Tonight Zion Lutheran Church is our host church and we are the guests of Clarence & Juli Sandvik in Cooperstown, ND. We just had dinner with 300 people on The Griggs County Fairgrounds to kick off the county fair that starts tomorrow. We rode home with Clarence & Juli in their fully restored Ford Model A. On the way home we toured this wonderful town of 1100 and got acquainted with the Sandviks who have raised their family here.
We rode 68 hard miles today against the wind all the way. Paul Bayfield reminded me that we did have a tailwind for approximately one mile. I guess being pummelled by the wind all day erased this from my memory.
Today was a light traffic day and we enjoyed this.
A typical day for us is:
6:00am Rise & Shine
7:00am Breakfast at host church or with families
7:30am Riding
11:30am Lunch
Noon Riding Again
2:00 - 4:00pm Arrive at host church
Connect with host families
Minor bicycle maintenance
Showers
6:00pm Dinner with host church
7:00pm Sharing about YFCI with host church
9:00pm Return to host homes
10:00pm Sleeping
We have gotten used to unpacking/packing up on a daily basis. The first week we were leaving a trail of personal items all along our path but have gotten better at keeping track as we move in and out quickly.
I hope you all are having a great summer.
Dan
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
July 9 Greetings from Tokio...
Tokio, North Dakota that is.
Tonight we are the guests of Mike & Libby at their retreat center near Tokio. They are missionaries to the Sioux Indians. It was great to sit relax together after dinner and hear the story of how God directed them to this ministry and all the cool things he is doing through their efforts.
Today we rode 98 miles with a headwind part of the way. Fortunately it was not terribly strong. I averaged 15 mph. We got rained on today and had a bit of thunder and lightning. That sent us scurrying for cover in the Fort Totten Recreation Center approximately 25 miles from our destination. It blew over quickly after only 30 minutes and we were back on our way.
I have learned a lot about water in the past couple weeks. In the parts of eastern Montana and western North Dakota we have traveled through water is in much demand and must be carefully managed for agricultural irrigation. Where we are now there is an abundance of water. Several of the lakes are higher by 10 and 20 feet than they have been in decades. We rode by an island this afternoon that had two buildings on it but the water was so high there was no ground to walk on. We learned from our hosts Mike & Libby that it did not used to be an island at all. There is a road under water there and the people who lived in that area had to move or abandon their homes a few years ago.
We currently half way through our 4th week and less than 200 miles from the North Dakota/Minnesota border. Hadly seems possible.
Thank you for sharing this adventure with us.
Dan
Tonight we are the guests of Mike & Libby at their retreat center near Tokio. They are missionaries to the Sioux Indians. It was great to sit relax together after dinner and hear the story of how God directed them to this ministry and all the cool things he is doing through their efforts.
Today we rode 98 miles with a headwind part of the way. Fortunately it was not terribly strong. I averaged 15 mph. We got rained on today and had a bit of thunder and lightning. That sent us scurrying for cover in the Fort Totten Recreation Center approximately 25 miles from our destination. It blew over quickly after only 30 minutes and we were back on our way.
I have learned a lot about water in the past couple weeks. In the parts of eastern Montana and western North Dakota we have traveled through water is in much demand and must be carefully managed for agricultural irrigation. Where we are now there is an abundance of water. Several of the lakes are higher by 10 and 20 feet than they have been in decades. We rode by an island this afternoon that had two buildings on it but the water was so high there was no ground to walk on. We learned from our hosts Mike & Libby that it did not used to be an island at all. There is a road under water there and the people who lived in that area had to move or abandon their homes a few years ago.
We currently half way through our 4th week and less than 200 miles from the North Dakota/Minnesota border. Hadly seems possible.
Thank you for sharing this adventure with us.
Dan
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
July 8 Riding 120 miles in one day
Today we rode from Stanley to Rugby and covered 120 miles (a new personal longest day for Zack, me and almost all our team). I averaged 17 mph, Zack averaged 19.5, on the bike. I averaged 14 mph from the time we left Stanley until I arrived in Rugby.
As I write this to you I am watching Stage 4 Time Trial of the Tour de France. They are averaging around 30 mph but these slackers only ride about 18.5 miles while we rode 120 today. Can you believe that?
We had a great time with the folks in Stanley, ND last night and this morning at Our Savior Free Lutheran Church.
We ate at Cornerstone Cafe tonight located at the very center of The North American Contintent. Steak, baked potato, soup & salad bar. Delicious. There is an obelisk out in front of the restaurant to prove it.
We appreciate your notes of encouragement and your prayers.
Thanks Mike & Sue for all the notes you have sent, cheering us on.
Tired. Going to bed.
Dan
As I write this to you I am watching Stage 4 Time Trial of the Tour de France. They are averaging around 30 mph but these slackers only ride about 18.5 miles while we rode 120 today. Can you believe that?
We had a great time with the folks in Stanley, ND last night and this morning at Our Savior Free Lutheran Church.
