Day 7 - Saturday 8-12-06

Day 7 - Washburn to Garrison - 39 miles

My stats:
Miles: 44.8
Time in the saddle: 3 hours 39 minutes
Average mph: 12.2
Maximum mph: 25.7
Calories burned: 1689

The morning was bright at first, but quickly clouded over as a front was moving through the middle of the state, bringing along some fog. I rode with Sheila and Deb most of the way to Garrison.

The stormiest part of the front naturally came through just as we were crossing between the two lakes on Highway 83 as the wind came up very quickly and a few drops hit us hard in the face for just a few minutes. Felt much better as we made the turn off the highway and west towards Garrison and the sun came out. I got into town around 10 am.

At the finish line park I bought a bright yellow wind shirt and ate the traditional lunch of buffalo burgers (yuk - always too dry). Sheila, Deb and I found Archie and got our pics taken at the finish line. We then walked uptown and browsed the gift shops. I even found a little pink flying pig for my collection and I wasn't even looking too hard for anything.

I then decided to ride back out to Ft. Stevenson and get back home, suddenly feeling homesick for my Sam & Rowdy. I expected them to be right behind me, but at the luggage truck I decided to get their bags together and leave a note of thanks for their company. I was getting more and more anxious to get home. It is always strange on the drive home after a bike tour, hard to stop looking at all roads as if I am going to pedal on them. The 60 or so miles is like a gradual time machine back to the real world, and by the time I get to the traffic and activity of Bismarck, I know the bike tour is over and I'm back to the daily grind again. But the reward is getting a wet face from the dogs when I get home and the soft bed to sink into. And of course there is the sense of accomplishment - I did it!

Day 6 Friday 8-11-06

Day 6 - Bismarck to Washburn 41 miles

My stats:
Miles: 54.4
Time in the saddle: 4 hours 3 minutes
Average mph: 13.4
Maximum mph: 35.7
Calories burned: 1891

After a great night's sleep, I woke up around 3 am and made a big breakfast. Hard to leave Sam & Rowdy again and I think they were a little confused, but I did and quickly rode in the dark along the trails and across the river on the Memorial Bridge to meet up with the other 'Candiscers' at the turn going north out of town - got there around 5:30 am. It was a very easy ride all morning. I made it to the Double Ditch Indian Village rest stop at sunrise. Beautiful and so very calm. It was a great morning to ride River Road and see the morning sun's reflections and the great looking farms all along the river. The full moon was slowly setting in the west in a perfectly crystal blue sky. We must have had a bit of a tail wind later on in the morning, because it just didn't seem like any work at all to get to Washburn. Just before the Steckel Landing's rest stop I helped a girl from Turtle Lake with a flat tire. The new tube was already in thanks to a gentleman who helped her before I got there, but they didn't have much of a pump so I loaned them my little pump which was a little better. Then I was quickly on my way and rolled into Washburn by 9:30 - the earliest I've ever made it to a campsite. The last couple miles or so were north out of town to the huge 4-H camp with some of the tallest old cottonwoods I've ever seen. I set up my tent not too far from Archie's and got a nice shower in their bunkhouse. Deb & Sheila rolled in and set up their tents next to mine. After they showered, we ate lunch at the camp and then got on a shuttle bus to Ft. Mandan and then into Washburn.

That was the 1st time I'd been at Ft. Mandan after they expanded it for the Lewis and Clark bicentennial; very nice now. What a trip down memory lane when we were uptown Washburn. We got an ice cream cone from one very busy kid who obviously wasn't expecting all the bikers. Took a look in a few stores, and spent a lot of time in the county museum. They've added a ton of stuff since I lived there in 97. I wanted to walk down to Randy's and leave a note, but was just getting too hot and tired so caught the next shuttle back to camp by myself. Those old school buses we rode in were like a sleeping pill and I found it hard to stay awake for even a few miles! I discovered a little lounge spot at the far end of the lunch room with a big deep soft couch and fans blowing and it was quiet. I got out my new geocache book, read about 5 minutes and then proceeded to geocache dreamland for about 45 minutes. I woke up to much more noise as the supper line was forming. I found Deb & Sheila and we ate and then decided to play a bit of bingo. I won a pizza cutter and key chain but then left early as the wasps were starting to bother me and I was getting sleepy again. I went to my tent and talked by phone to a friend who was on the road moving to Wyoming. I really slept very well that night, and yet again heard coyotes sometime in the night. At least I think I wasn't dreaming that part.

Day 5 - Thursday 8-10-06

Strasburg to Bismarck - 78 miles

My stats:
Miles: 84.6
Time in saddle: 6 hours 15 minutes
Average mph: 13.5
Maximum mph: 37.3
Calories burned: 3404

Today's ride was pretty nice, and the hills weren't nearly as bad as most of us feared. I was worried about the long day and didn't take time to take time to take any photos of today's ride for some reason.

