Saturday 8-11-07 Day 7- To Garrison 30 miles

Time: 2 hr 35 min Max Speed: 22.5 mph Ave. Speed: 11.6 mph

The stormy weather wasn't finished with us. About midnight a fierce windstorm came through and I had to keep my hands pushed against the sides of the tent to keep it upright. My little radio told me another front was headed our way again, so I tried to huddle down to get a few more hours of sleep. About 2 AM more wind arrived with some thunder this time. I saw Dave and Deb start running for a nearby machine shed, so I got out and joined them, noticing about half dozen collapsed tents along the way. We watched the trees bending in the wind for about a half hour, and then I decided I had to get back to my stuff. The wind had slowed a little and I think I must have fallen asleep for a short while, then was woken up again this time to rain. It was about the time we normally tear down to pack our luggage. But since it was the last morning, nobody seemed to care that our stuff would be packed wet.

After a breakfast at the legion hall again, we decided to hit the road. I was so tired and not really feeling up to riding again. I think I only slept a few hours total. Once we made the turn to head west, we were facing a strong headwind. There were so many frogs and salamanders all over the highway also. I was so glad I had made arrangements the night before to meet Randy at the second rest stop because I knew I was too tired to fight the wind all morning. I didn't even get my camera out once.

Randy pulled up to the rest stop on the edge of Max and of course didn't recognize me with my short hair. But it was nice to see him again and catch up. He drove around all his property and the fields were all ready to harvest and looking wonderful. He has a really nice farm and large nice home. But I think he was feeling a little lonely - all his kids had just left for college. He is so proud of them, and has a right to be. They sound like a great bunch. About noon he took me back to Ft. Stevenson to pick up my truck, then we ate lunch at the park with the other bikers and listened to the band. I think I missed Deb, Dave, Archie & Sheila so I didn't get my finish line picture.

But as usual, it was a great tour. I found my neighbor Greg who was ready to head home. He and I both had a difficult time staying awake, so we stopped to get some liquid caffeine in Washburn. I enjoyed listening to his biking stories - he has riden in every Candisc they have had - he says "EFY & EFM - every fricking year and every fricking mile" - he has never taken the sag wagon. We agreed to try and get out and go for a ride sometime before winter sets in.

Friday 8-10-07 Day 6 - To Butte 82.3 miles

Time: 5 hr 52 min Max Speed: 29 mph Ave. Speed: 14 mph Calories: 2430

Today was our "story" day, which every tour has, the day that is talked about on future tours when we all get back together. After listening to a medi-vac helicopter wake me in the early morning hours (there was a motorcycle/horse accident south of Rugby), we decided to tear down and get on the road. Dave & Deb were getting into a good routine of tearing down their tent and beat me and Sheila to the luggage truck. After a good breakfast at the school, we hit the road. We all expected it to be hot and humid all day, but within the first 10 miles we knew we were in for a good old fashioned thunderstorm. It rained pretty hard, but we couldn't find a good place to stop, so Sheila and I decided to just keep riding. We stopped once when there was a very close lightening strike and loud boom of thunder, but the farm place offered no shelter and it was looking like it was moving on. So we once again decided to keep riding. We noticed someone putting up signs for the first rest stop which was supposed to be 21½ miles into the route, but he was too far away from the road edge and we couldn't see what the sign said. Somehow we rode right past the covered wagon at the end of the driveway marking our turnoff. I think we were just concentrating on riding through the rainstorm we didn't pay attention to it. That is until we came to the top of a hill a few miles down the road and realized there wasn't a rest stop in site for miles. Not wanting to ride another 17½ miles to the next stop, we made the hard decision to turn around (it's always so very hard to go back on these tours).

It was a long driveway, and most of us left our bikes down near the highway, not wanting to ride on gravel (not good on those skinny tires)

Their home was so majestic looking up on the hill.

At least they did have some shelter from the rain, and great food.

But the Leier Buffalo Ranch stop was worth it. After a long walk down a gravel (yuk!) driveway we feasted on good buffalo burgers, bananas, bars and buffalo jerky. Met up with Greg (who ended up having 3 flat tires that day) and his bunch, also Brian and Rick. Sheila and I were riding without rain gear, and hoping to get through the storm front before too long. About halfway to the next stop, the sun did come out. But we could see a bank of clouds to the north of us and another on the southern horizon. So we knew eventually we would be riding in the rain again and just hoped we would make it to a town before that happened. We would have had we not stopped and tried to get a picture of some buffalo along the way.

