Today we rode 71 miles to Malta, MN, past Saco, ostensibly the mosquito capital of the world.  The rode was flat but busy, with often just a ribbon of shoulder as cars and trucks went by at more than 100 mph (this is Montana).  We have 3 more days of this  before we hit Glacier National Park, where there is actually a reason to be there.  The wind was 20 mph directly into my face, making today far more effortful than the 105 miles a couple of days ago.  Tomorrow is 90 miles;  if the winds are similar it will be quite a struggle.  The land is mostly grassland with some farms;  for some reason there are dinosaur museums in every small town we go through.  Given the effort of the day,  I didn’t have the energy to go in any of them today.

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Yesterday we biked from Glendive to Wolf Point, Montana on the Fort Peck Indian reservation. It was 105 miles; my longest ride yet. The winds made it fairly easy however. Today was a mere 56 miles, but we had strong headwinds and we were on a main truck route with a tiny shoulder making for fairly hair-raising bike riding.

Last night was the finale for the wolf point wild horse stampede, one of the oldest rodeos in the country. Lots of cowboys jumping on steers and tying them up. There was a fair amount of bucking horses and Cowboys trying to stay on top. I learned that the way horses are made to buck is by tying their hind legs together so they can’t walk or gallup but only jump; pretty barbaric. It was an interesting experience but probably not one that I will repeat.

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Today we biked out of Medra and into Montana. The first part of the ride was beautiful; the Badlands slowly faded into rolling farmland. I was on the lookout for Buffalo but only saw cows. We are staying in a town called Glendive. This is an area where many dinosaur fossils are found. There is a dinosaur Museum which, interestingly enough, is entirely based on creationism. Evidently, Noah had dinosaurs on the ark. Who knew?

Tomorrow is 105 miles straight north. It’s supposed to be one of the hardest days of the ride; we’ll see.

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Today we rode 86 miles from Hebron to Medora, North Dakota. The last 30 miles were through the North Dakota Badlands which is home to the Teddy Roosevelt National Park. This is where Roosevelt came after his mother and wife died on the same day, Valentine’s Day. He had decided to leave the East Coast permanently and make his home in the West, but felt rejuvenated by his stay here and decided to move back east, I believe in 1883. I think that the national park is the only one in the US named for an individual.

The door is also home to the Medora musical, an incredibly schmaltzy event that the entire group went to. It was held in an outdoor amphitheater surrounded by the Badlands and was great fun.

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Monday we biked into Bismark ND, then had a rest day yesterday with a service project;  did general cleanup for a fairly disabled MS patient.  This part of North Dakota is farmland, but with rolling hills that make it challenging biking but also quite beautiful.  Monday the winds were mostly at our back or side, and biking was fast and hair raising.  Today, the wind was mostly in our face;  it makes an amazing difference such that each mile is an accomplishment.

In Bismark, the hotel was mostly populated by the American Bison Association annual meeting;  lots of weather beaten guys and women with cowboy hats and bowlegs.  I know this sounds stereotypical, but it was true.  Had some sample bison- very nice.  Tonight we are staying at a community center in Hebron ND, heading to Medora tomorrow.  Medora is near the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and hosts a variety of silly but hopefully fun events.

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The last two days we have been biking west through North Dakota.  The eastern portion was the most flat area I have ever seen;  you could look toward the horizon in all directions, and roads extended straight into oblivion.  This afternoon, the terrain shifted to rolling hills; and the wind picked up from the south.  Today was a record day for me- 100 miles, the first time I have passed that threshold.  Except for the 8 miles headed directly into the wind, it was a wonderful day to ride. The land was all farmland and cow pastures, with many lakes overflowing their banks.  The towns are tiny; the only obligatory component is a bar that serves food.  All towns seem to have this, which is great for me, as I’m trying to get through this trip without using my food acquired for camp cooking.  Freeze dried three bean chili just hasn’t sounded appetizing thus far.

Tomorrow we hit Bismark and have a rest day, which my body can really use.

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Today we rode 67 miles, leaving Minnesota and arriving in Fargo ND.  Most of the ride was farmland, but there was a bald eagle in his/her nest along the way.  The nest was amazingly large, and the eagle didn’t seem to care about me on the ground.  The Red River divides Minnesota from North Dakota;  no sign, so I had to make do with a Fargo water tower. We go directly west across the state to Montana;  much of the state is flat, I believe, but the days are long.  Lodging is at a congregational church;  dinner was provided, and the members were again very welcoming.  We were interviewed by a local TV station;  hopefully the exposure will help bring in a bit more funds.

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Happy July 4^th everyone.  Today we biked along a lovely bike trail towards Fargo ND.  We stopped at a Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls; sadly, no open restaurants and no fireworks. However, intensive investigation revealed a Domino’s Pizza, so I was able to avoid the trauma of cooking my own food.  The road was flat but I had two flats, which slowed me down quite a bit.  Minnesota is supposed to be the land of 10,000 lakes;  from the trail today, that seems a believable number. 

Last night we stayed in a high school in Osakis, which is a local tourist destination mostly due to a very large lake which is popular for boating and fishing.  There is also a local distillery, making I believe the only Minnesota bourbon to be had.  This demanded sampling; not at all bad.  In the evening, someone had a copy of the movie Fargo, which I had seen long ago.  Not a movie to be seen twice, in my view.

Tomorrow we move to Fargo. North Dakota will be our 12^th state. Only 3 left:  Montana, Idaho, and Washington.  The size of states get bigger with westward movement, however, so 2000 miles yet to go.

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