DAY 14 Custer, to Rapid City South Dakota

75 miles today
1503 miles total
6536 climbing grades up to 12 percent
17 mph
Internet and phone are very spotty today:Custer SD is in the middle of nowhere and i'm not kidding. It's about as desolate a place as you'll find.
Todays ride we went up to Mt rushmore which was truly awe inspiring. To see those faces chiseled in stone; really its amazing.

We also rode in the middle of buff herds which were within ten feet of us. I wanted to take a closer pic but it was too scary! Still in Some of the most awesome , beautiful meadows I've ever seen; yellow and purple flowers, aspen and pine trees. weather to day was perfect. I recovered from yesterday's bonk and I'm feeling really good. Overall better than I thought I would, especially since some of the early days put some doubt in my mind. It took some time for me to settle in, but I seem to be feeling stronger as the days go along and am riding up front with the fast group. Some of these guys are hard core riders; CAT 1 and 2's of their era's as bikers. Some people are starting to hurt and slow down. One guy was on his bike for 12 hours yesterday; which when you really think about it is a terribly long time. Tomorrow we go 150 miles. The longest day so far not much climbing but could be windy and hot.