Cycle Across America – Day 53

De Smet to Brookings

57 miles / 1,332ft climbed

Wednesday 10th July

Back on Highway 14 for the first few miles. The thought terrified me but the reality wasn’t so bad. I had set off with Caroline & Paul and knew they were looking out for me too. It was less than ten miles, the traffic wasn’t too heavy, so I braced myself, pedalled as fast as I could to get it over and done with and the rest of the roads were much better.

It was a long day today, just short of 60 miles with a strong headwind and a searing heat by mid morning that lasted all afternoon.

Progress was slow and we had regular stops. We were enjoying the shade of an old tree just outside Oldham when a local man came over to speak to us.

As a cyclist himself, he was interested in what we were doing. We chatted and when Brad’s wife Cathy, drove past, she stopped to chat too. We were invited back to their home for the most fabulous home made cookies and gorgeous cherries and blueberries. A welcome rest, a fantastic refuelling, interesting conversation and another example of the generosity and kindness of complete strangers.

Brad was a bee keeper and we had a fascinating look at and explanation of the honey producing process and left with some honey as well as a bag of homemade cookies each.

Thank you Brad and Cathy for your hospitality. I was great getting to know you both a little.

The rest of our refuelling stops were under the shade of a tree when we could find some and after our previous stop they seemed rather perfunctory.

We arrived later than we had been doing for the last few days and the evening felt short. Too short to do everything we needed / wanted to do and by the time we had showered, changed and had supper, we were all exhausted.

Tomorrow’s ride is longer so no late night for us!