The lone buffalo on the prairie, stayed far from the road and us crazy bikers.

Just before we arrived at the Annamoose Park Board rest stop (10 miles from Annamoose), the rain really let loose. By this time I was getting chilled and anxious to get some more calories and maybe a hot drink to warm me up. I attempted to quickly set my bike down on the wet grass (no kickstand), and it slipped, the chain ring caught my middle toe and sliced the toenail almost completely off, then I dropped the bike on my foot. At first I didn't even feel pain (probably because I was so cold), but then Sheila pointed at my foot and it was a bloody mess. The ladies running the rest stop made room inside their small shack for me and a medic to clean it up and get it bandaged - at least good enough to make it to Annamoose. I didn't even have any socks. At Annamoose, the only cafe was full to maximum capacity with cold bikers. But I think they were ready for us. I had a bowl of vegetable soup at a table with Al & Lisa, but couldn't eat much more, as the buffalo burger still filled me up. Sheila and I went looking for an ATM machine because I was running low on cash. In the bank they told us there was no ATM in this town, but they called ahead to the next town and said the Farmers Union Coop had one. The bank manager told us we could make it to that town and beat the storm, but then would have to wait it out there. So we found Dave and Deb and after much talk about going or staying, we decided once again to keep going. There were a number of bikers who, like us, couldn't resist the urge to keep riding. But halfway to Drake, we all got caught in the hailstorm. I think Dave and Deb pulled off to a farm somewhere, but Sheila kept riding and I had trouble keeping up with her, the fierce wind and gusting made it difficult for me to control my bike. I tried to yell and yell for her to stop, but she couldn't hear me. I was just about to stop on my own, but then she pulled over and we both made a run for a large hay bale in the ditch. I think for a few miles, each and every bale had a biker or two hugging it. Once the hail stopped, we decided we were already soaked, so might as well ride the 5 miles to Drake. When we pulled into the driveway of the Cenex, I noticed a couple pair of glasses that some bikers must have dropped in a mad rush to get out of the hail. Then we heard all this whistling and yelling. I tried to look up through the downpour and saw a bunch of bikers in the warehouse encouraging us to get inside. I must have looked like a sorry site. Immediately they ran to get a coat, blanket, some hot cocoa and put my bike away. When I finally stopped shaking, I dug out my camera and found it working (surprising since my bike bag was thoroughly soaked).

Many a biker waited out the rain in dreamland I guess.

Others traded road stories while waiting out the rain in the warehouse.

Then the clouds really opened up. We pulled in about 12:30 and were unable to leave until about 3 pm. It was almost raining steady that whole time. They probably loved it at the Cenex though as all we could do was spend money. There must have been about 50-100 of us there, although I'm not sure as I didn't leave my warm spot under the blanket for awhile. Sheila and I purchased a couple of 50 cent garbage bags to use as rain gear and hit the road. It was great to ride and feel warmth, but after 5 miles or so, the sun came out and quickly the garbage bags came off. We stopped at the next rest stop, Elaine's Garden (which I'd been to on a previous tour), caught up with Deb and Dave.

The entrance to Elaine's Gardens - everything is so clean & bright after the rain in the sunshine.

Some of the riders were stranded here also, now the blankets and towels are hung out to dry.

The rest of the ride into Butte was easy. As soon as I got into Butte, I asked some old gentleman in the shop where our luggage was unloaded about a nurse or first-aid station. After I set up my tent I made my way over there. Guess the word had spread about my toe, as they seemed to know all about me and were waiting for me to show up. She didn't want to remove the nail (unlike Brian who offered a number of times to pull it off after I'd downed a couple beers), but she did give me a bunch of bandages and creams and alcohol wipes to keep it from getting infected. The line was long at the portable showers, but the hot water felt so good. (One of the best feelings is a nice hot shower after a long bike ride) After a sit-down in my tent and careful bandaging of my toe, I made a promised phone call to a farmer friend, Randy, who lives in the area. He wanted to show me his farm but I explained I was too tired to do anything tonight, so we made arrangements to meet at the last rest stop tomorrow and I would not ride the last 18 miles of the tour, and instead go and visit his farm and fields and get caught up. I was so hungry and the supper the American Legion ladies put on was the best so far - like an old fashioned Sunday dinner complete with chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy, a great fresh cucumber zucchini salad, and a couple tables of various desserts.

