DAY Fourty-One Callaway MN to Park Rapids 75km [should be]
Sept 19 Wed D85.84 km M 38.8 A 16.2 PT 5h17 RT 8h total 3335.9 km
Wind Out of the cold north…. Not too strong. Gone by the pm
Temp 8C all morning, clear skys by Osage and 18C
Road Condition Great until we entered the Wildlife Refuge and at the Visitors center km23 became gravel until km40
Accommodation: Clean nice spot a little out of town. The owners are away so a fellow we met in town said just set up. We had a Kelly Kettle meal and early to bed.
Food: Breakfast at a Pub owned by the little hamlet of Callaway…. Coffee is free and we brought our own brekkie.
Lunch picnic in the ditch
Supper rice noodles and sands
Overall Saw deer, buffalo, CND geese, lots of ducks, wet lands and gravel in the wildlife refuge. Road wasn’t too bad as no traffic. Minnesota seems to have poorer soil, more hills and trees than North Dakota. Harvesting potatoes. The trucks were driving really fast to Park Rapids back and forth to the fields. They make Potato chips here! Was a bit longer in the saddle due to the gravel, but really quite scenic with all the little lakes. Ended up touring around town looking for a RV park that turned out to be long stay only. The information here was not too informative for the site we are at due to them not being Chamber members!
Thursday, September 20, 2007
DAY Fourty Fargo to Callaway MN 84km
DAY Fourty Fargo to Callaway MN 84km [should be]
Sept 18 TuesD 104 km M 32.2 with wind A 17[13 into wind] PT6 h RT 8.5h total 3250 km
Wind I don’t want to talk about wind anymore!! Head winds++ Detours into the wind!
Temp warm of course in the hotel this morning, but stayed cool all day
Road Condition good until we headed on the detour 11km off course into the north wind! With no shoulder and mega traffic!! Fast trucks, lots of traffic , but all moved over or slowed down
Accommodation: very basic camping tonight at Callaway City park [free] with portapotti and we are in the shelter with our tent. Pop. 200… I think they fudged that! Not many houses in town and no grocery store, just a garage with a few items. Nice people offering us advice on roads etc.
Food: Breakfast We hadn’t anticipated breakfast for the first time and Ken went to the hospital across the street and got apples and muffins from the cafeteria. Good idea!
Lunch Fenton café was as usual a greasy spoon, but it filled the stomach and I think I burned it off in the pm
Supper We used the Kelly kettle for the first time in days and had a great noodle supper with buns
Overall What a day! Got a surprise when we hit the detour signs and had to add 22km to the days route. I hadn’t slept all that well. Never do in a hotel. Had I noted it was the cleanest hotel I have been in in years! Beds a little soft for my liking… compared to a 1” thermarest! Started off and in minutes we were out of North Dakota… I didn’t get a flag pin! Oh I hope I can get one via email ! Into Minnesota and into headwinds right off! Not a good start George! Then turned east and side winds a bit better. @ 36km hit the detour and that was not good. Headed North into the wind for 11km to Fenton. Nice people in the restaurant, with the usual greasy fair, but well presented. We headed east with a side wind 18k to Ulen where they have a great store with okay stuff. Didn’t check if they have camping as we still had a little energy to go one. The owner of the grocery suggested we continue on 10k on 34[16] to save milage and head south on ~11k on 7 then resume to Callaway. It was a long haul, but we did it and got in before the sprinkling of rain…. Wonder where Derryl is? I don’t think I could travel in mid summer as I would worry about all the other cyclists we met and if they are safely into camps. I really felt last night that a day off in Fargo would have been a good idea and today half way to Fenton I really was wishing I had suggested it! Met a guy as we entered Callaway that said he had seen us along the way from Devils Lake, he really liked our reflective vests and wishes more cyclists wore them. 2100 and starting to rain…. Glad we pitched the tent under the shelter! There is no notice in this park that you can camp or not… wouldn’t know if we didn’t belong to Adventure Cycling… Frogs on road! Ken had to move the portapotti so the door could open… I think they figure camping is done for the year!
Sept 18 TuesD 104 km M 32.2 with wind A 17[13 into wind] PT6 h RT 8.5h total 3250 km
Wind I don’t want to talk about wind anymore!! Head winds++ Detours into the wind!
