Day 4 – Glendive, MT to Medora, ND

Distance 65.5

Total Distance 170.5

I feel like I say this every time I do a trip, but this blog tends to be the same, day after day.  Sorry about that.  A great day of riding.  I started the day riding the interstate.  It was the route that had to be taken due to no other roads, but I think in the past, I have only had to ride about 10 miles of interstate.  Today it was probably 25 miles all together.  It was some on and then off and then on again.  Tomorrow will be much the same.  There isn’t much traffic on the interstate, however. Mostly trucks.  I am amazed at how few cars there are.  When I was off the interstate, I was on a road that followed pretty much the same course.  There was no traffic on it.  I was probably passed by three cars all day.  It was so nice.

I went through some interesting towns today.  They were old and seemed to have a lot of history in them. I et some interesting people that were fun to talk to about the little towns.  Mostly they said it was hard keeping people there.  The young just have to move away to find work. We are in Medora, ND tonight which is a little town at the gates of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  I was hoping to get the ride done in time to go see the park, which we did do.  I didn’t think that the park was as impressive as most of the National Parks I have seen.  It was pretty, but much of the ride along the roads I traveled today looked the same. This park is the only National Park named after a person.  It is to display the badlands of North Dakota and Theodore Roosevelt actually came here to hunt bison and loved it so much he bought ranched in this area and spent a lot time here.

The scenery today was just wonderful.  I am really enjoying the beauty of this area. Yes, the wind was at my back again today.  My average speed was down to 15.2 (which was fun to ride).  I think tomorrow is going to be a wake up call for me.  The wind is supposed to be changing direction.

As I mentioned, we are in North Dakota tonight.  It was amazing to me how things changed from one state to the next.  It seemed the cattle ranches disappeared and dryer looking hills appeared.  I stopped for lunch today just after entering North Dakota and really was missing my past riding companions, Tim and Nancy.  It was always nice to know that they were there as we rode each day and to talk as we would eat lunch and see things. It feels a little different by myself.  It is good I have Lyle to meet up with.  Being completely alone would be kind of a bummer.

Some pictures of the ride today:

And of the Park:

And the moon tonight!!

Day 3 – Circle, MT to Glendive, MT

Distance 51

Total Distance 105

Another Great night.  It cooled down a bit more and made sleeping a bit better.  It was great to wake up and see the wind blowing from the Northwest.  Just like it was supposed to.  I did get a little earlier start since we didn’t have to travel, so breakfast was done and I was on the road at about 8:30.  All the climbing was in the first 20 miles or so and there was not much at that.  There was a decent wind ant my back and I again averaged 15.7 mph for the day. 

It was a different day for scenery.  It was just green rolling hills with cattle all over the place.  It was really pretty, however.  There is something about the landscape here that is quite unique.  The hills look like softer dirt and eroded with the rain and wind and it is just beautiful in its unique way.

As I mentioned, once I climbed all that needed climbing today, it was quite straight and slightly downhill.  When I was just right with the wind, I would easily move at 20 to 22 mph.  I don’t think that I have ever had as much distance with sustained speeds like that.  It was just fun to ride.  I am knocking on wood, because I know the day is coming that the wind will be just that much against me.

I think I rode for 25 miles with train grain cars parked along the road.  It was crazy.  They looked fairly new and all.  I don’t know if it seasonal, this Covid thing or the trade war.  Anyway, they just went on and on.

I was done riding slightly before 12:00 noon.  There really wasn’t anything to stop for along the way so the day went quite fast.  I spent the afternoon working.  That’s crazy, isn’t it?  This Covid thing has put me behind at work and I wasn’t caught up with everything when I left and still feel like I need to get a few things done while I am out here. It was a good afternoon of things.

Crossing the Yellowstone River.  Now just for pedestrians and cyclists.

Yellowstone River.  It looks to be quite high.

Lyle and I took off about 5 to visit Makoshika State Park.  It is a really cool place if you are ever around here.  There have been many dinosaur fossils found there and the formations and geology are fascinating.  It was well worth the $8 to get in and take a look.

The rock on the underside is a softer rock and wears away more quickly, with the harder rocks resting on the tops.  It is crazy looking.  It looks as though people laid those rocks on top.

We went out to a local café that was close.  They were actually allowing sit down seating, which was nice.  Tables were spaced well and you had to ask for everything.  No salt & pepper etc at the tables.  Had chicken fried steak and it was delicious.  Too full now.

Hope you are all well!!

Day 2 - Wolf Point, MT to Circle, MT

Mileage 54

Climb 1198 ft

Actually, the above was done in reverse.

