In 2004 my friends, Eric, Dave, and I decided to ride the George Mickelson Trail, which winds its way through the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota for 114 miles. As we rode both ways we ended up riding 230 miles that week.
We hauled our bikes, tents, and bike bags to the eastern terminus of the trail at Deadwood, S.D., making a brief stop in Mitchell, S.D. to see the beautiful, “World’s Only” Corn Palace and take a quick drive through the campus of my alma mater, Dakota Wesleyan University (it’s a small campus, a quick drive will do it).
I lived in Mitchell for five years (one year after graduation), worked at the Pizza Palace, was Corn Palace Santa Clause, one year was even a supply pastor at a small church north of town (despite the fact my studies were not in religion) in my “anything for a buck” years, then worked at Loghery Candy, a very small candy supply company run out of the garage of Bud and Alma Loghery, a very wonderful couple, delivering candy to small towns in the area and, of course, Mitchell. I have numerous good memories of and a special affinity for Mitchell, the last large town (to call it a city would be stretching it a bit, although the local Chamber of Commerce would heartily disagree, I’m sure) before Wall Drug, Rapid City, and the Black Hills to the west. But, once again, I digress.
I had watched the South Dakota weather for a couple of weeks prior to our trip and found that it was warm there, in the 80’s, so we were looking forward to a pleasant week of riding. On the way to Rapid City we made another stop, this time an overnight, at Interior, S.D. and the next day rode the twenty-mile loop ride that starts at the visitors’ center. The first twenty miles were into a stiff wind but on the way back that same wind gave us a very nice boost.
We drove to Keystone and stopped for the night to see Mt. Rushmore and the impressive lighting ceremony, then saw it again by daylight. We also went to see the partially completed Crazy Horse monument which was just as impressive.
We started our ride in Keystone intending to ride to Edgemont and back. Overnight it had snowed and the temperature had dropped precipitously, making the ride cold and more than our lighter cold-weather gear could handle, and with the snow making riding over bridges (of which there were several) treacherous.
We forged ahead, however, and by noon the sun had come out, warming it up a bit. It made us wonder where last week’s warm temps had gone. Halfway through the day’s ride we stopped at Pringle and bought a pair of woolen socks which helped our overwise uncovered hands. We also pulled plastic bags over our shoes which helped keep the cold air off them and keep whatever warmth our bodies could muster. We were quite the sight!
Other than the cold we were enjoying the ride; at one point going between a rock wall on one side and a drop-off of a couple hundred feet on the other (between a rock and a steep place?), giving us a bit of an adventure, especially with the morning’s snow still not completely melted. We made it to Edgemont that evening and, not wanting to spend the night in tents, checked into the Rainbow Inn and warmed up.
The next morning was a bit warmer and we started our return trip to Deadwood. We rode through Red Canyon in the early morning light, another impressive site in a ride that included many of them. The weather finally warmed and we finished the rest of the ride in shorts and t-shirts. Along the trail there are several tunnels which are fun through which to ride. They are short tunnels and you never lose the daylight.
We reached Deadwood, again passing the Crazy Horse Monument, and had a celebratory dinner with our new-found friends. The next morning, we packed up and headed for home, taking a new set of memories with us.