Temp warm of course in the hotel this morning, but stayed cool all day
Road Condition good until we headed on the detour 11km off course into the north wind! With no shoulder and mega traffic!! Fast trucks, lots of traffic , but all moved over or slowed down
Accommodation: very basic camping tonight at Callaway City park [free] with portapotti and we are in the shelter with our tent. Pop. 200… I think they fudged that! Not many houses in town and no grocery store, just a garage with a few items. Nice people offering us advice on roads etc.
Food: Breakfast We hadn’t anticipated breakfast for the first time and Ken went to the hospital across the street and got apples and muffins from the cafeteria. Good idea!
Lunch Fenton café was as usual a greasy spoon, but it filled the stomach and I think I burned it off in the pm
Supper We used the Kelly kettle for the first time in days and had a great noodle supper with buns
Overall What a day! Got a surprise when we hit the detour signs and had to add 22km to the days route. I hadn’t slept all that well. Never do in a hotel. Had I noted it was the cleanest hotel I have been in in years! Beds a little soft for my liking… compared to a 1” thermarest! Started off and in minutes we were out of North Dakota… I didn’t get a flag pin! Oh I hope I can get one via email ! Into Minnesota and into headwinds right off! Not a good start George! Then turned east and side winds a bit better. @ 36km hit the detour and that was not good. Headed North into the wind for 11km to Fenton. Nice people in the restaurant, with the usual greasy fair, but well presented. We headed east with a side wind 18k to Ulen where they have a great store with okay stuff. Didn’t check if they have camping as we still had a little energy to go one. The owner of the grocery suggested we continue on 10k on 34[16] to save milage and head south on ~11k on 7 then resume to Callaway. It was a long haul, but we did it and got in before the sprinkling of rain…. Wonder where Derryl is? I don’t think I could travel in mid summer as I would worry about all the other cyclists we met and if they are safely into camps. I really felt last night that a day off in Fargo would have been a good idea and today half way to Fenton I really was wishing I had suggested it! Met a guy as we entered Callaway that said he had seen us along the way from Devils Lake, he really liked our reflective vests and wishes more cyclists wore them. 2100 and starting to rain…. Glad we pitched the tent under the shelter! There is no notice in this park that you can camp or not… wouldn’t know if we didn’t belong to Adventure Cycling… Frogs on road! Ken had to move the portapotti so the door could open… I think they figure camping is done for the year!
DAY Thirty-Nine Hope to Fargo 110 km
DAY Thirty-Nine Hope to Fargo 110 km
Sept 17/07 Monday D 114.78 km M 44.5 A 17.4 PT 6.5h RT 9 h total 3145.8 km
Wind Light wind in the morning picked up by afternoon when we were going straight into it. None when it rained!
Temp 8C in tent in am Warm overnight. Another misty morning. Gone is our blue sky. Overcaste 20C and raining in the afternoon. Just drizzling.
Road Condition mostly good, but turned to gravel shoulder and Cement road.
Accommodation: Well it was raining and we were wet so decided a motel night in order. The SCANDIA HOTEL 717-4th st N Fargo is one of the cleanest I have ever been in Upscale or not. New rugs New Paint. Nice place Good price. $56 It is next to the hospital and used by persons visiting or having treatments. Could have contacted a warmshowers person but didn’t want to give such short notice. Derryl had met a guy in Cooperstown who invited him over in Fargo. Nice nice people here.
Food: Breakfast Ken had pancakes at the Ice crème shop
Lunch Arthur: picnic then tried a restaurant, but no pie, no deserts, no veggie stuff
Supper We had a great supper out with Derryl at Juano’s on Broadway. Great Mexican feed for 3 veggies!
Overall Well Derryl showed up as we were having breakfast. He had stayed in Cooperstown last night and got up at 6am to try to beat the wind today. We didn’t think we would meet up with him again as he is going on to Maine and we are heading south soon. The wind wasn’t as bad as yesterday but a long day in the saddle. The afternoon passed quickly with Derryl along too.
Sept 17/07 Monday D 114.78 km M 44.5 A 17.4 PT 6.5h RT 9 h total 3145.8 km
Wind Light wind in the morning picked up by afternoon when we were going straight into it. None when it rained!
Temp 8C in tent in am Warm overnight. Another misty morning. Gone is our blue sky. Overcaste 20C and raining in the afternoon. Just drizzling.
Road Condition mostly good, but turned to gravel shoulder and Cement road.
