Where's Joe?
South Dakota, Nebraska
Stage 5 of the Journey: June 27 - July 20
South Dakota
June 27
Joe finished his ride across Wyoming and experienced its geological wonders from west to east. He pedaled 55 miles in pleasant 70 degree weather and entered South Dakota. He stayed in the beautiful town of Spearfish, which is located on the edge of the Black Mountains.
June 28
Joe left Spearfish and rode through Deadwood, where gold was first discovered in the Black Hills. This town is famous in Western Lore for such larger than life characters as Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok. Wild Bill was shot and killed there during a poker game dispute. The town has retained its gambling ways and is now a major tourist trap filled with casinos and motels. Joe pedaled right on through without stopping. He did stop at actor Kevin Costner's interpretive center for "The Story of the Buffalo." In fact, he spent most of the day there and is bringing home a wealth of educational material for the students.
June 29
Joe is in dinosaur heaven and today he met a very famous Tyrannosaurus Rex. Then he pedaled on down to the Crazy Horse Monument which really impressed him. It's big. Crazy Horse's arm is 227 feet long. This monument has quite an interesting history, so kids, it's worth researching. Joe rode 60 miles today. Mt. Rushmore tomorrow.
Crazy Horse Monument
June 30
Joe left the town of Custer and pedaled 40 miles to Keystone. On the way he stopped at Mt. Rushmore. He will have more to say about that in his "Stories from the Road." You might want to read his views if you are planning to go there.
July 1
Joe rode thirty miles to Rapid City. He is looking forward to seeing the life-sized bronze statues of U.S. presidents that are located across the city. He has interviews with two local television stations and then hopes to catch up on his writing.
President John Adams, Rocinante, President Jefferson
July 2
Joe pedaled 55 miles over the rolling Great Plains in 97 degree heat to the town of Wall. He is about to enter the Badlands. It is important to remember that this is an educational trip for elementary students. Joe has a list of subjects that classroom teachers want him to research and photograph and later share with their students. Although not on the itinerary, The Badlands offered opportunities to fill several teacher requests- erosion, fossils, unique landforms, and Western wildlife.
(editor's note: Teachers, keep sending your requests for subjects for Joe to research to heyJoe@AppalachianHeritageAlliance.org )
Entering the Badlands
July 3
The Badlands, according to Joe, are a "world-class act in erosion." The flow pattern of the glaciers circumvented this particular area so instead of being scoured clean and distributed across the Great Plains, the original dirt, bones and fossils remain. Joe explored for about 40 miles, took plenty of pictures and bought some educational supplies.
July 4
Joe pedaled 55 miles back to Rapid City to resume his route southward. The television coverage a couple of days ago must have been pretty good because "six or seven" people stopped him and said they had seen him on TV and wanted to talk to him.
July 5
A thunderstorm chased Joe for three hours. The moment he stepped under a protective awning, hail the size of quarters covered the ground. He rode 58 miles on the grasslands of the Great Plains where fence posts cast the only shade. Joe is in Hot Springs and he says the Mammoth Site is "one cool place!"
Nebraska
July 6
Joe left the grassland of South Dakota and entered the grassland of Nebraska. Today, he saw "grass, grass, more grass and then a million more acres of grass. No trees. No nothing. Just grass." Towns are fifty miles apart. Nothing between them but, you guessed it, grass. Joe rode 56 miles to Chadron, Nebraska. Temperature was 95 degrees.
July 7
From Chadron to Alliance, 55 miles, 98 degrees. Grass, grass, grass.
July 8 - 19
Those of you who have followed Joe’s trip on this web site from the beginning will recall several messages of encouragement to Timothy “Beanie” Crabtree. “Beanie,” a nephew, was always to Joe, “the son I never had.” It is with great sadness that I report that after a long, heroic battle with cancer, Timothy Crabtree has finished his earthly career. And, though difficult to appreciate at the moment, it is a great joy to know that his heavenly career has begun.
Barbara called Joe on Friday to tell him the end was near, the family was gathering, and he needed to get home immediately. Ken Thompson, a good friend from Taylorsville, and his son, David, now living in Colorado, quickly made arrangements for Joe to fly out of Scottsbluff, Nebraska to Denver- if he could get there in time for the last plane. Joe “rode like the wind” but realized as he entered the airport that he was probably too late. The Homeland Security folks and the Scottsbluff Airport personnel, already informed of the situation, told him, “Joe, don’t worry. You WILL be on that plane.” They not only helped him disassemble his bike but had driven to town to get a special box for packing it. Thank you, folks! David handled the details in Denver. After the funeral and time with the family, Joe will return to Scottsbluff and resume the bicycle trip on July 20th.
“Beanie” was an inspiration for the trip from the beginning and will ride in our hearts the rest of the way.
July 20
Joe is back on the road. A special thanks, once again, to David Thompson, from Loveland, Colorado, for picking Joe up at the Denver airport and taking him back to Nebraska. The temperature was 100 degrees today. Joe rode into the southeast corner of Wyoming to Cheyenne. He'll be in Colorado in the morning.
Wyoming (again )
South east corner - very quickly