I had to get a picture of our favorite sag wagon driver - Al is quite a story teller. He lost his wife since the last tour, but I think he really enjoys hanging around all of us every year.

After that meal we wandered over to listen to a family band sing gospel music.

Twin brothers of the Waddington Family band entertaining us.

But all the food and the relaxing shower caught up with me and I couldn't stay awake long enough to watch the bike olympics that Dave Jensen and his group organized. So I buried myself in my sleeping bag and zoned out. What a day - but I survived!

Thursday 8-9-07 Day 5 to Rugby 54.8 miles

Time: 3 hr 43 min Max Speed: 25.1 mph Ave. Speed: 14.7 mph

The weather and ride was really great today. Marian rode with me to the first rest stop and then decided she wanted to keep riding and not take a break. It was a little foggy until that first stop when the sun started peeking out.

A pink sunrise through the fog.

This first rest stop what just a small one on the corner 16 miles into the day - but good pb&j!

I rode most of the way to the second rest stop with her friend Kathy and it was nice chatting with her. Her husband was waiting for her at the next stop, but they decided not to take the shuttle into the museum and go on ahead. I got on the shuttle bus to discover Marian and Dave waiting to get to the museum also. While wandering around the Hawk Museum site, I ran into Brian and Rick (Alexandria MN) again. This is Brian's old stomping grounds and it was interesting listening to stories of him as a youngster going into some of the old buildings and stores when they were still in use.

This is the original windmill with the original homestead next to it - how strange to see a tree grow up inside of the windmill.

Here is the general store that Brian remembered visiting as a boy when there still was a town called Nanson.

This place had a little bit of everything but not more than you would need.

Another building held this small collection of old bikes - even spotted one made by John Deere!

This has to be about the spookiest family of horses I've ever seen.

Replica of a local lawyer's office

In another building called the clock house you could find an example of every type of time piece, even the kind made entirely out of writing pieces - pens & pencils. (Sometimes people get a little obsessed with their collections?!)

The teacher in Dave couldn't resist shaking that finger at us!

I again took a lot of pictures until I found Sheila, Deb and Dave. We four got back on the road together and made very good time on the ride to Rugby. We all fell in love with a cute little chihuahua dog at the last rest stop.

The ladies at the next rest stop at Wolford found a creative to show how to raise money for cancer with old vacuum cleaners.

This little guy got a lot of lovin' as a lot of riders are also dog lovers and most miss their pooches. So he got a scratch on the tummy and behind the ears from us all.

Once we arrived and made our way to the park, we set up our tents by the showers. After cleaning up, Sheila and I caught a shuttle bus up to a cute little 1950's retro cafe. We were both pretty hungry and the food was good. It was kind of crowded with bikers also. Dave and Deb lived in Rugby early in their marriage, so they were visiting old homes and friends.

This monument is Rugby's main 'claim to fame' as they are the geographic center of America.

Sheila and I walked around the downtown area a bit and then hoofed it back to the park in the late afternoon summer sun, and quickly caught another shuttle bus to the laundry out on the edge of town. After I loaded up a machine with sweaty wet clothes, we walked across the highway to a cute little gift shop/bakery. They had a wonderful selection of pies so I had to go over and have a huge piece of cran-cherry pie. So good. The manager of the laundry told me later she makes her crust with real lard.

Here are the pickers - the man on the bass fiddle is granpa to the banjo picker.

When we got back to the park, I was too full to eat supper, so I sat with Brian and Rick for awhile and did the 'people-watching' thing we always do on Candisc. Later I got some free ice cream and listened to the blue grass band in from Fargo I think.

I took this last photo just before sunset from my tent on the edge of the park. I couldn't hear these two girls, but just watching them giggle and jump up and down and give each other their own special sign language, it seemed obvious one of them was talking to their first boyfriend. It was so cute and a perfect ending to a great summer day.