Accommodation: Well it was raining and we were wet so decided a motel night in order. The SCANDIA HOTEL 717-4th st N Fargo is one of the cleanest I have ever been in Upscale or not. New rugs New Paint. Nice place Good price. $56 It is next to the hospital and used by persons visiting or having treatments. Could have contacted a warmshowers person but didn’t want to give such short notice. Derryl had met a guy in Cooperstown who invited him over in Fargo. Nice nice people here.
Food: Breakfast Ken had pancakes at the Ice crème shop
Lunch Arthur: picnic then tried a restaurant, but no pie, no deserts, no veggie stuff
Supper We had a great supper out with Derryl at Juano’s on Broadway. Great Mexican feed for 3 veggies!
Overall Well Derryl showed up as we were having breakfast. He had stayed in Cooperstown last night and got up at 6am to try to beat the wind today. We didn’t think we would meet up with him again as he is going on to Maine and we are heading south soon. The wind wasn’t as bad as yesterday but a long day in the saddle. The afternoon passed quickly with Derryl along too.
DAY Thirty-Eight Pekin to Hope 98 km
DAY Thirty-Eight Pekin to Hope 98 km
Sept 16/07 Sunday D 103.18km M 39 A 14.6 PT 7h RT8.5 h total 3031 km
Wind South wind and guess what way we were mostly going…. SOUTH!! And otherwise east with a cross wind
Temp 5C in tent in am 0C up to 22C by 11am Not a cloud in the sky!
Road Condition mostly good, but turned to gravel shoulder 200 west of Cooperstown
Accommodation: Well surprise surprise the campground /city park in Hope has no bathrooms open so we are beside the railway track and an ice cream shop for the night … no motels in this town. So much for plans
Food: Breakfast same old same old
Lunch Binford Picnic lunch in their camp ground…. Very nice with showers and small cabins to rent
Supper Salad and sands then ice cream dessert
Overall UP to FOG ++ Canada Geese flying north instead of south! Very hard day into the wind. Hope a nice clean looking town with a camp spot by the pool. Only concern is the pool is closed and the washrooms have the water turned off. Need to have a site where the campgrounds are rated. I think I will start one with biker concerns.
Sept 16/07 Sunday D 103.18km M 39 A 14.6 PT 7h RT8.5 h total 3031 km
Wind South wind and guess what way we were mostly going…. SOUTH!! And otherwise east with a cross wind
Temp 5C in tent in am 0C up to 22C by 11am Not a cloud in the sky!
Road Condition mostly good, but turned to gravel shoulder 200 west of Cooperstown
Accommodation: Well surprise surprise the campground /city park in Hope has no bathrooms open so we are beside the railway track and an ice cream shop for the night … no motels in this town. So much for plans
Food: Breakfast same old same old
Lunch Binford Picnic lunch in their camp ground…. Very nice with showers and small cabins to rent
Supper Salad and sands then ice cream dessert
Overall UP to FOG ++ Canada Geese flying north instead of south! Very hard day into the wind. Hope a nice clean looking town with a camp spot by the pool. Only concern is the pool is closed and the washrooms have the water turned off. Need to have a site where the campgrounds are rated. I think I will start one with biker concerns.
DAY Thirty-Seven Devils Lake to Pekin 88 km
DAY Thirty-Seven Devils Lake to Pekin 88 km
Sept 15/07 Saturday D 88.74km M 30.1 A 15.2 PT 5.5h RT7 h total 2927.8 km
Wind out of the south and we are going east s side wind. We now turned south to Pekin! Straight into 25m/h wind.
Temp 8C in tent in am You know it’s getting cold when RV Antifreeze is on sale and snowmobiles are on sale
Road Condition Snakes on road “live”; skunks, raccoons and deer “dead”
Accommodation:
Food: Breakfast same old same old
Lunch Café in Lakota…. “SIT Long-Talk Much-Laugh Often” Not great When will I learn!
Supper Corn on cob…Yum and Veggie burgers
Overall Corn fields, soyabeans, potatoes harvesting; Last part of day worst Great to meet Donna and Allen on their farm. She is a postal worker and he is a retired teacher-school administrator. They have retired as farmers and the government pays them not to work the land. I’m not really sure why … if it is to save the land for future generations or what, but it is sort of a agricultural reserve. Nice to just sit and visit and of course the showers were wonderful! She likes ‘bears’ too.
