Day 5 – Gravelers in the Mist

We awoke to gray skies and a heavy mist.  We wanted to get an early start this morning, given the distance ahead and the possibility of rain.  We had a simple breakfast – hard cooked eggs and toast with butter and jam, coffee for Diane and hot chocolate for Rob.

 

Before we could begin our ride we first had to push our bikes up a steep gravel driveway, across the highway, and up a steep embankment to the trail.  With that accomplished, Rob sprayed our bike chains with WD-40 and at 8:30 a.m. we began our ride in the gray morning mist, which accompanied us for most of the day.

The first 17 miles we coasted.  The downside was the windchill together with the misty rain that made us both wet and cold.  But when we climbed the next seven-miles, the mist lifted and we dried out and warmed up enough to shed our rain garb and cold weather gloves.  And for the first time on today’s ride, Rob could fully see through his glasses.

This was a very scenic ride—punctuated by deer bounding across the trail; a cow and calf on the trail staring us down momentarily before they yielded; lots of chipmunks and squirrels; a variety of birds; and though we never saw the beavers, we saw their dam and hut. 

The last eight miles were all downhill and we accomplished our goal of beating the rain by getting to our hotel in Hill City just before it hit.  We were in the saddle four hours, and given the seven-mile climb, our average speed of 8 mph is respectable for fully loaded gravel touring.

The highlight of our evening was spending time with Gene and Judy.  We celebrated their anniversary with a good Mexican dinner at Maria’s, then coffee and dessert at the Slate Creek Grill, accompanied by stories and laughter.

Tomorrow we reward ourselves with a 14 mile gravel jaunt to Custer where we spend more time with Gene and Judy and do a little sightseeing (and laundry). 

Diane & Rob

Leaving Carsten Cottages in the misty morn.

Ferrying bikes up to the trail (excuse the rain drops on the lens).

Gliding alone through the mist. 

Diane smiling while thinking - damn I am cold.

We rode with water most of the day..............

.....and were rewarded with a beaver hut.

There are four short tunnels on the Mickelson Trail, none long enough to require lights.....

....but Tunnel A is a little tricky because the floor has a high crown with ditches against both wall.  Get to far left or right and you are going to crash.