We are up early with Beau and start about 7. Weather is still great , high pressure blue skies. It is fully light at 5am here so we have plenty of time to wait for everyone to get their bikes and selves ready to ride each day. Today we start by going two miles straight up. We let a long bed truck go by as it is carrying an oversize load, the blade for a windmill. It is over 1 1/2 semi trucks long, then straight up. On top, there is a memorial to WWI veterans built as a recreation of England's Stonehenge. It was built in 1929 after a local veteran visited Stonehenge and decided it was a memorial to sacrifice. It is to scale and complete and overlooks the gorge. We then head up to Roosevelt, a migrant and railroad switch town of 300 about 33 miles along. I get there first and get a gatoraide while I wait for the others. The owner keeps a notebook log of comments from bike riders that she started in 2003. It is very interesting reading comments from all types of riders and groups from families to teams to those raising money or awareness for a cause. Last year this date a father passed trough with his four daughters aged 16-20 on their way to Maine from Portland, just for the hell of it. We find a quaint cafe up the road and have the burger and beer special. Owner is colorful and chats with us quite awhile, this place is the only restaurant and doubles as the weekend bar also. The bar stools are chairs from the old courthouse fastened to barrel tops .......great food and company. We find out all about the three local businesses and the bar is also the Post Office. On from the cafe to Crow Butte park, another 21 miles. We get in and it is starting to get hot now. The park is great and has a swimming hole on the river, grassy tent spots and the park host is a jolly guy with a big belly who likes to chat. He says he'll open the concession stand if we need food, usually only open on the weekend. Its Friday night so the campground fills up early, we got the last spot thanks to Suzanne's advance scouting. Lots of kids but they are all well behaved and it gets quiet at dark. 60 miles today and 307 commutative for the trip so far. Nothing too difficult yet. We find out in the early morning why the park is called Crow Butte. The park is on a butte and it is covered with noisy crows early. Weather is still perfect blue skies, we have had no rain so far. Tomorrow we primitive camp.
Jim Suzanne and Beau
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