We made it back.  We spent a week in the Black Hills bicycling on some of the most beautiful roads and trails in the US.  Here's a picture of us at Mountn Rushmore.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1266/4428415/9365261/259286321.jpg

Yay!  Welcome back!  Looks like a bright, sunny day.  How many miles was this bike trip??

How many miles??  I haven't totalled the miles.  It wasn't as many as I've done on our other trips.  HOWEVER, the vertical climbs were the biggest I've ever done and in the highest altitudes.  

The weather was fickle as well.  We started out in 38F degrees twice, biked in light rains several times, even had snow when we crested the mountain at Crazy Horse Memorial.  The 50 mph winds were also an experience - fortunately they were tailwinds most of the time.  We had two downhill routes (Spearfsh Canyon and Needles Highway) that were breathtaking and had to be the most beautiful decents in the country.  It was truely a memorable trip!  :)

Welcome back Bikerbraid! :D  Nice picture!  I'm glad you had a good time.  Did you feel that you trained enough prior to the trip?

Welcome back, Bikerbraid.

Sounds like a fun trip. I had to do a double take at your pic once I realized that that's actually Mt. Rushmore behind you!  ;D  I've never seen it in real life.

Welcome back! ;) Neat shot of Mt. Rushmore! Cool! 8-)

Welcome back, BB!! That sounds like it was an awesome trip, and I love that picture. Oddly the first thing I noticed is, wow. I love that braid.  :-?

Thanks everyone!

Did I train enough?  I don't think you can ever train enough!  I did have some trouble with the climbs.  I suffered with the altitude quite a bit.  I live at about 500 feet above sea level.  In the Black Hills, I was as high as 7800 feet and down to 4000 feet.  During the climbs I had trouble breathing.  I discovered that there is a huge difference between just doing normal activities at that altitude and being involved in heavy physical activity.  I probably needed about 5 days to aclimate to the altitude but only had 2.  

Mount Rushmore is something every American should visit at least once.  You have no idea the scope of the size until you have seen it in person.  And after you have seen Mount Rushmore, you should then go over to the Crazy Horse Memorial.  It is a carving in the round and is MUCH bigger than Mount Rushmore.  It will be many, many more years before it is finished, but it is quite the sight to see, even now.

Funny you mention my braid.  While we were "posing" for the picture, a Japanese tour group came by and about a dozen of them started taking pictures of us!  After a few minutes (and much Japanese being spoken), their tour guide came over to me and asked me if my braid was my own hair.  They had never seen a Caucasian women with a braid as long as mine before.   :)  Of course, they were also facinated with our bikes!