About Pierre South Dakota

Above photo courtesy of  The Pierre Chamber

In Great Lakes Region, Pierre, pronounced PEER, is the State Capital, and the seat of Hughes County. It lies east of Rapid City on US 14 and US 83, on the east bank of the Missouri River near the Oahe Dam and Lake Oahe.

Pierre is named after Pierre Chouteau, an early fur trader. The first permanent settlers arrived in 1878, two years before arrival of the Chicago & North Western Railway. The town prospered as the railroad terminus and became the state capital in 1889. The Capitol was built in 1910.

Today Pierre, population 13,876, is the major trade center of South Dakota's central region. It enjoys a mixed economy derived from government, agriculture and outdoor recreational attractions. Other attractions include Capitol Lake, which is fed by a warm artesian well, making it a winter haven for migratory waterfowl; Flaming Fountain, whose natural gas content allows it to be lighted; and South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center, featuring the exhibit, "South Dakota Experience."

Above text courtesy of Online Hiways

The end of a long, long day at last.

Photos

Alone with her thoughts..(That blue dot is Patricia).

Who said Dinosaurs are extinct?

One presumes this is a "Minimum Security" Jail.

"The hunger that's quenched with Bacon & Beans."

The Little Brown Church On The Prairie.

Comments from Gabriel

Hi, Gabriel again..

Patricia was to tired to do anything else but eat, shower and sleep!

Today was really long and tough. Patricia started off fine and had pushed past the first 56 miles by the time I caught up with her at a rest stop. It was not easy but she did it.

Then the wind started up. A strong, steady head wind. Not very gusty but relentless.

I stayed close to her from this point on. It was hot with lots of long rolling hills. She still had 61 miles to go and it was already past noon. She was beginning to think this may be to much for her as many others had already said uncle.

I stayed back with Patricia and her fellow senior biker Bill. He is 71 and a great guy. They were determined to make it. Almost every day they are the last ones in but they never quit!

Today turned in to about 13 1/2 hour day of sitting on that bike in heat & hills and wind. Awesome Bill & Patricia made it! I just needed to help keep them Cooled & Fueled. Ice is a wonderful thing out here.

Just a note on a few of the photos. The "X" signs out here mark the spot where someone has lost their life in an automobile accident.

I have rigged a little stove under the hood of our van on the manifold. A small can of beans and weenies fits perfect and takes only about 20 minutes to warm up. It may sound strange but it works.

A really nice Police Officer stopped to check to see if we were OK as there is nothing out here but us. He seemed astonished at Patricia's ride and I think perhaps thought she was a little tetched in the head for even being out there.

Wild life is in abundance, you never know what you will run into.

We came across a little brown church with no one around for miles.

Tomorrow we pass the half way mark. The point of no return. Looking at where we've been and

LOL To All,

Gabriel