G.A.S.P.

(Great Adventures to Scenic Places)

[ Home ] [ Up ] [ June 1 ] [ June 2 ] [ June 3 ] [ June 4 ] [ June 5 ] [ June 6 ] [ June 7 ] [ June 8, 9 ] [ June 10 ] [ June 11 ] [ June 12 ] [ June 13 ] [ June 14 ] [ June 15 ] [ June 16 ] [ June 17 ] [ June 18 ] [ June 19 ] [ June 20 ] [ June 21 ] [ June 22 ] [ June 23 ] [ June 24 ] [ June 25 ] [ June 26 ] [ June 27 ] [ June 28 ] [ June 29 ] [ June 30 ]

June 22, 1999

I left Buffalo early (about 7:15 – just as I should do every day, but don’t), and had a great trip to Bell Fourche. I had stayed in Buffalo the night before because I had been told in Bowman that there would be nowhere to stay in Redig (my scheduled stop). I confirmed this as I passed through – the town consisted of two trailer homes. There was a bridge a mile to the South, however, that I could have slept under – just me and two hundred swallows.

I rode 70 miles this day, mostly with a favorable wind, and arrived in Belle Fourche about 3:15 in the afternoon. That left me an opportunity to find a milkshake, pick out a good place for dinner, and in general just check out the town. I liked it. Add this to my list of nice towns I’ve come across – all in the 2000 – 4000 population range. The common theme seems to be that they have a vibrant town center, unspoiled by the store and food chains of this country.

I passed a lot of sheep ranches on my way into Belle Fourche, and confirmed once I got into town that it is a major wool shipping center. It’s also the geographical center of the U.S. – a fact that doesn’t affect my decision of a few days ago that the West starts in McClusky, North Dakota.