Still no cell service, but I did find a library. So, I have uploaded a bunch of pictures and I will try to tell you about them here. Note: when I get cell service I have a lot of stuff to post. So, things will be a little out of order.

First off, I passed the geographical center of the US in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. It became the center of the US in 1959 when they added Alaska and Hawaii. Before that, the center of the US was in Smith Center, Kansas.

I passed through some beautiful country along the way. Some places look like they should be on a post card, yellow wildflowers with the bluest water. All the little towns have wonderful little churches and sometimes you are truly rewarded with a small one room schoolhouse complete with the old school bell.

I also passed the halfway point of my trip, 1735 miles. I also passed into the Central Time Zone and crossed the Missouri River. Last night, I stayed in Gettysburg, SD. They have a sense of humor about it. The welcome sign says “Where the battle wasn’t”.

There have been several great sunsets and sunrises. The plains are beautiful, but there isn’t much to see out here as far as buildings, but what they do have is great, lots of flowers and insects.

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This is Dianna again. Just wanted to let you know Ronald is still traveling and doing well. He has run into long stretches of ‘no cell service’ and little else. It has also been too hot to do much riding. He spent the night in Eagle Butte, SD and is hoping for Gettysburg and a very good steak. People along the way have told him he should stop at Bob’s and have one of the best steaks in that part of the country, it sounded like he was really looking forward to that. He’ll write again as soon as he has the opportunity.

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I am taking a half rest day today. It is going to be a while before I will be in a town this size, so I am taking it easy.

Last night on the road I met some great guys heading east. Finally!!! Alex and Phil. Alex was done with his ride yesterday and going home, but Phil is continuing on to the Atlantic. Phil works for a school and has a website. You could check it out. It is MilesForMentors.org. Great guys, I am glad we bumped into one another. Phil and I split a hotel room last night. I have been playing a game where I try to talk the hotel people down from their original price. With Phil’s help, last night we talked them from $70 to $45!!! Best yet.

While in the middle of nowhere, my back tire started to shred. That is why I am in Spearfish today. It was not on my route, but it is where the nearest bike store was. The tire looked bad when I finally got it replaced.

I will up load some pictures.

I think that it will be a couple days before I have cell service again, but I will try to keep in touch.

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Ok, I am back!!

It has been a while since I have had cell service, but things have been moving along. Let me try to update you.

Since last we connected, I peddled across most of Montana, entered Wyoming again and am now in South Dakota. Mostly, the road has been up one hill and down the other side, then repeat about 20 times a day. I remember way back in Oregon I was so proud of myself for climbing to 4200 Ft. Now, I do it several times a day and return to 2500 to 3000. I have had some great days like that too. I put in a 118.6 mile day. Best yet. I am guessing that on a good wind day with flat conditions it would be possible to go 150 miles (a new goal). The riding is getting a lot easier. I just peddle and sooner or later I get there

I went to Devils Tower. I was thinking that I might skip it, but then I heard that they play Close Encounters every night. It was cool to sit in the shadow of the tower watching the movie.

I peddled through the Black Hills on my way to South Dakota. I maxed out at about 4638 Ft. I am hoping that S.D. will be much flatter than the last few states.

I have seen a bunch of animals. I almost ran over a skunk. I literally raised my peddle so I would not hit it. Closer to a skunk than I have ever been or ever want to be again.

I chased a mother and about 20 baby pheasants. It was cool, I was just riding along and all at once there was an explosion of activity right beside me. Birds flying all over the place. They regrouped and flew to the other side of the valley. I also saw some wild turkeys and chicks. I have seen tons of wild turkeys, but I don’t ever recall seeing chicks before.

I rode for about a mile with a heard of cows that ran along with me. The caves were kicking up their heals. The whole heard seemed to have a great time.

I saw a group of wild mustangs. When I first saw them they were spread across the meadow. When they saw me they formed a tight group with all the fouls at the center. Then the stallion came charging out to challenge me. What a proud, majestic animal. I decided to stay on my side of the fence, and he made sure I didn’t change my mind. He meant business.

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I rode 60.3 miles today bringing my total miles to 1303.34. That is well above 1/3 of the way across and only 437 miles short of half way.

The riding has become a little monotonous. Get up, ride bike, go to sleep, repeat. I am seeing a lot of great stuff, but I need to spice it up a little.

Yesterday I started something a little new. I started my found along the road CD collection. I pass cds all the time. I started wondering how bad they must be for someone to toss them out of the car.

More on the CD collection to come…

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Hi this is Dianna, Ron’s mom. Just wanted to let you all know that he is still traveling and doing well. He is at Devil’s Tower, which is located in the northeast corner of Wyoming. He will be watching ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ at the camp ground tonight. He was in the shadow of the Tower when he called earlier this evening. He is hoping to be back in cell service within the next couple of days so don’t give up, he’ll be posting again soon.

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I am leaving Billings this morning. Traveling into an area that I am not sure will have cell service. So, it may be a a few days between posts.

I uploaded a bunch of Yellowstone images. Hope you enjoy them.

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Wow! Big ride day 112.5 miles. Finally, broke 100 in a day. I hope I can walk in the morning. LOL I plan to soak in a nice hot bath tonight.

I went to Target and there were big problems. The ‘replacement camera’ they were going to give me uses Secure Digital media. I have compact flash. They had only one camera with compact flash and it was out of stock. Then the girl that was helping me pulled a camera exactly like mine out of a cupboard. It was the display camera. Everything worked on it, and I think it is the only one in the state, so, I took it. Here is the kicker. Because it was the display camera, I got a 30% discount. That’s right a working camera and $120!!!

Thank you Target.

Tomorrow, I head east again. I will be traveling through the Crow Indian Reservation. There really isn’t much as far as towns go to the east. Should be very interesting. I am going to stock up on food and water before I leave.

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My friend Katy told me that the rodeo was a “hoot”, and she was right!

I know it is an old theme man vs. nature, but when a 160 lb. guy hops on the back of an angry, 2000 lb. bull and takes a wild ride, it is something.

I know that the rodeo is about the cowboys, but I was far more impressed with the cowgirls. Something about a horse in a flat out gallop with a cowgirl in a hat and boots with her long blond hair blowing in the breeze. She was poetry in motion.

Anyway, from Cody I am heading to Billings, Montana to try to get a camera that works.

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