Day 8: Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Stop to Stop: Hazelton, ND to Bismarck, ND

Underway: 8:30 am    Off Bike: 2:40 pm    Ride Time: 4:39 hrs    Stayed At: Home
Miles Traveled: 45.6      Total Miles:     Weather: Overcast with N wind, cool

First Things First: First time staying with a friend. First time washing clothes.

Mile to Mile: Today was a hard slog for several reasons it felt like I had the brakes on all day. First, I didn’t eat enough to give me the proper energy. Second, the route had me fighting serious cold headwinds at least half the day. Third, there were hills – lots of them – with few decent downhills as a reward. I had to pedal down some hills just to maintain momentum. It’s hard to enjoy the scenery when you’re just trying to get there.

I did meet another biker couple – Dave and Ann from the Pacific NW – early in the day. I looked up and they were out in front of me waiting on my side of the road. It’s such a rare event that most people make a special effort to connect. They are going cross country two weeks at a time supported by a friend driving a camper. If you want to do it, there is a way. They gave me some good trail info – take the gravel road out of New Salem (it’s beautiful) and the only restaurant in Richardton just closed. Good things to know.

My goal today was to get to the home of some friends from college of my daughter Sarah and her boy friend Jake – Rachael and Ryan – who lucky for me live in Bismark. It’s interesting to note that this is the biggest city I will go through – population 70,000 – until San Francisco. Crazy. I did not like the return to civilization though – at least riding through It. Lots of noise, traffic, trucks and impatient people. I survived but I will take the middle of no where any day.

It was a relief to finally get to Rachael and Ryan’s Spa and Resort fairly early in the afternoon. I can relax now. Oh wait…I have a few items on my to do list: write today’s blog, upload blogs x 8, upload pics, get adapter to upload pics, wash clothes, charge everything, shower, reorganize bags, plan tomorrow, plan next few days, check email, call Cindy, eat dinner, fix windscreen cook it, repack bags, buy groceries, check weather and sleep. With a lot of help from Rachael. She drove me around doing errands, let me use the washer dryer and even let me multitask while at dinner at Sickies Biker Bar (excellent dinner and lots of bikers – I’m sure I fit right in). Thanks for all the help and hospitality – it was fun to finally meet you.

I finally collapsed into a nice warm bed about 11:15 and didn’t wake up until 6:30 am when my phone beeped after receiving a text from Cindy. Thanks Dear, I was getting up anyway. Another day to remember on the road again.