I was in a foul mood when I got up this morning. My room was not non-smoking, and just the smell was depressing. My tibialis tendon felt no better, and I was facing what I imagined will be at least 7 hard days in South Dakota. The only real restaurant in town serving breakfast was closed for the 4th(!), so I had to get breakfast at Hardee’s. They have biscuits and gravy, worst ever.

There was another angle. In the last 10 miles the day before, I suddenly developed a sharp pain on the outside of my left leg at the knee. This was different, as it came and went and was quite sharp. It felt like something was getting out of alignment, and flexing my leg seemed to make it go away. When I got to the motel, I pulled my calf up under me all the way, I felt a click, and the pain vanished. Great, but would it return? Another worry.

Leaving town, roads were quiet (Saturday? the 4th?) and pretty, but there was a familiar thump every 20 ft. Farms here look prosperous. Why can’t the counties fix their roads?

Then I discovered something. Even though the joints run all the way across the road, there are not deep dips in the margin (between the white line and edge of the road).

I went back and forth many times to confirm this difference; always true. This must be because heavy vehicles don’t drive there, compressing the joints. The margin is only 24 inches wide, but that’s ok. I do have to watch out for gaps however.

I passed through the quiet village of Clarkfield.  It’s small size requires some doubling up in terms of services offered.

Lynner specialize in casket sofas, I think.

And then my mood just lightened. The wind shifted more in my favor, the weird left knee thing was not returning, and my tibialis tendon felt ok. In fact, I wasn’t even noticing it. Everything went well for another 25 miles, where I passed through Canby MN.  I did some shopping at the local market (may have to camp), had my first Creamsicle probably in decades (still delicious), and headed for South Dakota. Folks in Canby are either super friendly, or because it was Saturday or the 4th they were gregarious, but at least 10 different people asked my itinerary and then wanted to talk about it. Lots of fun.

I had lunch under a basswood tree that was larger than any I ever see in the east.  These behemoths develop beautiful, deeply furrowed bark.

As do cross continent cyclists.

But now the weird part (in a good way) . My tendon felt BETTER after 40 miles than when I started in the morning. I can’t explain it, but I accept this gift with open arms. I’m using Voltaren Gel among other strategies. Voltaren (prescription) is like Aspercreme on steroids, but specifically not on steroids (an NSAID for the cognoscente). But I think the improvement in my tendon mainly relates to my stopping use of pedal clips and allowing a neutral foot placement on the pedal (and ice, and massage, and stretching, and Voltaren).
*
I left Minnesota and entered South Dakota, which I expected to be an awful transition. There was no “Welcome to South Dakota” sign, but there were two fireworks stores, much better in my opinion. The little boy in me (with most of his fingers) almost dragged me off the road, but sadly there is nowhere on CC to carry bottle rockets and cherry bombs. Unexpectedly, the crossing was completely in South Dakota’s favor.For one thing, the quality of the pavement improves dramatically.  This is a view with Minnesota in the foreground and South Dakota in the background.

The road at the border point makes a right angle turn from E-W to N-S. That meant that the wind went from my side (OK) to directly behind me (amazing). Plus the land use went from row crops to pastures, and even a Nature Conservancy reserve called Seven Mile Fen, which is both beautiful and its name recalls the Red Sox Fenway. (The ball park is named after a wetland after all.) The road from there to Clear Lake (SD) was gorgeous and uphill (which I like). The only downside is that the one restaurant in Clear Lake closes on weekends. (Interesting business model I must examine.) So dinner may be from the local convenience store. Imagine the possibilities?! Here’s my 3 course meal.

Here’s my motel.  I suspect my advance reservation for 4 July was not entirely necessary.

I puzzled over signs like this, until I realized they are for snowmobilers.

There are amazing road designations that one might expect in more urban settings. One sees all sorts of high numbered streets and avenues, all dirt roads.