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.