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.