Crow Creek at Big Bend

Sept. 2, Highmore-Reliance, 56 miles, N breeze, 55/42—A fast getaway to Fort Thompson pays off. I stay dry under the clouds and use hardly any energy in front of the north wind. I pass a big network of wind turbines, rotated to go full-bore just like my bike is today.

Fort Thompson is on the Crow Creek Indian reservation and next to Big Bend dam on the Missouri River. Named after a 25-mile bend in the river with a narrow mile-wide neck, the dam is only a part-time power producer. Tours of the dam ended for the year yesterday, unfortunately. In Fort Thompson the all-purpose Dakotamart and Lode Star casino seem to be the only thriving businesses. I can't resist making the most of the wind behind me, so I go south to Reliance.