I arrived in Linton fairly early but found no sponsored rest stop, so just stopped for a juice at the Cenex station. As I got back on the road felt the great effects of a nice tailwind. I stopped at all the rest stops, a border collie kind of adopted all the bikers at the first rest stop and was rewarded with treats and leftover peanut butter sandwiches and watermelon. I rode with Brian for awhile on the way to the second rest stop. Ate a small lunch with two guys who were excitedly telling all of us at the picnic table all the gory details of getting stung in his ear - and the wasp got stuck in his ear! (I was glad I was not a medic on this tour after hear that story). I met up with Greg again at the Boy Scot rest stop near the Moffit turnoff for those who wanted to take the century option. This stop had a kind of Mexican theme, and one of the scouts started dancing around his sombrero to entertain us all while eating our nachos. And all of a sudden it started raining. Was one of those little short bursts that passes quickly, but we all laughed and teased him about doing a successful rain dance.

I opted not to take the century option since I was going to ride beyond Bismarck and go home to Mandan. It was a quick ride to the south side of Bismarck and met up with Deb just before the long hill at the University of Mary. After an explanation of the route they needed to take to get to the campground at the high school, I hit the road and trails hard through town and back to Mandan. Was so anxious to get home and see Sam & Rowdy, get a good hot shower and sleep in my own bed. But just as I was getting onto Old Red Trail, Al pulled into Ressler Chevrolet and jumped out of his car and tried to run me down and offer me a ride. I wasn't used to seeing him in street clothes and at first wondered who that strange man was flagging down a biker in the light rain that had begun. We chuckled a little and I told him since I was so close to home, I would just continue on.

And boy was I met with some pretty excited dogs! Took quite a long time to calm them down. After some food and a hot bath, I phoned my dog sitter and we talked for a long time. Finally had a chance to check my email, and was relieved to see some from the friend I'd been worried about all week was safe and sound at home. I ate half of a frozen pizza, fell asleep in front of the tv with both dogs in my lap, and then woke up to watch the news, then dragged myself down to my big bed and fell asleep immediately.

Day 4 - Wednesday 8-9-06

Wishek to Strasburg - 55 miles
My stats: 56.3 miles
Time in the saddle: 4 hours 27 minutes
Average speed: 12.6 mph
Maximum speed: 27.5 mph
Calories burned: 2415

I left a few minutes after 6 in heavy fog. Rode with Deb Steele to the first rest stop. I then rode quickly to all the others on my own. At the third rest stop the fog had burned off and I rode into the stop sponsored by Zeeland & Dakota LIons Club rest stop. They had a tropical or Las Vegas theme - couldn't really tell which it was supposed to be. I casually asked one of the ladies selling bars if she knew of a family who lived on a farm north of Zeeland that lived there about 8 years ago with lotz of animals. She couldn't think of anyone who fit that description and I just assumed the family that let me adopt their little dog Max had long since moved on. After chatting with Brian and Rick for a bit, I was anxious to get back on the road and on to the old church in Hague, when someone yelled out over everyone "Who is the person looking for the family with dogs?" I found her and she seemed to happy to see me again. She (in blue shirt at right) was a little sad to hear that Max had passed away a few years ago, and told me she had come back from California. Was fun to catch up with her.

Made it to Hague and was amazed at the size of the church -St. Mary's built in 1929 - compared to the size of the town. It was beautiful.


Greg and I walked all through it and the adjacent cemetery. I then rode on, it was getting hotter and much more humid as the day wore on. Stopped at a cemetery just outside of town that only had the iron crosses for grave markers. Got into Strasburg fairly early. I found my tent and sent up under some trees near the back of the campground. It seemed like a cooler place. I didn't have to wait for a shower - first time that has ever happened. Deb and Sheila and I then walked up to the school gym and ate a large lunch - it was so cool and comfortable in the gym, which seemd to be in the basement - typical of these older schools I guess. We made our way uptown to a cute little gift shop where I found a nice gift for my dog sitter. Later we walked up to the hardware store. The owner gave us a tour of the upper level of the building which was originally the town's hotel. He was trying to restore it, but had a long way to go to finish. We then made it back to camp to catch the shuttle bus - HOT HOT HOT. The homestead was fairly small - 4 room home, summer kitchen, barn, grainery and a couple smaller out buildings. They had quite a few artifacts that had been donated. Two of Lawrence Welk's neices were our tour guides, and there was also a video to watch in a building converted into a museum of his life as a band leader. I don't know for sure, but kind of gathered that there was some bad blood in the family. Lawrence had not been back to the farm since he left. He planned on coming back for the dedication after the homestead was restored, but he died a month before. It was interesting, but we were all just so hot and couldn't wait to get back to eat again.