Sept 15/07 Saturday D 88.74km M 30.1 A 15.2 PT 5.5h RT7 h total 2927.8 km
Wind out of the south and we are going east s side wind. We now turned south to Pekin! Straight into 25m/h wind.
Temp 8C in tent in am You know it’s getting cold when RV Antifreeze is on sale and snowmobiles are on sale
Road Condition Snakes on road “live”; skunks, raccoons and deer “dead”
Accommodation:
Food: Breakfast same old same old
Lunch Café in Lakota…. “SIT Long-Talk Much-Laugh Often” Not great When will I learn!
Supper Corn on cob…Yum and Veggie burgers
Overall Corn fields, soyabeans, potatoes harvesting; Last part of day worst Great to meet Donna and Allen on their farm. She is a postal worker and he is a retired teacher-school administrator. They have retired as farmers and the government pays them not to work the land. I’m not really sure why … if it is to save the land for future generations or what, but it is sort of a agricultural reserve. Nice to just sit and visit and of course the showers were wonderful! She likes ‘bears’ too.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Sept 14/07 Devils Lake
DAY Thirty-Six Rugby ND to Devils Lake 97 km
Sept 14/07 Friday D105.06 km M 36 A 20.4 PT 5 h 24 RT 6.5h total2839.1 km
Wind slight from the rear
Temp -5C overnight Now that’s cold -2C in tent! Sunny all day but finally got up to +8 by noon
Road Conditions: cement road with blump blump shoulder variable from gravel to wide paved
Accommodations: well we just went into the Tourist Info on the chance there would be a campsite in town and found out the state park we were headed for had been closed for 5 years! Oops so the lady in the office said their Bible Camp takes cyclist camping so off we went another 10km to I think a Lutheran Bible camp… very nice like Naramata
FOOD Breakfast: usual fruit in the Cenex cafe
Lunch: City Park in Leeds Picnic as usual
Supper Couscous with black beans, romain salad cheese and crackers
Overall really good day slightly up hill with the wind at our backs. We stayed on Hwy 2 instead of going on Adventure Cycle route as shorter and there is no traffic on this divided hiway anyways. Interesting Camp. I’m not sure what denomination the Bible camp is as no signs. Seems set up like Naramata’s United Church camp with numerous buildings that were motels, homes etc and they have retreats etc. They have a serviced campsite and a rustic spot too. Knowone is in the camp spot tonight. There is a retreat on which looks like it is for teenage girls.
We met a cyclist from Brooklin NY [Steve Slovacek] going west today. He was young so not having too much trouble. He had stayed an extra day in Devils Lake yesterday due to the wind. Has a Trek touring 520 also.
Don’t expect it to be so cold tonight.
I picked up a “cross” that Rev Carol Cruise from Canton OH left. She is walking the circumferance of USA and wants you to pick up her crosses and send them south… I carried it 100km and gave it on with her wishes to the girl in the office here.
Sept 14/07 Friday D105.06 km M 36 A 20.4 PT 5 h 24 RT 6.5h total2839.1 km
Wind slight from the rear
Temp -5C overnight Now that’s cold -2C in tent! Sunny all day but finally got up to +8 by noon
Road Conditions: cement road with blump blump shoulder variable from gravel to wide paved
Accommodations: well we just went into the Tourist Info on the chance there would be a campsite in town and found out the state park we were headed for had been closed for 5 years! Oops so the lady in the office said their Bible Camp takes cyclist camping so off we went another 10km to I think a Lutheran Bible camp… very nice like Naramata
FOOD Breakfast: usual fruit in the Cenex cafe
Lunch: City Park in Leeds Picnic as usual
Supper Couscous with black beans, romain salad cheese and crackers
Overall really good day slightly up hill with the wind at our backs. We stayed on Hwy 2 instead of going on Adventure Cycle route as shorter and there is no traffic on this divided hiway anyways. Interesting Camp. I’m not sure what denomination the Bible camp is as no signs. Seems set up like Naramata’s United Church camp with numerous buildings that were motels, homes etc and they have retreats etc. They have a serviced campsite and a rustic spot too. Knowone is in the camp spot tonight. There is a retreat on which looks like it is for teenage girls.
We met a cyclist from Brooklin NY [Steve Slovacek] going west today. He was young so not having too much trouble. He had stayed an extra day in Devils Lake yesterday due to the wind. Has a Trek touring 520 also.
Don’t expect it to be so cold tonight.