We ate at Cornerstone Cafe tonight located at the very center of The North American Contintent. Steak, baked potato, soup & salad bar. Delicious. There is an obelisk out in front of the restaurant to prove it.
We appreciate your notes of encouragement and your prayers.
Thanks Mike & Sue for all the notes you have sent, cheering us on.
Tired. Going to bed.
Dan
Monday, July 7, 2008
July 6 & 7 Resting & Riding in Williston, North Dakota
On July 6 we rested. We were hosted by The First Lutheran Church in Williston and I stayed Saturday & Sunday nights at the home of Bob & Eleanor Olson with Brian Blomker and Emma Jean Duncan.
Bob is a retired radiologist who is a devoted Minnesota Twins fan who also enjoys doing woodworking. Eleanor is a major quilter who just happens to be a devoted cook in her home. We enjoyed several meals in their home over the weekend including one with the whole team on Sunday night.
I also discovered that Bob loves popcorn. We enjoyed some together.
Today we rode 71 miles, averaging 18.7 mph with 3 hours and 40 minutes of ride time. Zack averaged 21 mph today. The wind was out of the northwest and therefore at our backs most of the way, except for 13 miles riding north out of Williston. We stayed on US-2 all the way today and had wonderful easy ride. Lots of gradual hills up and down.
We are being hosted by Our Savior's Free Lutheran Church in Stanley. They have provided us all with air mattresses and we are staying at the church tonight. Looking forward to dinner and fellowship at 6pm tonight.
Bob is a retired radiologist who is a devoted Minnesota Twins fan who also enjoys doing woodworking. Eleanor is a major quilter who just happens to be a devoted cook in her home. We enjoyed several meals in their home over the weekend including one with the whole team on Sunday night.
I also discovered that Bob loves popcorn. We enjoyed some together.
Today we rode 71 miles, averaging 18.7 mph with 3 hours and 40 minutes of ride time. Zack averaged 21 mph today. The wind was out of the northwest and therefore at our backs most of the way, except for 13 miles riding north out of Williston. We stayed on US-2 all the way today and had wonderful easy ride. Lots of gradual hills up and down.
We are being hosted by Our Savior's Free Lutheran Church in Stanley. They have provided us all with air mattresses and we are staying at the church tonight. Looking forward to dinner and fellowship at 6pm tonight.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
July 5 The Wind & the Pow Wow
Today we rode 80 miles. I averaged 18.2 mph and was “in the saddle” 4 hours and 23 minutes. We have ridden 1330 miles total since we left Anacortes, WA on June 17, having ridden 17 out of 19 days.
We rode from Poplar, Montana to Williston, North Dakota. Yes, we said goodbye to another state today, after riding 773 miles in Montana. We did, however, go out riding strong. Since Cut Bank, Montana near The Rockies, we have battled a headwind all the way. I will not suffer myself (or you) to calculate the miles for you, and I do mean suffer! It has been challenging in every sense of the word.
As I said, the wind has been our constant companion for most of this week. Today our companion became our friend. We had a tailwind out of the northwest ALL DAY today.
It was glorious!
We talked and rode side by side on a lightly traveled road during the morning. Then a few of us formed a paceline after a break and booked it into lunch for about 12 miles at 23 mph. During the afternoon everybody kind of did their own thing. A few put the pedal to the metal and got into Williston in record time. Some of us laid back and just lazily pedaled through the ups and downs mile after mile. Others went for several miles at a time without pedaling at all! It was really like beginning our day of rest a bit early. I think I could have ridden like that for at least a couple hours more today. The scenery was, of course, unique and beautiful; very relaxing.
I mentioned yesterday we were headed for a tribal Pow Wow in a nearby town last night and we made it there. The costumes were incredible as the Native Americans danced around in an oval dirt floor area under a pavilion. Paul Bayfield & I stayed late that night and I had the chance to talk for an hour or so with Robert Stone.
Robert works freelance for the local paper, covering these Pow Wow events and taking pictures for the dancers. We had a great conversation about Native American religion and how he has found a home and peace there as a white man. I learned a lot from him about how Christian missionaries are perceived on the reservation. One big misconception that he cleared up for me was that all Native American religion is the same. I discovered that, with few exceptions, those who worship by going "down into the sweats" do not worship by the use of Payote and vice versa. I did not know that Native American Religion had denominations too!
Thanks for sharing your story with me Robert, I hope we can keep in touch.
Dan
We rode from Poplar, Montana to Williston, North Dakota. Yes, we said goodbye to another state today, after riding 773 miles in Montana. We did, however, go out riding strong. Since Cut Bank, Montana near The Rockies, we have battled a headwind all the way. I will not suffer myself (or you) to calculate the miles for you, and I do mean suffer! It has been challenging in every sense of the word.
As I said, the wind has been our constant companion for most of this week. Today our companion became our friend. We had a tailwind out of the northwest ALL DAY today.
It was glorious!
