After a night of tossing and turning in my tent just about 50 yards off route 12 in
Ipswich, SD I woke up and started biking towards Selby where I had
little to no expectations or idea as to what I would find there. In
South Dakota sometimes what you think is a town based on what you see
on the map is simply a gas station and a grain elevator. I have now
gotten to the part of the country where it sinks in when you look
around you and say to yourself "I am in no mans land out here".

After a long hot day on the bike in which my bee sting from the prior
days ride had become irritated I beat the heat and the winds and rolled
into Selby with a population of over 700! That's right... 700! there
was a main street and restaurants. My South Dakota experience and
feelings shifted fairly quick when I decided to take a walk into the
Dakota Maid.

I sat down and ordered a cold beer and a glass of water when I started
talking to the folks who owned the place about a very affordable place
to sleep. They then offered me the upstairs to the cafe at a good price
and I was all set. So I went upstairs, got situated and went back down
for some conversation and a home grown and cooked meal. I was beginning
to wonder if folks in South Dakota consumed such meals as I have seen
some outlandish food consumption of late.

I sat with Rodney and Sheryl for a few hours talking about agriculture,
environment and generation gaps. This conversation enticed me so much
and I became desperate to see what was behind all of these endless
fields and rolling hills that I decided I would take the next day to
rest my legs and actually see what life was like here in South Dakota.
This was in fact one of the best decisions I have made on my trip.

The next morning I woke up and Cheryl had a day full of activities lined up for me.

• Morning coffee and conversation with an old time farmer
• A visit with a certified organic wheat farmer
• A tractor ride which included stacking huge bails of hay
• A combine tractor ride where I learned about the process of actually making wheat. Not just eating it
• A tour of Native American history
• A tour of South Dakota history
• A few hours of fishing on the Missouri river just a few miles from a tiny little town known as Akaska

This was as you could imagine a tremendous day. This day was also very
important to me as I often need to remind myself that there are hidden
gems in every nook and cranny and I must take the time to learn and
understand the details and history within these wonderful communities I
am pedaling into. This is in fact a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Until next time take care and take action!
Please support me in cause to protect land and nature and donate to my fundraiser!
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