Bicycling the Lewis & Clark Trail
Wagner to Yankton, SD

Monday, August 23, 2004
Distance Cycled: 58 miles
Vertically Climbed: 1,645 feet
Average Speed: 11.0 mph

We woke up this morning to strong winds from the southeast. We expected the winds to be from the southeast but did not expect them to be so strong so early in the morning. We loaded the bicycles, rode them to a nearby restaurant, and began riding our bicycles into the wind. We changed our route and took a short cut which reduced the day from 70 miles to 58 miles. However, the changed route did not eliminate the fight we had all day with the headwind. The good news was that the wind seemed to be less strong later in the day.

We stopped at a restaurant in Tyndall for lunch. Scott ordered 2 BLT sandwiches without mayo but with peanut butter in place of the mayo. I ordered a ham and cheese sandwich and asked for white cheese, Swiss if possible. They did not have any white cheese so the owner of the restaurant ran across the street and got Swiss cheese for my ham and cheese sandwich. There are not many places where you can get this type of service.

Last night it rained over 6 inches in Tyndall, you could see where several creeks had flooded their banks. We were sure glad to complete the day riding without getting wet.

We had made reservations at a Super 8 motel in Yankton. When we arrived we found out that they did not have a ground floor. Their ground floor was actually 5 steps down into the ground and the door to the steps required a 90 degree turn onto a narrow stairway. I tried to get our bicycle down those 5 steps, first front first and then back first and both times we could not make that 90 degree corner. We went back to the office and canceled our reservation and moved to a Best Western motel that was next door. It cost a little more money but it was sure worth the extra cost.

We all had an excellent supper at the Best Western restaurant including home made bread and dessert.