I picked up a “cross” that Rev Carol Cruise from Canton OH left. She is walking the circumferance of USA and wants you to pick up her crosses and send them south… I carried it 100km and gave it on with her wishes to the girl in the office here.
Sept 13 Thur 35 days from home!
DAY Thirty-Five Minot ND to Rugby ND 105km
Sept 13/07 Thursday D 105.08km M39.5 A 25 PT4 h24 RT 5h total 2733.6 km
Wind Howling when we got up, Incredible wind from the north west all day When the road swung to the north I could hardly keep my bike up
Temp Blankets were great 10C in tent 5C outside! High today was 8C bloody cold! & windy[no complaints there] Expecting freezing temperatures tonight.. presently 10C in tent at 2000h…. will see. Ken got mittens! And a toque!
Road Conditions: rough gravel shoulder Quiet road , divided hiway all the way so we just took a lane. About 55km got a better shoulder. Everyone just moved over.
Accommodations: Cann’t say enough about Swenson’s Valley View RV Pk 1 800 735-5846 www.swensonrv.com tonight at Oakwood Inn and CG 601 Hwy 2SW Rugby, ND 701 776-5272 Nice grassy spot… cann’t do anything about the wind. Has laundry, internet free, microwave and tv spot. Looks like a clean motel too. $8 to camp
FOOD Breakfast: usual fruit
Lunch: Towner… was to be our destination, but the wind blew us so fast we came on to Rugby. Had our sandwiches in a Cenex station that has tables inside and hot food for sale… we made our own sandwiches and had hot drinks… they didn’t seem to mind at all.
Supper we found some boil in a bag rice bean meal and had veggie burgers all microwaved Worked but not fancy
Overall We pedaled off without Derryl our companion as he had some things yet to do in the big city. We left with the wind at our backs and arrived in Rugby same, but had a few “snakes “ of the road which caused us to turn north into the wind. Wonderful when the wind was at our backs… note the Average speed of 25!
Reached Gainville looking for a café and got taken in by the electric company guys having a meeting. Ken got coffee and we got out of the wind for a few minutes. They are just investigating wind energy usage… it is always windy here so makes sense. Seeing ++ fields of corn.. starting the harvest. Surprised us to see they don’t pick the cobs, just mulch it all up. Saw a beautiful deer down by the Mouse river… couldn’t smell us so thought we couldn’t see it!
Sept 13/07 Thursday D 105.08km M39.5 A 25 PT4 h24 RT 5h total 2733.6 km
Wind Howling when we got up, Incredible wind from the north west all day When the road swung to the north I could hardly keep my bike up
Temp Blankets were great 10C in tent 5C outside! High today was 8C bloody cold! & windy[no complaints there] Expecting freezing temperatures tonight.. presently 10C in tent at 2000h…. will see. Ken got mittens! And a toque!
Road Conditions: rough gravel shoulder Quiet road , divided hiway all the way so we just took a lane. About 55km got a better shoulder. Everyone just moved over.
Accommodations: Cann’t say enough about Swenson’s Valley View RV Pk 1 800 735-5846 www.swensonrv.com tonight at Oakwood Inn and CG 601 Hwy 2SW Rugby, ND 701 776-5272 Nice grassy spot… cann’t do anything about the wind. Has laundry, internet free, microwave and tv spot. Looks like a clean motel too. $8 to camp
FOOD Breakfast: usual fruit
Lunch: Towner… was to be our destination, but the wind blew us so fast we came on to Rugby. Had our sandwiches in a Cenex station that has tables inside and hot food for sale… we made our own sandwiches and had hot drinks… they didn’t seem to mind at all.
Supper we found some boil in a bag rice bean meal and had veggie burgers all microwaved Worked but not fancy
Overall We pedaled off without Derryl our companion as he had some things yet to do in the big city. We left with the wind at our backs and arrived in Rugby same, but had a few “snakes “ of the road which caused us to turn north into the wind. Wonderful when the wind was at our backs… note the Average speed of 25!
Reached Gainville looking for a café and got taken in by the electric company guys having a meeting. Ken got coffee and we got out of the wind for a few minutes. They are just investigating wind energy usage… it is always windy here so makes sense. Seeing ++ fields of corn.. starting the harvest. Surprised us to see they don’t pick the cobs, just mulch it all up. Saw a beautiful deer down by the Mouse river… couldn’t smell us so thought we couldn’t see it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
