Thursday, June 29, 2017

Day 35: To Napoleon, ND

Tues.,  Jun 27, 2017
Stats:  Today - 82 miles; 1740 miles to date
  Elevation climbed:   1270 ft;  51,846 feet to date
  Temp. Low: low 50's High: mid 80's
  Partly cloudy, south wind 25 mph with gusts up to 35


Our day started off well, weaving through Bismarck on a bike trail.  Once we started pulling away from Bismarck we climbed a steep hill and started riding past the University of Mary.  The University of Mary and Visitation Monastery had significance to Mary because one of her great aunts, Sister Hermina, lived there for a while.

Once we passed the University and got into the open plains we proceeded to have the hardest day of our trip thus far.  We went mostly east and battled a strong crosswind most of the day.  That was very wearing.  The only time we didn't have a crosswind was for a thirteen mile stretch where we had a headwind.  On Hwy 83 (the Lawrence Welk highway) it took us three hours to go thirteen miles south into the strong headwind.  Fortunately, we had a wide shoulder to weave around on.

At the point that we finished the thirteen mile stretch we had gone 51 miles.  It was 3:00. We took a long break at a Conoco station in Hazelton, stopped by a small grocery store to buy supper and breakfast and then headed out for Napoleon.

By the time we got to Napoleon (7:30) we had been on the road for 12 and a half hours.  I think that's a record time for us.  We were exhausted.  We stopped at Ken's Superette for some cold Gatorade, inquired about camping at the city park and off we went.  The Napoleon city park has campsites, showers and restrooms (open all night) by the pool.  Again there was no charge for this.

On our ride today we met a bicyclist heading west.  When I asked Andrew, "Where are you riding to and from?", he told me that he is riding from Chicago to Portland.  Then I asked him where he lives and he said, "Well, I'm moving from Chicago to Portland." He did add that he is shipping all his things to Portland and he's just getting there by bike.


Missouri River




Where Mary's great aunt lived.






Lawrence Welk Highway




Andrew going from Chicago to Portland

There are big lakes in this area.

Campsite in Napoleon city park







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