Day 27, 05 August (Distance Biked 49.6 miles): A windy day of biking. I took refuge in a motel in Carrington, ND.
Day 28, 06 August (Distance Biked 59 miles): Another hot, windy day of biking. I stopped in Harvey, ND and stayed in a motel again. One event recalled that day is that while I was waiting for the hotel owners to return to their hotel so that I could check-in, I ate at a local burger shop. I unsuccessfully tried to bike from the burger shop to the motel with my untouched shake affixed to my bike. Tragically, my shake fell to the ground and I picked up the cup and threw it in the trash. I bought another shake and carefully made my way to the hotel the second time.
Day 29, 07 August (Distance Biked 74 miles): I biked 74 miles to Minot, ND that day and stayed the night with my second Warmshowers host Harold and his friendly, fetch enthusiastic dog Joey. I had a great time getting to know Harold over a delicious pasta dinner that he prepared. Harold, a retired psychologist, rehabs homes and was a few days from going house-hunting in Alexandria, MN; a town I had biked through that was not too far from Mark and Jeri in Rogers, MN. Harold took the time to teach me how to make necessary adjustments to my breaks and offered some gear advice that I could remedy at a local bike shop in Minot named Val’s Cyclery. Harold has biked in all 50 states and numerous countries and he convinced me to change my route from entering Canada at Portal, ND to biking across Montana to Glacier National Park and then entering Canada somewhere North of Whitefish. I am grateful to Harold for taking the time out of his busy schedule and welcoming me and I hope to see Harold some day again and cycle with him.
Day 30, 08 August (Distance Biked 60 miles): After breakfast at Harold’s I biked the few minutes to Val’s Cyclery where the friendly and helpful staff resolved some of the issues that Harold had identified. I bought a pair of new gloves and a new bike seat, both have functioned well post-purchase. I couldn’t resolve raising my handle bar because the shop didn’t have the correct riser, but they gave me the specs to pass along to the next bike shop. The bike mechanic who changed out my seats even gave me a slice of his banana bread that he made himself! Within five minutes of leaving the shop I sat down at a local cafe for another breakfast. Two hours later, after cycling through some side/headwinds, I was eating yet again and dreading getting out into the heat and wind. I departed the small town where I ate lunch and headed out and the winds shifted directly to headwinds and I was struggling to reach 11 mph. I wanted to follow the route Harold suggested but that route did add 300 more miles to my distance and I was getting tired of biking into the wind over the past week and my shorter distances biked wandered from the back of my mind to the forefront. Twenty-six miles from Minot I decided to change from Harold’s recommended route back to my original route through Portal. I stopped and camped in Kenmare, ND that night.
Day 31, 09 August (Distance Biked 71 miles): I entered Canada and cycled until Estevan where I found a campsite.
Day 32, 10 August (Distance Biked 74 miles): I cycled that day with thunderstorms and lightning just ahead of me all day. I felt a sprinkle now and then and remained unaffected, except for the winds. I stopped at the Midale Qwik Stop where I met and talked to the friendly owner Caroline Macdonald for over an hour after I purchased a large ice-cream cookie and tomato juice. Before I departed Caroline kindly gave me some energy bars and coffee. I biked until I found a campsite that evening in Yellow Grass.
Day 33, 11 August (Distance Biked 75 miles): Before departing my campsite in Yellow Grass, I met fellow campers Elaine and Dan who were kind enough to offer me coffee, soup and crackers and some melon. I had a great time talking to the two of them inside their camper and they were a great reminder that the best parts of my trip have been meeting the people along the way. I biked to Moose Jaw that day and the headwinds were ever-present; it was a long and tough day. My Warmshowers option in Moose Jaw fell through for some unknown reason, so I decided to hotel it over the next few days to get some proper rest. The below picture doesn’t do justice to Dan’s friendly disposition…blame the photographer.
Day 34-35, 11-12 August (Distance Bike Zero miles): I showered, rested, ate, watched T.V. and explored the downtown area and enjoyed my longest break of my trip so far. I am almost halfway to Anchorage and the cold weather is looming, so I must continue on!
Peace on the Peninsula 