DAY 11: 387miles total 3726 ROUGH RIDING

The trekking duo decided to stay in Aberdeen for a bit before they got in the saddle again. Sheri's cousin, Dawn was not only the perfect hostess she was the perfect chauffeur. We all hopped in the mom van and took the Hunter and McKenzie to school. Those are two of the bestest kids in the whole wide world. Their smiles and laughter will lighten up any room. And the best thing is that they always laugh when Biffy breaks out the camp songs! After that Dawn drove the duo around to do "stop and shock" visits with a variety of family members. It was fabulous to see the shocked looked on their faces as their cousin from California walk up to them.

About 12:30 the girls packed up and got ready to ride. The sky was grey, very overcast and as they got onto the freeway the wind really picked up. They rode they the fields of south Dakota seeing the acers and acers of corn, sunflower and wheat. The fields went on for as long as the eye could see. And the wind was whipping across those fields and across the bikes. This was a tough ride. The wind was in control and the girls had to keep both hands on the handle bars to control the bikes. Thankfully there was no traffic so as the wind moved the bikes across the lanes they didn't have to worry about traffic. The bikes were burring about twice as much gas as usual and that was a bit scary too because from gas station to gas station it was a good hundred miles. And it was fricking cold riding through this wind thankfully the girls had heated gear. But this ride was no fun.

Every once in a while the girls would see a billboard like the one that said "Help Perserve Wildlalfe -Wear Fur." Somehow e don't think we'd see such a sign in California.

Thrivette was quite scared for this part of the ride. So for her own protection she did not take her usual seat. She preferred the safety of the saddle bag. She was a bit disappointed that she couldn't see things but that was probably for the best.

Finally, civilization....Pierre SD.....the state capitol. But the hazards grew as Pierre had a lot of road construction and all their streets were torn up. Oh that as fun riding through gravel and having to use one lane for two vehicles. Biffy was almost taken out by a passing semi truck....Leaving Pierre was a good thing.

They continued on their trek and oh joy, oh joy....the clouds began to break up and there was some blue sky!!! Once the girl turned west onto highway 90 life changed. The sun came out the wind was minimal. Off they went riding into the beautiful Bad Lands of South Dakota - it couldn't have been a more welcome and beautiful ride.

They decided to take a little break at the famous Wall Drug and although a bit hesitant, Thrivette decided she would come out. And low and behold she found more friends....Friends from Sacramento!! They met up with the chase car from the Sacramento HOG (Harely Owners Group) chapter,who were also returning from the Milwaukee festival. They were a fun group.....curiously the chase car had lost their riders....

At Wall Drug Thrivette got a little "shooting"in with a lovely pink gun. this was no ordinary gun, it was a lovely pink on....oh what a special gun

The girls hoped back on their bikes for their final 60 miles of the day. And what a spectacular ride it was the sun was going down, and it was an amazing ride into Mount Rushmore.