https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16tVx8eSRV/ I woke up in Kadoka, SD, hoping for a smooth and easy day. Well out of the Black Hills, I was expecting flat roads, and the forecast called for a tailwind. On paper, a perfect combination. I rolled out using the I-90 frontage road, optimistic about making good time. But South Dakota had other plans. The terrain wasn’t flat, it was a relentless series of rollers. Each descent gave me just enough speed to climb halfway up the next rise before gravity stopped helping and it was back to grinding. That rhythm of pedal, crest, repeat wore on me through the morning. By midday, the temperature had climbed to 95 degrees, and the humidity was hanging in the air like a wet blanket. I pulled into Murdo, SD, and found a small roadside milkshake stand. That frosty shake disappeared in record time. Fun fact: Murdo is home to the Pioneer Auto Museum, a quirky roadside attraction with over 275 classic cars and relics from the Old West. The museum has seen better days and appears forgotten and neglected from the outside. After a short break in the shade, I pressed on. The heat didn’t let up, and neither did the rollers. I kept grinding through the afternoon until I reached Presho, where I called it for the day. The campground had small air conditioned cabins available, and I gladly booked one, hopeful for a solid night's rest. Unfortunately, the air conditioning inside was more symbolic than functional, barely able to cut the edge off the heat. It did at least pull some of the humidity out of the air, but sleep came in sweaty fits. Still, it beat setting up a tent in the sun. More rollers and heat await tomorrow. Time to hydrate and hope for better sleep. If you'd like to support the mission and help veterans find healing through outdoor adventure, please consider donating to Veterans Expeditions: 👉 www.OneMileFundraiser.com