We had a good night.  There were plenty of trains that came through Miles City last night.  I was up at 4:30 for a bit and couldn’t go back to sleep, but finally went back and woke at 7:30. I was kind of surprised I slept in that late. Lyle even slept in further.  I just tried to do a little Sunday study and when he awoke had breakfast of oatmeal.  We needed to travel about 150 miles more to Wolf Point. In traveling there, we went through Circle, Montana, the place we were to spend the night tonight.  The wind was blowing pretty strong from the south, so I thought, “Why don’t I ride north to Wolf Point instead of south to here”, so that is what I did.  I guess it was cheating in a way, but it sure worked out well. I gave Lyle a call about 20 miles out of Wolf Point and he left Circle to come get me.  He passed me probably 30 minutes before I got there.  The road had a pretty narrow shoulder, and there were rumble strips right down the white line.  That at most times forced me to ride out in the road.  I kept a good look out for cars and when they came dodged over to the shoulder.  It did keep me paying attention. There were acres and acres of dry farm grain fields that I passed through and many rolling hills.

The weather was beautiful today if not just a bit hot.  It got to 90 degrees and as I mentioned the wind was blowing pretty hard from the South which just helped me. 

We drove back the 54 miles and cleaned up and made hamburger helper and green beans for dinner. Currently the wind has taken a turn for the worst.  It is current blowing quite a bit of dirt out there.  Hope the RV holds together.  Winds are supposed to change from blowing out of the west for tomorrow.  Here is hoping that holds true. 😉

Circle is a real small town. The campground doesn’t even have someone around to collect the money and there is not a tree on the place.  It is just honor system, but it does have electricity and water, so that will work.

An old school or church I passed along the way.

This is what the wind helps you to do !!

Went through a tiny little town that was supposed to have nothing.  Enjoyed a chocolate milk from here. 😊

Missouri River

Day 1 - Driving from Burley to Miles City, MT

Well, another start to a trip.  Many of you know that I have a great desire to ride a bicycle all the way across the United States or North America.  I got a good start last year as Tim, Nancy and I rode from Minneapolis to Portland, Maine. This year I am trying to connect a few dots.  I only have a bit over two weeks, so I have planned a route from eastern Montana, across North Dakota and Minnesota to a road close to Minneapolis that I rode last year.  I couldn’t get anyone to come with me, so I asked a neighbor of mine, Lyle, to follow me in the motorhome which he was happy to do.  So, here we are. We each drove about half the distance, had lunch in West Yellowstone and because of Covid-19 had to order curbside at McDonald and had chili and cheese for dinner.

We left at 8:00 this morning and drove 615 miles to Miles City, Montana.  We have about 150 more miles tomorrow to the starting point.  It was a beautiful drive today.  Everything is just so green.  I was talking with my brother Mark before I left and he said that he had driven his truck across this route many times. He said that every time he did, the wind was blowing as a headwind, whether he was going east or west, it was always a headwind.  So far that prediction has been true.  The wind was just howling from the south as we drove west.  If it is like that as I ride, it will be some tough days.

This is kind of a cool looking city.  We will have to check it out tomorrow.

The motor home and the bike!!

Day 45 & 46 – Standish, ME – 10/03/19 & 10/04/19

Today’s Miles: 0

Total: 2,002

It was a night of not thinking about getting up and riding.  We have had them before, but we always knew that the next day we would be back in the saddle.  Dave made us a nice breakfast this morning of pancakes and eggs and then the day of getting ready to go home began.

We spent the morning taking apart bicycles and putting them in boxes.  The boxes that Dave picked up were just a little small, so we had to take the bike apart a bit more that anticipated.  It all fit in the end and now just hope they arrive home with do dents or damage.  We all used bikeflights for the return shipping and UPS should be there today (Friday) to pick them up.

I should mention why we stopped riding in Standish and not ride to the coast in Maine.  First of all, we were all tired of riding, second, the weather hasn’t been great and lastly and most importantly, we have already ridden it.  Back in 2011, when we were riding the Atlantic Coast trip, we started in Bar Harbor, Maine, which is right on the Atlantic.  We ended up riding from there right past the school in which Kathy taught.  To connect the two points, we rode that same road again connecting us to the Atlantic.

After packing, we took a ride with Kathy & Dave to Portland, Maine and also Kennebunkport, ME. We saw a few sights and many nice homes.  We ended the day having dinner in Kennebunkport.  I had to have a lobster while in Maine.  I think it was the first real lobster that I’ve ever eaten and was happy that Kathy was there to instruct me on how to proceed.  It was good and I had a bowl of clam chowder and fries to accompany it.