We decided to visit the church while waiting for the evening meal to begin. This church - St. Peter & Paul Church built in 1910 - was even larger and more elaborate than the one 10 miles away in Hague. They are both on the National Register of Historic Places. This church has an 85' tall bell tower. I took way too many pics and purchased some note cards for Mom.Strasburg's Blue Room - a community hall behind the local pub - was host to a huge supper for not only candiscers, but the community as well. It was so good and got to sit with some local crop dusters. They were fascinated by us I think. We were entertained by a cute little white blonde yodeler who had been on Prairie Home Companion. She was good. When we asked if she was going to be Strasburg's next Lawrence Welk, they just laughed and said no - the next Dolly Pardon! All the food and heat made me pretty tired, but had to fall asleep before it got dark. I woke up a few times during the night to some pretty bright lightening and coyotes. But the thunderstorms missed Strasburg. Just got everyone worried and up early to get their tents packed up before a possible storm rolled in.

Day 3 - Tuesday 8-8-06

Steele to Wishek - 64 miles

My stats: 61.9 miles

Time in the saddle: 6 hours 37 minutes

Average speed: 9.3 mph

Maximum speed: 21.8 mph

Calories burned: 4024

I woke up earlier than usual due to some particularly loud snoring in a nearby tent. So I rode in the dark to the c-store at the other side of town to get some fruit and juice and wait for it to get light enough to ride. Al, Lisa and Archie were all waiting with me. They had lights on their bikes though, so left about 15 minutes before I did. Just as I was leaving Brian and Rick met up with me and they were nursing a pretty stiff hangover from their previous night's festivities at the Lone Steer motel. They had decided after riding so hard in all that wind, they deserved a real bed and bath so stayed in the motel. They paid for it all the way to Wishek though I think.

We had to ride the first 10 miles or so on the interstate, but I made it to the first rest stop sponsored by the Steele Dance team at sunrise. I got a nice photo of Dick from California on his way to the stop cheering right along with the dance team. The whole day turned out to be pretty windy again. I rode the first 30 miles or so on my own.

Made it to the second rest stop sponsored by the Steele 4-H club. It was a very welcome stop by all. The club was having a meeting and we were warned not to interrupt this member giving a demonstration. After some much needed food, I headed out to Napoleon and latched onto a pace line of about 4 people 5 miles north of town. It was really just supposed to be for a guy from Baxter MN helping out his partner - a bike tour rookie from the Twin Cities. He was a pretty big guy and was trying to break the wind for her. But a few of us latched on. Usually these pace lines are too speedy for me, but this was just right.

We got into Wishek around 2:30. After a shower I sat on some bleachers and visited with Archie, LeeAnn and Deb for awhile. I was too tired to take a shuttle into town, so just waited around for the evening meal with Deb & Sheila. Great food, I liked McClusky's meal better, but Deb and Sheila liked this menu better - it was lemonade, kneaphla, homemade sausage, watermelon, corn on the cob, salad and ice cream. We watched the German musical entertainment for awhile, but the wasps starting bothering me so I left to get outside for a bit. I wandered around the fairgrounds, talked with a local farmer who was difficult to understand with his 'hard' german accent and reviewed my photos on my camera so far with Greg. Had one more serving of ice cream and then went to the tent. Didn't take long to fall asleep again. Did wake up once to some more coyotes again, but was able to fall right back asleep again. That wind really takes it out of you.

Day 2 Monday 8-7-06

McClusky to Steele - 72 miles
My stats: 72.3 miles
Time in saddle: 7 hours 9 minutes
Average speed: 10 mph
Maximum speed: 23.6 mph
Calories burned: 4498

What a tough day and a complete 180 from yesterday! I left town around 6 AM and got to Steele around 3:30 PM. Long day, but I didn't take the sag wagon and rode the whole way! The wind kept switching from east to southeast to south - just as we turned in each of those directions. It started out around 10 mph and ended up around 30 mph.

As you can see from this picture taken at the first rest stop, the sun wasn't much help for the temps either. This stop was sponsored by the McClusky track team booster club and was supposed to be a Hawaiian theme. To this girl's credit, she kept dancing continuously while we bikers started shivering after losing the body heat from pedaling. They did have good food though.

All along the route I saw many many dried up prairie potholes like this one, especially the farther south we went. This one was somewhere between Wing and Tuttle I think. But the riders from my area marveled at the green grass still available, something we hadn't seen in the Mandan area for months due to the drought.

