Day 21 Kadoka, South Dakota (101 miles)

Today the Big Riders have a 101 mile ride from Rapid City through the badlands to Kadoka. They will pass the world's largest prairie dog along the way.


World Largest Prairie Dog

Hi, its Tuesday morning the 13th of July. I talked to Chuck last night, so I will catch up with the blog starting with the ride from Rapid City to Kadoka. They all started with a breakfast buffet in the dorm cafeteria at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. They left Rapid City shortly after 7am and by 11:30 am all of the riders had gone over 75 miles. Yes, you guessed it...another tail wind blowing them up the hills. The weather was good with a scattering of clouds and temps in the high 70's low 80's.




Above are a couple of pictures of the badlands

Chuck arrived at the worlds largest prairie dog after going through the badlands with Jeremy, Chad and Toby. They took pics with the fake dog and then went into the gift shop to get peanuts to feed the real prairie dogs.


A real prairie dog


Chuck and Jeremy taking pictures of the prairie dog

While in the gift shop they spoke with a man who worked there. He told them in a very emotional voice that he was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and that he was having surgery later this week. He thanked them profusely for what they are doing.
The man said that he was so glad that the American Lung Association would have more money to put towards research and prevention of lung cancer and other lung diseases. Chuck said he had a hard time not breaking down with the man as he told his story. This is an example of what the big ride is all about. Spreading the message to individual people all the way across the country. Having the chance to make a difference in the riders lives and to those that they meet along the way.


Ranch Store

The last 15 miles of the ride was along the feeder road to the highway. They rode that 15 miles into a headwind. All and all it was a good day. The Big Riders from 08 will remember the man who showed up at the park in Kadoka and then followed us along the route the next day to Pierre. Well he showed up and talked and talked and talked to the riders agian this year. Chuck said that he didn't see him following the riders this year though to Pierre.


The Kadoka Water Tower that seems to never get any closerr

For dinner they walked to a restaurant and had a buffet style dinner with chicken, salads, baked potatoes, and dessert. They camped at the city park again near the city pool.