Day 40: To Brandon, MN

Sun.,  Jul 2, 2017
Stats:  Today - 68 miles; 2058 miles to date
  Elevation climbed:   397 ft;  53,947 feet to date
  Temp. Low: low 50's High: mid 70's
  Sunny, light nw winds

The change from the west side of the Red River Valley to the east side is interesting.  On the North Dakota side it is flat and arid.  On the Minnesota side are rolling hills and vegetation is more lush with more trees and lakes.

About three miles out of Pelican Rapids we turned North on Ottertail County Road 3, also known as the Otter Trail Scenic Highway.  Today's blue sky was an excellent backdrop to view the lakes and rolling hills.  We had great views for the twenty-two mile ride to Fergus Falls.

When looking for a lunch stop in Fergus Falls, we met Randall and Jenny who were also bicycling and looking for a lunch stop.  So we found a small cafe and all ate together.  Randall and Jenny are riding from Los Angeles to Long Island, New York.  They've had an eventful trip thus far including the kind you don't want with seven flat tires.  They were also caught in hail one day in an area with no trees or anywhere to take shelter.

After lunch we started riding on a rail trail, old railroad tracks that have been converted into a bike trail.  The first fifty-five miles of this trail is called the Central Lakes Trail.  The next forty-six miles is called the Lake Wobegon Trail.  As you can imagine an old railroad line would make for a relatively flat route.  The biggest benefit is that we don't have to deal with traffic.

Tonight we are staying near the town of Brandon.  We are camping at a county campground in Douglas County called Chippewa Campground.  Again we have a beautiful spot on a lake.

From the campsite in Pelican Rapids

From the campsite in Pelican Rapids

From the campsite in Pelican Rapids

Thankfully the road construction was finished.

The storehouse is full.

A Minnesota lake

A lake with a dock.

Randall and Jenny with us.

Entering the Central Lakes Trail near Fergus Falls.

Day 39: To Pelican Rapids, MN

Sat.,  July 1, 2017
Stats:  Today - 51 miles; 1990 miles to date
  Elevation climbed:   598 ft;  53,550
  Temp. Low: low 50's High: mid 70's
  Cloudy, few sprinkles in morning; clear sky in late afternoon, evening; calm

Buffalo River State Park, MN to Pelican Rapids, MN 

After getting to bed after 10:30 last night we slept in this morning.  We were off by 10:00.  The Northern Tier alternative route from Fargo heads south, then crosses into Minnesota.  Last night we had to go east from Fargo to get to the State Park, so we had to go off route a few miles.  By the time we rejoined the alternate route today we had only gone about an extra five miles.  The significance of sticking to the route is that it has been researched for the best roads and can tell us where there are places to eat, etc....

It was a pleasant day for biking except for two areas of construction that totaled about nine miles.  We were riding on gravel on one road and the under pavement full of cracks, gravel and ruts on the other.

The state highways had narrow shoulders and little traffic, the county highways had wider shoulders and more traffic and the torn up roads had little traffic.  We stopped for lunch in Cormorant and arrived in Pelican Rapids about 5:00.

We are staying at Sherin Memorial Park, the city campground in Pelican Rapids.  The city park is full except for one site away from everyone else and it is a beautiful site about ten yards from the Pelican River.  We happen to occupy it on a beautiful afternoon with no wind, nice sun, and about 70 degrees.  We're not sure why no one has taken it, but it is nice.

Our campsite at Buffalo River State Park overflow area.

Cloudy day

Farming wind

small lake

corn field on a cloudy day

Road with pavement torn up.

Pelican River

Our campsite at the city park on the Pelican River.

Day 38: To Buffalo River State Park, MN

Fri,  Jun 30, 2017
Stats:  Today - 95 miles; 1938 miles to date
  Elevation climbed:   364 ft;  52,952 feet to date
  Temp. Low: low 50's High: upper 60's
  Heavy clouds, chance of rain, nw winds 10-15 mph

Buffalo River State Park is six miles east of Glyndon, MN

Last night we had some rain, but everything was dry by morning.  After climbing a mile out of the river valley, our ride today was about as flat of a ride as we could have.  The highway was somewhat busy and the shoulders were narrow, but it was a comfortable day for riding.

At about the twenty mile mark we stopped at a gas station in Enderlin for a snack and met Lewis and Emmy, their son and a friend of their son.  Lewis and Emmy are riding from Seattle to Maine.  Their son and his friend are driving along carrying gear.  Also, Emmy's back doesn't allow her to ride every day, so she bikes when she can and rides in the SUV when she can't bike.

We also met Judy today.  Judy is riding from Boston to Seattle.

For lunch we stopped at the Morning Glory Restaurant in the town of Kindred.  We considered Kindred as a stopping point for tonight but since the day was going well we thought we would go the 75 miles to Fargo instead of just the 45 miles to Kindred.

After Kindred we created our own detour around a closed road and ended up riding on a gravel road for four miles.

Upon arriving in Fargo, we stopped for supper, then a grocery store to pick up food for breakfast and off we went to our destination, the city campground in Lindenwood Park.  We arrived at the campground at about 6:30 just to find out that they were full (due to the holiday week-end) and they make no extra room for bicyclists.  When we asked about other camping nearby, the woman at the desk suggested Buffalo River State Park in Minnesota, about a twenty mile ride.  Since it was late we called the State Park and they said they are full, but it is Minnesota State Park policy to always find room for bicyclists to camp in parks where they have campgrounds. So off we went.  When we arrived they put us in an overflow area next to the "day use" picnic area and we had a quiet area all to ourselves and used the showers in the regular campground area.

Sunrise this morning.

Entering Twins Territory

Judy

Lewis

The rain never came.

At Lindenwood Park in Fargo.

The Red River between Minnesota and North Dakota

Sunset at Buffalo River State Park

Camping in the overflow parking area.

Day 37: To Four miles south of Kathryn, ND

Thur.,  Jun 29, 2017
Stats:  Today - 62 miles; 1844 miles to date
  Elevation climbed:  194 ft;  52,588 feet to date
  Temp. Low: mid 50's High: low 70's
  Cloudy, chance of rain, calm

Today was the first calm day we've had since we've been on the plains.  It was nice not having to deal with any wind.  We may not have had a tailwind, but we had a peaceful day.  We rode straight east for 62 miles on Hwy 46.

At 40 miles we stopped for our second lunch at the Tastee Treat in Litchville.  We also bought a couple of sandwiches for supper and headed for tonight's destination, Little Yellowstone Campground.  This campground is in a river valley, so it is in a more wooded area and a break from the flat plains and farmland.

Shortly after arrival, we met Bruce.  Bruce is bicycling from Oregon to Brunswick, Maine.  His wife, Deah, and sister, Lesley, are driving their car along with him and taking side trips and sightseeing as they go.

Prices from the 1960's

Our favorite sign

Bruce and Deah

The stream through the campground.