Here is Archie making a toast with one of the ladies from a rest stop by the Steele Ambulance service. She came out dressed in her curlers and bath robe to make a point of how early we riders like to get up. Their stop was only about 10 miles from our destination, but it was very welcome. They were smart to put up this wind break for us to get away from the wind.

Archie as usual got into town much earlier than the rest of us. He had his tent set up and was waiting for us - so he got this photo of a very tired Dodey and Sheila, just before we were able to find our luggage and scope out the park for a spot to pitch a tent. He did help us set up the tents. After I got a shower, I realized I was pretty hungry, so I took a strange shuttle bus - a rattle trap of a thing painted up to look like a train - downtown. The driver recommended the local American Legion Hall. The huge patty melt hamburger and large serving of potato wedges were very good. It was so cool and quiet in there also. So nice to get away from all the 'wind noise' of the day. Talked with some locals up at the bar for an hour or so, then joined Al & Lisa Thompson from Mandan at a table. Later we were joined by another rider - can't remember his name but he rides every year from Lake Benton and is a farmer. Watched the huge grass fire on the tv just north of Bismarck and all the local farmers were pretty worried about the lack of rain. We all started walking back to camp, and were then picked up by that strange bus for the bumpy ride back. Stopped to pet a few cute dogs along the way, but just reminded me of my own - hoping they were doing all right with the dog sitter. We were all too tired to go the musical variet show at the high school. And I slept so hard. Woke up once in the middle of the night to coyotes again, but fell right back asleep again.

Day 1 - Sunday 8-6-06

Ft. Stevenson State Park to McClusky - 63 miles
My stats: 64.2 miles
Time in saddle: 4 hours 25 minutes
Average speed: 14.5 miles
Maximum speed: 28.2 mph
Calories burned: 2703

Such a great ride for the first day. I left camp around 6 AM and rode the 3 miles into Garrison for breakfast. I paid way too much for a breakfast of two bowls of chopped fruit. I'm not one of those riders who can eat a large heavy breakfast right away so had to skip all the pancakes, sausages and coffee & syrups that was included with the breakfast. The temps were still a little chilly but warmed up while riding with Greg (neighbor from Mandan) and lots of dog talk about our 'babies' back home. Felt great by the time I reached the first rest stop - St. Paul Lutheran Youth stop - about 17 miles from camp.

Had to get a photo of our mascost atop the porta-potties. This year dressed up in honor of Lawrence Welk, Myron Floren and the champagne ladies of the band. The weather was so great with a nice northwest tail wind.








Took some pics of sunflowers, Lake Audubon and strange looking sign for a well driller along the route.


I met up with Rick and Brian from Alexandria Minnesota at the next rest stop - St. Olaf Lutheran Church. We arrived just when the Sunday services were starting. A beautiful little country church. They had quite a brunch set up for all the bikers in the church basement. Just what I needed - great homemade bars & desserts to fuel up.

We three rode together chatting all the way to Turtle Lake where we found the local ice cream shop and had a great ice cream cone. They rode on ahead while I stayed behind and got photos along the way of pelicans, horses and the McClusky canal.





I arrived in McClusky around noon and set up my tent by the grade school and had a great shower (complete with a bubble machine ala Lawrence Welk).




The afternoon was pretty lazy just wandering around the small town and taking snapshots of the local gardens, buildings, birds and parks.

LeeAnn Allen from Wyoming and I met up in one of the parks and had a homemade rhubarb slush -YUMM - and a hot dog. She gave me a lot of tips about buying a new bike this winter. Later I caught the tour bus to visit the McClusky Canal - the engineer from the Garrison Diversion C-District was pummeled with a lot of questions from all the bikers that aren't from North Dakota who found it hard to believe that the state could spend almost a billion dollars on a canal that isn't even being used. He finally had to admit it was 'somewhat of a boondogal'. After returning to McClusky, I tried to get on the internet at the school, but found their system had blocks for almost all email sites. Cell phone service was not too good either. While wandering around the school looking at all the old photos and trophies, I met a girl from New Mexico who was almost exactly the same age as me. She also had some great tips about buying a 'women's specific design' bike. After a short nap in my tent, I met up with LeeAnn and got at the head of the line for the huge german-russion supper. Our plates were piled high with strudel, knephla hot dish, old style sausage, chicken breast, cucumber salad, and of course kuchen dessert. We had a rather entertaining chat with Bob from Georgia about the different food cultures in various parts of the country.

After a short walk, I decided to take a ride on the mule drawn wagon. Had a great little chat with two young sisters about their pets and their grampa's mules. I was too tired to stay up for the high school students put on their play in the in the park, although it was easy to listen to those who decided to partake in the karaoke - some were quite good, most were just hilarious. It was really easy to sleep that night, no need to listen to the late night talk shows. No chills this night.