Up @ 4:45 am and out an hour later. Looking forward to the northwesterly wind from yesterday working in my favor as I turn east this morning, I am confronted with a steady southerly wind!! Gads! No break today... Gentle, green grasslands roll me through Keldron, Morristown and Watauga and into McIntosh @ 40 miles. The breeze stiffens and pedalling becomes hard work again, the sessions of cussing followed by reassuring start up and continue through the afternoon until McLaughlin's watertank comes into view. (Whereas concrete grain silos identifieded towns further west, it appears that a 40' tall, metal water tank on a tower, usually artisticlly emblemed, identifies towns here in the Dakotas.) The F&M Motel, tho not a "looker" from the outside, was very clean and comfy. Besides, it was the only lodging in town.
Today, McLaughlin is celebrating 100 years and I find myself again the stranger in a strange land, walking amidst a wonderful small town celebration. We are within the Standing Rock (Sioux) Indian Reservation and the townsfolk are predominantely Native Americans. The town park has been turned into a maze of inflata-sculptures for kids, and they are jumping on, bouncing off of and screaming in glee. Adults are most all parked in the shade of a large awning, drinking beer and chowing BBQ and burgers, and seem captivated listening to the drone of an MC, as she recites noteable anecdotes from the past, with breaks for raucous applause. The men seem enthralled as a stream of young, thin things begin a parade, wearing costumes from past eras of local history. I remember stopping at every food booth and eating (the German knoefl was tasty!) before returning to F&M for a nap. When I awoke the sun was settling and the rodeo was still hopping. 100 more to you McLaughlin!
Reached 1800 miles this morning on day 36.
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