Day 13: Miller, SD Elevation:1568

Miles:  46.71
Average Speed:  10.20
Max Speed:  19.44
Total Miles:  356 - this is my odometer total, not point-to-point distance

Sat out the heat in Redfield the last few days.  Today is 15 degrees cooler than yesterday, welcome relief.  Made almost 30 miles before the wind became a major negative factor - have to leave really early from now on.

Flushed lots of pheasants today and chased a couple of deer along the ditch for 100 yards or so.  Big wide open country now with few farms or ranches and more cattle than people today.

I think I passed more old abandoned structures today than occupied homes.

The road is pretty much flat with what feels like a 1% grade to the west and I'm gaining a little elevation each day.



Some folks in Redfield who came east on 212 told me there were about 70 miles of loose gravel (chip coat they call it around here) west of the Missouri.  I've changed my route to avoid that of course.  That's why I'm in Miller and headed west on 14 tomorrow.  New route saves ~50 miles!

Got here about noon today.  A younger man, or another man, would ride another 50; I'm going to nap.  Staying at the Dew Drop Inn in Miller.  It's run by a self-styled hippie woman and consistent with hippie philosophy or life style, invited me for dinner - a very unexpected pleasure.  Wish I had a clean shirt.

Dew Drop Inn - Miller, SD

If anyone is traveling through the west yet this summer and your route takes you anywhere near mine, intercept me if it's not too far out of your way.  

Thanks for all the comments and, heat relief is on the way.

Just back from dinner with the motel owners - Mike, Mira, daughter Sarah & boyfriend Will.  Roast chicken, salad, watermelon and home made bread and home made apple pie.  Really delightful folks.  Sarah just returned from the Rainbow Festival in Washington state.  Now that their kids are grown Mira is anxious to travel, to do some sort of service work unaffiliated with religion - a woman with whom I can relate.  So of course I turned her on to the CIS in El Salvador.  Mike is an avid reader and strongly recommended The Geography of Bliss. Has anyone read it?

Big wind again tomorrow.