George S. Mickelson Trail, Part 1

Thursday, August 21st

As some of you know, most trips with The Boyfriend involve biking.  Aka, exercise.  You call that a vacation!  As some of you know, this is my idea of exercise:

1.  Lying in bed reaching for bonbons.  What a work out for my arms....
2.  Spending 2 hours going up and down the aisles of DSW trying on shoes.  Working those legs....
3.  Sex.  Let me tell ya, it's exhausting lying on my back....
4.  Reading or daydreaming.  Exercising the brain....
5.  Sipping a drink with an umbrella at my pool.  Working the jaw muscles....

Oh alrighty, time to get physical.  We rented bikes from Rabbit Bicycle in Hill City.  Great store, nice people.  I got a hybrid, The BF got a crossbike.  They swapped out the pedals so we could clip in with our bike shoes.  The store is also right next door to the famed Mickelson Trail.  How convenient!  We also brought our own helmets (something I recommend).

From Biking in South Dakota:

The premier trail within South Dakota’s state park system, this 109-mile jewel stretches the length of the Black Hills. It follows an abandoned railroad bed, and climbs gently into jagged cliffs and pine forests. The Mickelson Trail has a crushed limestone surface and wide path. It tops out at 6,100 feet but rarely exceeds a 4-percent grade (making it perfect for leisure riders). Trestle bridges and railroad tunnels add to the trail’s charm. 

It was simply beautiful.  Not 5 minutes into the ride, 2 deer darted in front of us on the path. 

The tunnels were so much fun.  We encountered other cyclists as well as meeting a young man from China biking alone across the U.S.  I gave him my banana. 

We stopped in a tiny town for refreshments.  The sky threatened rain that didn't materialize until much later (thunderstorms, lightening and hail), long after we were done with the ride.  We did 46 miles.  Afterwards, we got a coffee at Turtle Town on Main Street in Hill City.  Oh oh, chocolates....  The day is not over, more adventures await.