Sunday, July 21, 2013
July 21, Stage 15
July 21, Custer, SD to Rapid City SD, 45 miles, 2700 ft climbing.
We had the option today of riding to the Crazy Horse memorial, and then on to Mount Rushmore, or riding through Custer State Park to Mount Rushmore, which was a more scenic option, with buffalo herds and other wildlife. I chose to see Crazy Horse and Rushmore. The morning was cloudy, the remains of a thunderstorm during the night. I got to Crazy Horse early, and clouds covered the monument. Sat through a movie about the idea and work to bring the monument to its present state. Wonderful visitor's center. Within about an hour, the clouds had begun to clear and the sun was shining on Crazy Horse's face. The monument has been about 50 years in the making and has probably another 25 or so to go. One guy started work on it and his widow and children have continued the project. The major work is done with drilling holes, putting dynamite into the holes and blasting the rock away. Then more detailed work is chiseled. It is much larger than Mount Rushmore, with more detail. It is devoted to the memory and traditions of all Native Americans. Then, on to Mount Rushmore. Impressive and majestic. Have lived for 36 years within a day's drive and have never been there. The location allows views from miles away. The sculptor was Borglen, who spent his entire life on the project. Then, on to lunch and another hour and a half with many ups and downs on a winding road to Rapid City. It was nice to have time to see something with a human touch, after days of arid terrain. Getting closer to the Midwest feels good. Hoping that the shorter mileage and shorter day will allow some needed rest for the legs and body. Next two days are with mileages in the 140s. Long days, but Jim Miles-Polka and I did 139 on my birthday ride the first of June. Weather forecast is for NNW wind tomorrow morning, and by afternoon shifting to north and northeast.
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El, I have been reading all your entries and find them fascinating! You have a wonderful cadre of work associates, friends, and family members who have been providing you with a lot of great support. Keep eating well and resting well. You will complete this trip; I have no doubt!!
ReplyDeleteHolly, may be trying to reach you this evening. Hang in there; we are proud you and send our thoughts and prayers for the rest of your trip.
Ray and Ann
Ellery, haven't seen Crazy Horse monument, so will look forward to a description & discussion when you return to central Iowa. Glad you had a bit of a break before your upcoming back to back longer rides. You are MUCH stronger than the day of the Ride for E.D. (a.k.a. Birthday Ride). Keep on rollin'!
ReplyDeleteWonder if Benny J will have a Neil Young and Crazy Horse song to quote? Glad you had a good day and especially your "it's a small, small world" experience which I will save for you to tell tomorrow in your blog. Marsha (even though I'm signed on as Ellery)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great day and I need to go check out the Crazy Horse monument. Hope you get that rest you need.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if you been keeping up with the Redbirds so here's recap: Craig made a leaping grad against the wall to make the final out and save the game for the Cards and give Wainwright his 13th win.
You're getting out of Box Elder just like Pavement wanted to back in the day. Amy and I used to listen to this on road trips on cassette (I taped it off of one Josh Gibson's CDs) . You're not trying to get away from anyone, but you are trying to get down the road- a feeling that this song expresses. The song ends with "Box Elder, M.O"- I never noticed the M.O. (as in Missouri) until just now looking at the lyrics. An internet search revealed that the lyricist thought M.O. was the abbreviation for Montana. I always thought it was about South Dakota's Box Elder so here goes.
Bonus Neil Young and Crazy Horse track- "Cortez the Killer." Story about indigenous peoples south of South Dakota.
Pavement- "Box Elder"
Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfMW7VjqgU4
Lyrics:
Wasn't the question you asked me
It wasn't the answer I gave
That made me feel like I was on a train
Was a distant voice
Made me make a choice
That I had to get the fuck out of this town
I got a lot of things to do
A lot of places to go
I've got a lot of good things coming my way
And I'm afraid to say that you're not one of them.
Last time I was there
You were out on the couch
Pressed into a little electric 2
It was the way that you smiled
Made me know at once
That I had to get the fuck out of this town
'cause I've decide to make a stand
And I'm not gonna take your hand
I'm taking the next bus outta here, I'm gonna head for box elder, m.o.
Neil Young and Crazy Horse- "Cortez the Killer"
Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-b76yiqO1E
Lyrics:
He came dancing across the water
With his galleons and guns
Looking for the new world
In that palace in the sun.
On the shore lay Montezuma
With his coca leaves and pearls
In his halls he often wondered
With the secrets of the worlds.
And his subjects
gathered 'round him
Like the leaves around a tree
In their clothes of many colors
For the angry gods to see.
And the women all were beautiful
And the men stood
straight and strong
They offered life in sacrifice
So that others could go on.
Hate was just a legend
And war was never known
The people worked together
And they lifted many stones.
They carried them
to the flatlands
And they died along the way
But they built up
with their bare hands
What we still can't do today.
And I know she's living there
And she loves me to this day
I still can't remember when
Or how I lost my way.
He came dancing across the water
Cortez, Cortez
What a killer.
Just heard "Cortez the Killer" on Sirius on Friday. Great tune...one of many from Neil. "What a killer."
ReplyDeleteAnd the Tour is over for this year, so now we have no bicycling to follow except your journey, Ellery. The Tour was fun and I have to admit enjoying Contador knocked off the podium, especially by a 23 year old rookie from Columbia! Watch for Richie Port to compete in the future when he becomes a team leader. We'll miss Phil Liggett for another year, though.
Sounds like a great day. I thought we'd visited Mt. Rushmore together as a family, but Ben reminded me it was only the two of us--on that road trip after I graduated from Swat, when we rocked out to Box Elder. I am amazed that individuals devote their lives wholly to one goal. I wonder what drives them to work day after day, year after year, in the face of such skepticism about the end game. There's a piece of that dedication in your ride.
ReplyDeleteAren't you blessed when it comes to running into Holly Duke in spectacular places? We interrogated her about your condition and, other than the lip, we feel reassured. I hope you can get some relief for the lip. It's hard to tell from the photos how bad it is, but I always wince when I watch old documentary footage of mountain climbers finishing their journey. Their lips look worse than anything else.
I'm sure you heard Ryan Braun was suspended from baseball for rest of the year. Well, maybe not. People are calling him the Lance of baseball because he lied so well and ruined the guy who supposedly "spoiled" the sample that led to the initial positive a couple years ago. A list of cyclists' blood that tested positive for doping some 5-10 years after the fact was supposed to be released by French authorities the day the tour went up Alpe d'Huez. ASO talked the authorities into holding the info until the tour ended. Any day now we'll get some interesting information. Robbie McEwen announced his retirement today, despite the fact that he said a couple months ago that he would ride another year.
I wish I could share Jim's excitement about Nairo Quintana (the 23 yo). Given performances in the past, it's hard for me to look at Quintana's rides and not be skeptical. I might have been okay with el pistolero (Bert Contador) being on the podium, because given his performance I'm confident he's not doping. Froome and Quintana, I want to believe, but too many cyclists have ruined any unfettered optimism I could feel about incredibly impressive rides.
Jim's right, though. Now our eyes are on you. If only there were an Ellery Duke PacTour app I could load on my ipad so I could watch you ride.
Love you lots!
AE