August 23, 2024 – Pedal and Paddle Saves the Day

    I left Fort Thompson in the morning. Once again, it rained over night, but all was well in the morning. And once again, God blessed me with a strong southeasterly tail wind. I crossed over the Big Bend Dam and traveled the rough country to Lower Brule. A police officer gave me directions. He approached me by the school and let me know what road leads to West Brule. I made my way up the hill to West Brule and ate brunch at a convenient store. I talked briefly with a couple construction workers who were building a grocery store right beside the convenient store. I also gave a few morsels of food to some stray dogs. Bad idea. After that they wouldn't leave me alone, staring at my with those hopeless, helpless, lonely eyes. From West Brule, I rode 1806 all the way in the rough country by the Missouri River to Pierre, SD. I pedaled close to 75 miles this day. Not a bad ride...very beautiful landscapes crafted by the hand of God. When I got to Pierre, I went to Steamboat Park by the riverfront and La Framboise Island. A storm was a brewin'. So, I got underneath an amphitheater at the park, thinking it would keep me dry, and it did, but I had to cower up against the wall by a column to keep from getting wet. The rain was falling hard and the wind was very violent. Rain was blowing all over the place with strong gusts of wind. This lasted until about midnight,. But, thank the good Lord, me, my bike, and my gear stayed dry. After the rain calmed down, I found some dry ground underneath a pavilion on the other side of the park. I was able to get a little shut eye. In the morning everything was right as rain. Beautiful day yesterday. I rode four miles up the hill to Walmart, bought supplies (they didn't have the tire I needed), and then went back down the hill to Pedal and Paddle (a bicycle shop in downtown Pierre). I got there and the place was closed, even though the GPS said it would be open by 10:00am. It was after ten, but the owner of the shop was a no show. A woman with her dog walked by, and she said the owner of the shop was hit and miss. Sometimes he would be there, sometimes he wouldn't. So, I parked my bike, locked it up, and went to a barbershop next door. The establishment is called the Gentlemen's Barbershop. Alex, the barber, gave me a buzz cut, tapered on the back and shaved my beard. Thank you so much Alex! I really love the haircut. You did an outstanding job. After my haircut, the bike shop was still closed, so I walked up to the Capitol and the monuments around the pond and Capitol Avenue. I took some pictures, and during this time, my dad told me he got a hold of Tom, the owner of Pedal and Paddle. He came in and opened the store just for me. And even better, he had the exact size tire that I needed for my bicycle (a 29 x 2.1). The owner is named Tom Pritchard. He is a good man and a skilled bicycle mechanic. If you are ever in need of bicycle maintenance check out his shop! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, and for the sake of my journey, Mr. Tom!

    I did the usual on my off day...laundry, bicycle maintenance, rest, eat, and shower. I ate at Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant last night. I ordered a la crema enchiladas. The meal was out this world! It was so good! Today, I slept in until about 8:30am, ate breakfast at the hotel (Super 8), and then went back to sleep until 11:30am. After, I finally rose from my slumber, I pedaled up to the library where I have wrote more of the parables poetry and this journal article.

    The library here in Pierre is closing now. I've got to go, get, and skedaddle out of her. God be with you! Let's do this!