This morning (4^th) we just got up, had some breakfast and Dave took us all to the airport in Portland.  I am flying home and Tim and Nancy are renting a car and going to Boston to visit family before returning.

It has been a wonderful experience.  I can’t say that I haven’t been homesick, aggravated, hot & sweaty, and tired.  But, I am so happy I came.  I have met some wonderful people along the way, seen some beautiful country and enjoyed being with some great friends.  Tim & Nancy are wonderful traveling companions and I feel so grateful and fortunate to know them.  My sweetheart Carey is so supportive of me doing these trips.  I thank her and love her so much.  I have wonderful family and friends that support me along the way.  Thank you.  I am grateful to my Heavenly Father, who has watched over us and kept us safe and created such a wonderful world. I love Him.

Until next time??

The Atlantic!!

Excited or what?

Final of us three with the boxes. Thanks Tim & Nancy for a great trip.

Day 44 – Conway, NH to Standish, ME – 10/02/19

Today’s Miles: 43

Total: 2,002

It ended up being a nice night in the hostel.  As hostels go, this was a pretty nice one.  We had a pretty private room (one extra man) and it had air conditioning and we were able to keep the room pretty nice for sleeping.  It rained again during the night, so again, grateful for the inside shelter.

Well today was the last State and the last riding day.  It was kind of a surreal feeling as we rode the route today.  I think I savored each mile and even each hill.

It was a day of just following Dave.  It reminded me much of the day following Jim in Ontario.  Didn’t really know where we were at hoping I didn’t get separated because I had no idea where we were going.  It was overcast for the day again and the scenery was passed up pretty quickly.  It seems when we have someone who is leading us, we don’t stop.  We just work on keeping up with them. We stopped along this nice river and had a lunch of bagels, cheese & chips.

Lunch break.

We arrived at Dave and Kathy’s home and that was the end of riding.  Even though I have been looking forward to this day the last little bit, I felt somewhat at a loss. It just has been something I have looked forward to for awhile and seems disconcerting to be done.

We unloaded and cleaned up and then went to dinner with Kathy & Dave at the restaurant that Kathy works part time at as a waitress (She is a full time teacher).  It was a nice meal.  I wanted clam chowder again and ordered a hamburger and had too much food to finish.  Kind of foolish to order that much.

It has been nice being with Dave again.  I mentioned this before, but he was our tour leader 8 years ago going down the Atlantic Coast.  He is a great rider and has so much experience, it has been enjoyable to talk with him about some of his other trips he has taken (Dave and Kathy took a year long tour around the perimeter of the US) and have him tell us about some of the tools and software he uses.

This is the only sign we saw.  Maine!! Last State.

Dave and the old group.

Day 43 – North Woodstock, NH to Conway, NH – 10/01/19

Today’s Miles: 38

Total: 1,959

We have been really lucking out with getting motels or cabins on the right days.  Last night, in the middle of the night, it really rained. In fact, when we got up it was very cloudy still but did not rain on us all day.  It was a cool day and we ended up riding in some fog, but didn’t see much of the sun.

We had to go get some breakfast before we took off and after 3 or so miles of downhill, we had to climb the highest mountain of the trip.  It is called the Kancamagus Notch.  It was a 2,500 foot climb. I was really worried about it, but it was engineered very well.  It was probably a 6% grade all the way up.  That makes it so it does take time, but you can move at 5 or 6 mph and it doesn’t kill you to do so.  It took probably 2.5 hours to climb which included a couple 10 minute rest stops.  I was very relieved it turned out so well.

View from on top. 😒

 Our group.  Dave is the one on the left.  We will end the tour at his house in Maine.

There were clouds hanging around the mountain all the way up and most of the way down.  We were a little disappointed about that.  When we got to the top, we were hoping to have a great view of everything around, but all we saw was fog.

Coming down the other side, we were rewarded with some great views of the trees and mountains.  I will include some pictures, but it really doesn’t show the colors like you see them in person.  There are a lot of what they call “peepers” out today.  They are the tourists looking at the fall colors.  Lots of cars and buses of people today.

Some beautiful sights, right?

We are in Conway, NH tonight staying at a hostel.  This is the first hostel experience of the trip. We are lucky enough that we only have one more in the room than the four of us. It is a nice clean place as far as hostels go.  We had a nice Mexican dinner tonight and it is supposed to rain again tonight, so we are lucky to be inside.  In fact, since we will be at Dave’s house tomorrow, our camping days are done.