Sauk Centre Minnesota to Milaca Minnesota. 80 miles. 2094 miles from the pacific ocean. I’m really tired tonight so I will be brief. I awoke at camp happy to the sound of a Loon calling on Sauk Lake. while I was packing up my bike the sun peeked over the lake (picture) . as I left town the church bell rang 6 times. I was in biker bliss again all morning on the wobegon trail. beautiful scenery including covered bridges, wildflowers, and big churches beautiful steeples (pictures). after lunch the route turned off the trail and into a strong headwind. I cross the Mississippi River and Platte River. both were overflowing their banks. I rode past lovers lane,(picture) but nothing was going on. lovers lane was a north/south road, which makes sense to me. Cuz sometimes a loves goes south too. The afternoon gusty winds took a toll on my energy. I rolled into town after 11 hours of time in the saddle. I checked into the hotel and then went to a local restaurant for big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. and now it is time to sleep. good night all. 🙂
Freebird

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Fargo North Dakota to Fergus Falls Minnesota. 103 miles. 1943 miles from the Pacific. a great day to be on the bike. I woke up early at the Larson lodge, looked out the window at the rain and
went back to bed and covered up my head for couple more hours of sleep. I left Fargo at 7 AM and headed south East. made my first mistake of the day by missing a turn. It cost me about 7 miles extra. make note to self to pay closer attention to the map. once I got the pointed in the right direction I crossed the Red River into Minnesota. I stopped for breakfast at a small general store in Sabin (photo). I noticed the corn is a lot taller in Minnesota and the air is heavy with humidity fromy last night’s rain. the flat North Dakota landscape has changed to beautiful rolling hills of the minnesota lake country. the road snakes its way between crystal clear lakes and small streams. I go through the towns of Downer, Cormorant, and Pelican Rapids and pass several beautiful country churches (photo). I stopped for lunch at Pelican Lake and sat on a pier. A great blue heron walked the shoreline searching for frogs and minnows. I was having a day old sandwich, and he was having the fresh catch of the day. on a nearby log there were several turtles and a couple of ducks relaxing in the afternoon sunshine. I don’t know what the conversation was about but it looked like they were friends sitting on bar stools at a local pub. sometimes I let my imagination wonder – really
I don’t know if it was yesterdays rest , Morgan’s delicious banana bread, or the nice tailwind that gave me energy to do another century today. I didn’t start out thinking I would do a hundred miles , but the day went so well it just happened. tomorrow I will be on the Central Lakes and Lake Wobegon bike trails. over a hundred miles paved trail between fergus falls in saint joseph’s following the old railroad route. I am looking forward to a couple of days without any traffic.
Take care, Free bird

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Gackle North Dakota to Kindred North Dakota. 104 miles. 1813 miles from the Pacific. watching the sun rise over the North Dakota wide open plain was spectacular. like an ocean of grass. it was biker bliss most of the day. gentle rolling North Dakota landscape, light traffic, and a good shoulder most of the time. I had a tailwind most of the day. water is everywhere, North Dakota is having one of its wettest years in history. I took a break next to one of the small lakes and watched a muskrat chase a duck. priceless entertainment that is only available here.
the highlight of my day was when my good friends brad and dan from Stoughton pull up beside me and rolled down their window. they were on their way to Calgary and hunted me down from the information on my blog. they drove next to me for the next 4 miles and then we got breakfast together (see photo). it really picked up my spirits to see them. I was grateful that they made the detour to see me. I am blessed with a lot of really nice friends. I pulled into town at about 5 p.m. after 11 hours on the bike. it was my first century day. I felt strong all day until the last 4 miles. I thought my legs were moving but when I looked down they were not. I got off the bike did some stretches and rested for a while. got back on the bike and everything seemed to work just fine. evidently my legs are only good for a hundred miles. make note to self. I came into town and got some groceries, then wolfed down a pizza , a sub sandwich, and ice cream at the local restaurant. the waitress was wondering where I put all the food. then I headed for the swimming pool for a shower and a swim. I set up camp happy in the city park near the pool. I met about a dozen riders going west today. they all told me that it rained for 2 weeks straight at the beginning of their journey. I’ve been very fortunate to have only one day of rain for my entire trip. if all goes well I will be in Fargo tomorrow staying with the Larson boys. (Adult sons of my friends Rich and Nancy). pictures of brad and Dan and I. also picture of me with several westbound riders. Take care. Free bird.

Ps- all that good karma you send me seems to be working. Thanks again. I love to hear from you. I read all the comments every day. sometimes twice.

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Bismarck North Dakota to Napoleon North Dakota 73 miles. 1670 miles from the Pacific. I started this adventure exactly one month ago today. how time flies when you’re having fun. I have crossed two time zones and now I am back on central time. I have pedalled in oregon, washington, idaho, montana, and part of north Dakota. last week I turned 55 1/2 years old. I feel like one of the luckiest guys on earth. how many folks will get a chance to do this.
I said goodbye to my friends Trudy and Frank after breakfast this morning. Frank gave me his bungie clothes line which will make doing laundry much easier. no clothes pins required. this trip makes one grateful for the little things in life.
the morning started out with a climb out of Bismarck leaving the beautiful valley of the Missouri River behind me (see photo). I made a turn on to Easy Street just to say that I was there (see photo). Lewis and Clark, and the Custer Trail are behind me now. the nice part about traveling at bicycle speed is that you get to read all the historical markers. the other things I notice at this speed is the morning glories and black eyed Susans tipping there flower heads towards the morning sun. the smell of fresh cut hay and clover lingers in air for miles. I hear the screech of the hawk and watch him as he searches for breakfast. deer and cattle look at me like I’m from another planet. sometimes they run and other times they just stare. life is simple. I eat, I pedal, I sleep, and I meet a lot of nice people along the way. I am staying in the city park next to the pool. that seems to be my MO on hot days.
I met several bikers today coming from the east coast. Daniel was coming from North Carolina and heading to Seattle. greg started in New Brunswick Maine and is heading to his home in Oregon. a couple from Australia in there late 70’s we’re on a tandem. I had lunch with them in Hazleton at a little cafe. they have bicycled all over the world. I ask myself if I would have met these interesting people if I was flying by in a car at 70 miles per hour. the lessons I’m learning are endless. some folks ask “what possesses you to do this”. I just smile and say “it’s not about me”. this type of travel is not for everyone, but it sure seems to fit me just fine. I thought I spent too many hours on the bike today when I saw pelicans landing in the lake next to me. so I took their picture and showed them to some local folks. sure enough they are pelicans. white pelicans with black tips on their wings. they are beautiful when they fly. who woulda thunk.
Take care,
Freebird

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Medora North Dakota to Hebron North Dakota. 77 miles. 1527 from the Pacific. A good day on the bike. Madora was sweet little town that I hated to leave. I climbed out of the tent and packed up camp happy and was on the road by 5:30 a.m. the climb out of roosevelt national park was beautiful. the painted canyon of the north Dakota badlands at sunrise distracted me from steep road ahead. The cool morning soon gave way to the hot sun. The road was good and the wind off at a right angle. When I got off my bike at 4 pm it was 94 degrees. I am camping at the city park next to the pool. I hope to make it to Bismarck tomorrow and watch some fireworks. Take care. Freebird

Pictures are of canyon at sunrise, horses with colt, and an oil well.

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