Monday, July 11, 2011

July 11. We left Arthur with a tailwind and everything went well for about half an hour. Then, we turned due west, the wind switched and we were barely able to make 6 mph. By the time we got to Cooperstown we were sunburned, windburned, hot, tired and lucky to get the the last room in town due to their summerfest. Decided we had seen enough of the country for now and felt as though we'd learned a few things about bike touring and camping that will make our next trip a little easier. The next day was able to locate a u haul truck in Valley City, ND about 48 miles from Cooperstown. Got off to a late start, about 11, and headed south toward Valley City to pick up the u haul. With the wind against us once again, we rode 26 miles in about 3 1/2 hours. Stopped and asked a fisherman directions, he said we were about 25 miles away with a lot of big hills to come, which I didn't tell
Kim. When we made the turn, Kim said I hope theres not a lot of hills. We stopped at an intersection to take some aleve and a pick-up truck happened along. I flagged him down, asked if he was going to Valley City, and how much for a ride. He said no charge and we loaded the bikes in the back. He was a very nice guy. He was an outfitter for white tail deer and bird hunts. He had a loaded carbine between the front seats he said he used for coyote. It took us over 1/2 hour in that truck to make the last 18 miles. After seeing all the hills, it would have taken us another 4 or 5 hours of biking. I told the guy I think he saved our marriage. It started raining before we got to the motel and as we unloaded the bikes it really let loose. Found out later a tornado had touched down just a few miles south of us. Someone was watching over us. If anyone wants to go hunting, I have
George's card. Got a 20 ft rental truck, we're on our way home enjoying the ac and the smooth ride.

Friday, July 8, 2011

July 8, day 24. Our traveling buddy, Mike left us early this morning on his return trip home. We stopped for breakfast at the fry n pan and stopped at the bike shop just before it opened. Talked to a man from Minot whose house had flooded. He barely made it out. He was given half an hour warning. Fema has temporarily relocated him to fargo. He said 12,000 houses are flooded. Got lost going out of town and had to climb the same hill twice for no good reason. We finally made it to old route 81 and headed north then west. Made it to arthur, ND about 3:30 or 4. We had lunch at Kellys and the waitress told us we could camp at the city park for free and take a shower at the racquet club. Pretty nice, eh? People have been very nice this trip. We turned over 1,000 miles today.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

July 7, day 23. Traveled about 71 miles and made it to fargo, ND last night at about 6. Today we had some r & r / rode around fargo, got a haircut, went to the bike shop and visited the library. Tomorrow morn, 7/8, we will be leaving early, hopefully, and traveling route 200 to bypass Minot, which is flooded, and head to coopersville. I heard we're suppose to have good weather. We will be losing our good, traveling partner, mike, he's heading back to green bay. SO, it's just us two once again.


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Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Duly 5, day 21. Had a heck of a storm last night. Manager came out and tried to get us to go in the shelter, but mike wouldn't do it. Woke up to nice day, and ate breakfast at ruby's in Ashby, MN. Did laundry and rode the trail down to Fergus falls on delagoon lake. This is the end of the trail. Back on the road tomorrow riding to fargo.

Monday, July 4, 2011

July 4, monday. Day 21. Greetings family and friends. Saturday, we had a headwind and the temp was in the 80's which we were thankful for it made a pleasant ride. Rode 72 miles. Since the state of MN is shut down we had a hard time finding a campground. We ended up staying at royalton sportsman's club on the mississippi, a primitive campground which means no showers. But we were fortunate enough to have loud, rock n roll music all night and early in the morning. Sunday, we got on the soo line trail. It was like heaven being on a trail. We were able to ride, visit, and not have to worry about cars and having no shoulder. We rode 42 miles and camped at Sinclair lewis campground in sauk centre next to sauk lake - beautiful. Got up this morning and had breakfast at the ding dong cafe. Stopped at Alexandria and got our picture taken by the huge statue, Ollie. Rode 52 miles
today and are camping at Ashby resort and campground on christina lake. We didn't have to pay for showers tonight, so that's a plus. There are a lot of families here and they're shooting off firecrackers,which we've been hearing the last few nights. We've been traveling with another bicyclist which we are happy to have his company. He, mike is from green bay, is going as far as fargo, which should take a couple more days, and then turning around. Happy 4th of july.

Friday, July 1, 2011

July 1, day 18. Camped at Hillcrest rv park near center city MN last night. It was very hot yesterday and we didn't get a breeze all night. Woke in the morning to find hundreds of mosquitoes hanging on our tent. They were even starting to spell kins name. We sweated all nignr and had to take anther shower in the morning. We were on the road figuring wed eat in sunrise, but their bar n grill was closed. The ride for ms people were there and we did get some cold water from them. Kim had been leading all day and I was having a hard time keeping up. The heat and no breakfast finally got to me and I had to pull over and put the mat down to rest. As we were leaving I noticed my back wheel was rubbing on the brake. I adjusted the back wheel and it made all the difference in the world. Ate dinner at stuga restaurant in harris, MN. While there, met a recumbent trike rider named mike
ashford from green bay. Rode with him for the rest of the day and pulled into springvale rv park to camp. Only $3 per person for bicyclists because she thinks we're all crazy. Very, very nice people. One cleanest place we've been to so far. The bathrooms r even air conditioned. Put up the tent, took a shower, put our clothes in the washer (laundry room also had ac), ordered a pizza (they had no health food) and then the storm hit. Ate pizza and watched storm. We all had to congregate In the bath and laundry rooms. The electricity went out, high winds, and some trees fell. Needless to say, the washer did not finish its cycle and power will not be restored for 12 hours. People offered to let us sleep in their cottage. And we could also camp up in the recreation room. Wrung out our clothes and the owners mom and dad took our clothes to their house to finish. A gentle rain
falls on the tent and we are cool for the first time in two days.