Pactour Days 12 "Mt Rushmore"

JW's wounds well tended to with Spandage.  Looks like a TdF veteran here.  Notice the rain jacket in his back pocket - first day we rode in a little rain of the tour (while at home San Antonio has been getting pounded >-:)

I can't quite think of the right word to describe the Black Hills of South Dakota.  Serenely ominous?  Beautifully dark?  This was the most beautiful riding we have done yet!

Goal for the day - Mt Rushmore.  Today we sported the Bicycle-Heaven St. Charles kit.

Today was probably the neatest day so far.  The weather cooled to the low 70's and we rode across Eastern Wyoming and Western South Dakota.  Riding up to Mt Rushmore thru the Black Hills of South Dakota (remember the Beatles "Rocky Raccoon?")  

JW may be down for a day or so, he was having vertigo today and went to bed early with a headache.  Probably just a bit too much for a 14 year old, riding 7-8 hours a day?  The Turk's legs have really come around the past couple of days, she also crashed early tonight from exhaustion so she'll probably take tomorrow off with JW (well deserved.)  

Taking a day off is great fun as you get a chance to recover your muscles, hydration and morale while helping the crew for a day.

Will and Jim got their legs tested on a 3 mile climb by the Belgian Mark and Swede Cat.  The boys were pushed to the limit but made it over the top of the climb and screamed into Rapid City with the 2 Europeans.

Tomorrow is 150 miles with only 3100 feet of climbing, looks like it'll be only Will and Dad.  Stay tuned.