I got so sleepy I had to get back into my tent and lay down for the evening. I was woken up twice in the night to thunder and helicopters. But was able to fall asleep again right away after moving my bike under the shelter and out of the way of rain-which didn't last long.

Wednesday 8-8-07 Day 4 - To Rolla 51.6 miles

Time: 4 hr 9 min Max Speed: 29 mph Ave Speed: 12.4 Calories: 1721

I left late from the state park with Marian because the Peace Gardens open late and it only 20 miles from the park camp ground. We ate at the dining hall and then made great time to the park - Marian really rides fast but again, with my new bike I was able to keep up with her. She decided she didn't want to stay long at the park as she had just been to visit it the previous summer. But I knew I wanted to stay and explore and take a lot of pictures of all the beautiful flowers. But first I sat down at the little cafe with Brian & Rick and had a big beautiful caramel roll and some tea.

This was their 75th anniversary, and they almost had to have it without flowers due to a number of early summer flooding and hailstorms. But a number of volunteers came together one week and replanted almost everything. As a result, the blooms we got to see would normally be in full color in mid-July, so it was a lucky thing for candisc riders.

This girl was riding the tour with her dad but told me later she couldn't resist the relaxing sounds of all the fountains and the warm sunshine.

It may be difficult to see on this picture, but directly behind the monument you can see the border between nations on to the horizon. It is cleared of all brush and trees. The fountains and water mark the border between the nations in the park.

The park is just wonderful and I found ideas for flowers to try and plant in the flower bed I want to develop in my own backyard. Had to replace the batteries in my camera I was using it so much. I was thankful the sun stayed out all morning making the light much better. (I'll post some of the best the flower photos at the bottom of this day's log.)

Here are Dave and Deb getting ready to pose for a picture.

We got Dick Messerly (tour organizer) to take a pic of all of us - Me-Sheila-Deb-Dave

I'm right on the border

I found Dave, Deb & Sheila about 10:30 or so and we did some exploring together on the park's bike trails, and posed for pictures on the border. We got out of the park and through customs together about 1 PM and headed east.

Here is the only 4-H sponsored rest stop I remember on this tour, a welcome site as the rain chilled the air. We spent so much time at the gardens, that we were almost the last ones to arrive and they were beginning to tear down.

There was a strong south wind on the way back to the highway. The sky clouded over and we had drops of rain off and on all the way to Rolla, but about a half mile before we got to town a huge gust almost blew a number of us across the road. I was delighted and surprised to see Archie at the campground with our bags all lined up and ready to unpack. Either he is sweet on us or he was getting bored! He helped set up all our tents too. I showered right away in the portable showers and then walked uptown looking for a gift for Cindy - my dog sitter.

I'd been trying all week to get a pic of this bike - 3 seater. This family always had matching jerseys or jackets. But they usually were so quick on the bike I couldn't catch them.

I wandered around an old Victorian house full of gifts and antiques and old clothes, but couldn't find anything that would pack well in my bags. Did have a nice chat with the owner as he explained how they did all the decorative painting on the walls inside. When I got back to my tent I realized I had set up right next to Marian's tent without realizing it. She was playing cards with a group of riders from Bismarck under the picnic shelter. I decided to call Cindy and check on Sam & Rowdy. She informed me they had a large thunderstorm that morning that really shook up Rowdy. On her lunch hour she found him hiding in the utility room by the furnace and wouldn't come out. She had to carry him outside to do his "business". But she reassured me he seemed to have settled down by the time she left. As usual Sam wasn't shook up at all. Sheila, Deb and I decided to walk around the town a bit before supper. After a nice supper of tacos, we listened to a tribal elder Daniel Jerome play different homemade flutes. I went up and bought one of his books for Dad and a CD. Kind of a chilly evening, but I did sleep well.

Here is my annual picture of Rory (the tour's bike mechanic) and all his "groupies". Usually every evening the chairs are filled around his truck and you can hear some "whoppers" about that last hill, wind gust, rain storm, etc. He is pretty popular and a great mechanic. This scene always kind of reminds me of Floyds Barber Shop in Mayberry.

As I wrapped up in my sleeping bag I had nice memories of canoeing with Steve and all the dogs and anticipating a good ride to Rugby the next day.

Of all the flowers, I think this tiny little purple was my favorite - don't know what kind it is but reminded me of little fairies.