Day 25, 03 August (Distance Biked 49 miles): I departed my hotel in Fargo and after several miles I realized my bike computer was not tracking my covered distance. I found that the magnet attached to the spoke had rotated so it wasn’t properly interfacing with the sensor. I rotated the magnet and tightened it down. This boring detail is the cause for my revision of the previous post’s distance biked from Melrose to Fargo. I forgot that before departing Melrose my Google Maps planning showed my route for that day was in the 130 mileage range, but after checking into my room I logged my mileage at 125 and forgot about the discrepancy. When I noticed the magnet had rotated, I remembered what was probably the cause before I arrived in Fargo. I was having light issues and was trying to charge my bike lamp off of my solar battery that I keep in my handlebar bag. My bike lamp wouldn’t run while plugged into my battery, so I dug further into my bag to pull out my headlamp to wear around my bike helmet. When I started pedaling a noise indicated there was an obvious obstruction in my front-wheel spokes. My wallet, which I keep tied to my handlebar bag, was hanging down and dropped into the spokes. Thus I realized the next day what the probable reason for the magnet rotation and hence the revised mileage.
I pedaled with the the wind to my back that morning and passed some large sunflower fields throughout the day. I arrived in Page, ND and was surprised to find out that they had a store and a cafe; google maps didn’t show these details when I searched for amenities along my day’s route. I was informed quickly that there was a tornado watch in effect until 11 P.M. that evening and that I might be better off sheltering in place and stay the night. The people I met in Page were extremely friendly and helpful. I was told there was a 3-sided shelter in the local park and I could set up there. I passed a lot of my time at the Page Cafe eating and I watched the weather, had some soft-drinks and met more of the friendly Page residents at the local bar that evening. The shelter kept me dry that night. Thank you to the friendly town of Page!
Day 26, 04 August (Distance Biked 40 miles): Another short day due to weather. Wind was forecasted that day at 20-30 mph and I would be riding into it the whole way. I left page and struggled through the wind until I came to the town of Hope, where I took a long break. After lunch and a quick nap at a local park, the winds had dropped a little so I decided to press on to Cooperstown, where I arrived just before dark. Headwinds are forecasted at 10 mph for the next day. I hope to make up on distance a few days later when the winds will be to my back for a few hundred miles.
Peace on the Peninsula 