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Up and out real early, 5:30, this morning hoping to beat the heat, rain and wind and we did.  The wind actually changed unexpectedly and gave us a boost for the last 25 miles of the 80 total.  Most of the ride was through areas of hay and wheat fields and many small natural lakes.  Traffic was virtually non existent.

There were no services for the first 38 miles until we reached Gackle and unfortunately the Tastee freeze there did not open until 11.  Our Sag vehicle was there though and we were able to top off our water bottles.  Everyone is being careful to stay hydrated.

We passed by a farm whose large barn and 4 grain bins had been destroyed and their house heavily damaged by a tornado.  It is hard to believe that the twisted debris from these bins could be caused by wind.

Our hotel, a Fairfield Inn is a great place and even has a large pool with water slides.

It was a great day!

Can you say hot and windy?!  101 on the bank electronic bill board in Napoleon, ND this evening.  Winds on the ride today were out of the south up to 20 mph but fortunately only 17 of the 77 miles were directly into the wind.  Nonetheless a tough day and all were tired when we got in.  Coming into town we ran into a biker who was on the Bike for MS coast to coast ride.  He was headed to the their campground where 24 of them were tenting for the night.  This group is riding the Adventure Cycling route east to west from Bar Harbor, ME to Anacortes, WA.  To join the ride an individual has to raise donations of $1 per mile or $4200.  All of the riders had raised more than the minimum.  They also stop along the way to do projects for those with MS such as installing wheel chair ramps.

Like many towns we have been through in Montana and North Dakota the economy revolves around farming, particularly wheat and hay.  For this reason the community seems to be built around the elevator and rail road.  Many of the people we meet in the restaurants and convenience stores talk about the weather and how it will effect the crops.  All have been very interested in what we are doing and where we are going.  

It was a little hit today!

Windy?  Yes!   Hot? Kind of.  Beautiful scenery, great local people…. yes!  At 5:30 seven of us were shuttled out 24 miles to Richardton and began our 77 miles to Mandan, ND into the wind.  Much of it was on Interstate 94 which is nice and smooth with a wide shoulder. It was a long day but clear and not hot til later in the afternoon.  Tomorrow’s forecast is for more wind and warmer.  Temperatures may cool some on Sunday.  Also time changed so lost another hour.

Goin to bingo and music at the “honky tonk” tonight in Mandan….yee hah!

Out the door early real early this morning, 5am, off to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in our rental rocket sedan.  Started at the south east visitor center and although it was closed the view was incredible.  After pictures and oohs and ahs we headed further on to the west entrance where we got on the loop road.  Being so early there were very few on the road with us.  Besides seeing the incredible landscape we soon encountered our first bison, a large male.  He was just off to the side trying to scratch his head on the rocky embankment and on some bushes.  At one point a branch broke off and it and the leaves were stuck between his horn and head.  A bit further we came upon large fields with hundreds of prairie dogs scurrying from burrow to burrow. 

In one of these fields was a herd of  bison, I’d estimate 60+.  We spent a good while there watching.  (A ranger told us that these animals are American bison not to be confused with the separate species of buffalo which are found in Africa.)

We later found out that there are about 400 bison in the park along with 200 wild horses and yes we saw some of them too.  

Today was a great day of Enchantment Highway and Enchantment of the wonderful fireworks in Dickinson, North Dakota. It is our first day in North Dakota!

 

 

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