Saturday, July 5, 2025
Day 35
Deadwood, SD to Custer, SD

Miles: 70.78
Elevation: 3,488
Time: 7 hours 55 minutes

Total miles: 1,351.58 (1,782.57 w/ Uhaul)
Total Elevation: 63,117
Total Time: 137 hours 15 minutes

Awakening to a picture perfect morning, we were packed and ready to go before 8. The town was still asleep with just a few people stirring.
Riding the Mickelson Trail was like coming home. Our 2023 tour took us here and we so enjoyed, we wanted to do it again. The path felt unusually familiar. Perhaps because we had viewed our photos of it multiple times or have watched so many YouTube videos of it. The crushed limestone trail is in amazing condition and riding through the forest with light filtering through the trees, birds singing…oh so lovely.
About an hour in, we encountered a woman at one of the trailheads who was beginning her run. She was just ahead of us as we travelled up a 2-4% grade. Her stride and posture was relaxed and she was so consistent. It was magical to watch her move, almost gazelle like…seemingly effortless. After about four miles, we came to a parking area/trailhead section where she stopped. While never catching her, I think she knew we were there. We cheered for her as we passed. She was busy catching her breath. One would have never known how hard she was working. After all, we were at about 6,000 foot elevation. The human body is such an incredible miracle.
Most of the day was spent in a somewhat meditative state just enjoying being in the moment…listening to the crunch of the tires on the limestone, enjoying the meadows and vistas. Along one creek, a moss growing on the rocks was blooming with tiny white flowers. So pretty! Later, we saw a herd of cattle in the shade swishing tails at the flys. I love cows. And there were so many babies!! We arrived in Custer around 6 in the evening. A quick trip to the local grocery store for ‘dinner’ and we settled in for the evening. Days don’t get much better!!

#RoadrunnerTour2025

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