience.

Of Mice and Passing the Two Thousand Mile Point

A couple major events occurred after we left Cody .. first, we travelled over the Bighorn Mountain Range, which was by far the most gruelling forty mile climb one could possibly imagine. We started the day in Shell, Wyoming at approximately four thousand feet above sea level,  and ended it by biking to a whopping nine thousand feet .. then, just when we thought we had reached the top, we had a couple more thousand foot climbs to do. When the day was done, I approximate we had totalled a little over eight thousand feet of uphill climbs. Not bad for a seventy five mile day!
The following day, we completed our first century ride of the trip, totalling one hundred eight miles!
Finally, we have eclipsed the two thousand mile mark of the trip. As I type, we are resting at about two thousand four hundred miles somewhere in the middle of South Dakota, and are about eight hundred miles from Manitowoc.

Cody, Wyoming and the Shoshone River Valley

After Nick and I departed from Yellowstone, we cut through the Shoshone National Forest. Now, let me be the first to say that I did not think that Wyoming would be much to see aside from Yellowstone. I was quite misguided with that prediction as the scenery leaving the park and the ensuing steep red bluffs along the Shoshone River were absolutely incredible!
After spending the better part of an eighty five mile day in utter amazement, we reached Cody, Wyoming,  which some may know as the rodeo capital of the world. It was a scorcher , with temperatures reaching over one hundred degrees, but the view was totally worth it. Plus, I got to go to my first rodeo!
-S