7APRIL2012 @ Belle Fourche, SD - Hmmm ... did not get on the road until 0730; sleeping at the Bunkhouse was better than anticipated. Motoring over to Sturgis, I stopped at MickeyDees for coffee and completing yesterday's blog. The threatening clouds are way off to the northeast, skies are 70% sun, slight breeze ... wonderful day before Easter.
After departing Sturgis and getting past Ft. Meade the wind became far more than a breeze. Generally behind me, when it came from even a slight angle the truck wobbled. At one stream crossing I was blown into the oncoming lane ... no traffic though ... well, that's South Dakota. I made the 200 miles from Belle Fourche to Pierre on about 30% of a tank - such is the mileage effect of such a serious tail wind.
Bob B. went to the canoe business with me. We positioned the canoe on the truck and drove over to Walmart fo a new bedding pad and epoxy. The canoe business did not apply any epoxy to the canoe bow - nor did they apply the red letters - so I will complete the epoxy task tomorrow. That and the wind and the attraction of watching the Master's golf tournament causes me to opt to delay getting on the lake until late Sunday. Forget the red letters.
Bob gave me a tour of the 2011 flood scene, a scene that worsened after my June 9th departure. Water started receding near the end of July and the dike removal began two months later. It being a mild winter most of the dikes are totally removed and the area cleaned. pavement repair is still needed. Grass is growing through the mud pack. Many bushes and small trees died due to excessive inundation. There being only two vehicles parked there, the golf course appears to be closed, though perhaps they are still repairing the damage. All in all Pierre looks far more pleasant than when I arrived last June.
Bob convinced me to stay on his couch rather than some motel. Not much of an arm twist needed there. We talked about the flood, boyhood in Dell Rapids, 2nd amendment rights, education, the Big Horn mountains, his new kidney (he carries three now), his connection with Tom Brokaw, construction and probably a minute or two of nonsense. Eventually getting horizontal happened. Goodnight y'all.