So, That was North Dakota

Today I'm in Perham, Minnesota.

It's all over for North Dakota.

Just shy of 2,000 on the odometer

Milestones:  June 22nd, one month on the road
                     June 20th, first century ride, 116 miles (haven't had a tail wind since.)

THEM'S SOME BIG GUNS

On June 24 th I visited a decommissioned missile site in Coopersvile North Dakota.  Got to go down into the underground bunker.  I pushed a bunch of buttons when no one was looking but nothing (that I know of) happened.  This area is littered with these command centers, each controlling ten separate missiles, most of which are now decommissioned.  It really brings the cold war home when you visit them.  Sorry, no pictures.



MAINE AIN'T THE ONLY PLACE THAT'S GOT POT HOLES

The Northern part of North Dakota is known as the "pot hole lakes region".  Why?  Get this:  there are tons of little lakes that look like pot holes.

Well, it's a pot hole lake.

Someone told me that North Dakota is the eighth

wonder of the world, the only hole above ground.

It's a joke, sorry to anyone who's from North Dakota.

AH, SMALL TOWN AMERICA


I arrived in Wing, ND on June 21 st I arrived in Wing, ND just in time to have missed the Quilt raffle, but to early for the rodeo.  Bad luck.  My luck did change as I pulled into Tuttle ND just in time for Tuttle Day.  Yes, that's "day", not "days".  Just in time that is for the Tuttle Turtle race.  What you should understand about Tuttle is that it has a population of 82.  There were 64 turtles entered in the race.  Talk about everyone having a horse in the race.  I'm not sure if this is legal in North Dakota, but all are welcome to bet on a turtle.  We met a young man who was sure that he had the winning contestant so we placed our $10.00 on old number 34.  When it came time for him/her/it to shine-nothing.  While all the other turtles headed out, old number 34 just sat there.  Given that the whole town was out for the race and we were the only strangers in town I have to think that we were set up.  Imagine.  Yesterday,we visited "Jeff's Foods" in Lake Park.  We were relaxing in the town gazebo when a young man on a bike rode up and said "My dad wants to thank you for stopping by the store" and handed us a package that contained a big slice of water melon.  Now in Coopersvile they are serious about horseshoes.  Just how serious?  Well they filled the town swimming pool in to make a twelve pit, lit, horseshoe arena.  Now that's serious.

No, those aren't graves.  That's some serious horseshoe.

Her's the kid that fleeced us out of our $10.00.

He, no doubt, has a future in mortgages.

Things get pretty exciting around here come 

Tuttle Day!

That's a big hat on.  No, no, on the kid.

THEY MAKE'M BIG HERE

Where's the tallest man made structure in the world?  Well, actually, it's in Du bey, India.  But, the world's tallest man made structure used to be in Clifford, North Dakota.  It's the KVLY-TV tower, at 2,063 feet.  It's still there, just not the tallest any more.

Please turn your computer sideways at this time.

THE BLESSINGS OF THE ROAD

I have posted earlier about how blessed I have been to meet so many wonderful people on this trip, the people along the way and my fellow riders.

On June 19 th I pulled into Dickinson, ND and set up my tent at the town campground at a lake three miles outside of town.  As has become my custom, I then rode into town to get some food.  As I was walking into the grocery store a siren went of in town and the woman that was walking in beside me said "Ut-oh".  "What do you mean "ut-oh", I asked.  Her reply, "that's the tornado warning".  I jumped on my bike and high-tailed it back to the campground.  If there was going to be a tornado, I wanted to be safely in my tent!  I didn't find a tornado but what I did find was Joe and Rhonda Thompson.  Joe is riding across the country, west to east and Rhonda is following him with their camper.  They live in Decora Iowa.  Joe's the athletic director for Luther College there and Rhonda is recently retired from teaching.  Before the evening was over they had invited me, and three other bicyclists who arrived shortly after me to a delicious dinner (ok Paul, supper).  Do you know how, with some people, you meet you have an instant repore?  Well, that's how it was.  I have been riding with them ever since, visiting future in-laws and friends along the way (more on that later).  Eventually they will take a break and head home for a wedding before continuing and I'll continue on.  In the meantime, Rhonda carries my bags in the camper each day and has a cold beer at the ready each night when Joe and I pull in from our ride.  Can this experience possibly get any better? 

Joe, Rhonda, and Me.

That's Ronda in the middle.