We talked and rode side by side on a lightly traveled road during the morning. Then a few of us formed a paceline after a break and booked it into lunch for about 12 miles at 23 mph. During the afternoon everybody kind of did their own thing. A few put the pedal to the metal and got into Williston in record time. Some of us laid back and just lazily pedaled through the ups and downs mile after mile. Others went for several miles at a time without pedaling at all! It was really like beginning our day of rest a bit early. I think I could have ridden like that for at least a couple hours more today. The scenery was, of course, unique and beautiful; very relaxing.
I mentioned yesterday we were headed for a tribal Pow Wow in a nearby town last night and we made it there. The costumes were incredible as the Native Americans danced around in an oval dirt floor area under a pavilion. Paul Bayfield & I stayed late that night and I had the chance to talk for an hour or so with Robert Stone.
Robert works freelance for the local paper, covering these Pow Wow events and taking pictures for the dancers. We had a great conversation about Native American religion and how he has found a home and peace there as a white man. I learned a lot from him about how Christian missionaries are perceived on the reservation. One big misconception that he cleared up for me was that all Native American religion is the same. I discovered that, with few exceptions, those who worship by going "down into the sweats" do not worship by the use of Payote and vice versa. I did not know that Native American Religion had denominations too!
Thanks for sharing your story with me Robert, I hope we can keep in touch.
Dan
Friday, July 4, 2008
July 4 Celebrating in Poplar, Montana
Last night I (Dan) was a guest in the home of Mike & Loraine Hughes in Glascow. It turns out Loraine is the niece of Ned Mangis, my host from the previous night in Malta. That was pretty fun. Mike and Loraine were great hosts and I scored a large bowl of freshly popped popcorn and 2 bags for the road.
Apparently these towns were named for familiar cities in parts of Europe by some random process. Before this was done they were simply referred to as "Siding 214" or whatever, because they had been created to serve the railroad that had recently been built to span the North American contitent.
I rode 71 miles from Glascow to Poplar today in 5.5 hours of riding time, averaging 13 miles an hour. I really thought I would have my seat by now, for sure, but it's still pretty sore. My feet are pretty tender as well. On the way into town at the end of the day today I saw a boat loading area for The Poplar River and decided I could get some much needed relief there. The water was cool and my feet are doing much better.
We are being hosted by Our Lady of Lourds Catholic Church in Poplar. It looks like we are going to a Pow Wow tonight. It sounds like a big celebration with historic & competitive Native American dancing. I am sure there will be much to tell on the other side of this one!
Dan
Apparently these towns were named for familiar cities in parts of Europe by some random process. Before this was done they were simply referred to as "Siding 214" or whatever, because they had been created to serve the railroad that had recently been built to span the North American contitent.
I rode 71 miles from Glascow to Poplar today in 5.5 hours of riding time, averaging 13 miles an hour. I really thought I would have my seat by now, for sure, but it's still pretty sore. My feet are pretty tender as well. On the way into town at the end of the day today I saw a boat loading area for The Poplar River and decided I could get some much needed relief there. The water was cool and my feet are doing much better.
We are being hosted by Our Lady of Lourds Catholic Church in Poplar. It looks like we are going to a Pow Wow tonight. It sounds like a big celebration with historic & competitive Native American dancing. I am sure there will be much to tell on the other side of this one!
Dan
Thursday, July 3, 2008
July 3 Milk River Rodeo
July 3, 2008
Today we rode 73 miles in 5.5 hours of riding time, averaging 13.2 mph.
Riding into the wind all day today was quite exhausting and frustrating. We are not sure what happened to the prevailing wind out of the west. We are still looking for it.
On our route, in addition to the wind, we passed through Saco, the mosquito capitol of the West. The mosquitos did not find us until the next town, which was Hinsdale. Stuart and I grabbed our lunches and kept on riding. A couple miles further east we came across The Milk River Rodeo. We stopped and ate our lunch as we watched about a dozen local cowboys in Jackpot Team Roping before the rodeo tonight.
Last night we had dinner at Ilam Lutheran Church in Malta, Montana with the youth group and several of their leaders. It was a great time of getting acquainted, telling stories and sharing about how God has impacted different people's lives.
Stuart & I stayed in the home of Ned Mangis. He is 85 years old and very much enjoys reading Christian authors. Stuart and I had a great conversation with him last night when we arrived at his home. Ned came to the church with us this morning and had breakfast with us before we rode out.
WE were hosted by The Evangelical Church this night in Glasgow. They fed us very well for dinner and breakfast at the church and we had a great time talking with our hosts in their home before and after dinner.
Dan
Today we rode 73 miles in 5.5 hours of riding time, averaging 13.2 mph.
Riding into the wind all day today was quite exhausting and frustrating. We are not sure what happened to the prevailing wind out of the west. We are still looking for it.
On our route, in addition to the wind, we passed through Saco, the mosquito capitol of the West. The mosquitos did not find us until the next town, which was Hinsdale. Stuart and I grabbed our lunches and kept on riding. A couple miles further east we came across The Milk River Rodeo. We stopped and ate our lunch as we watched about a dozen local cowboys in Jackpot Team Roping before the rodeo tonight.
Last night we had dinner at Ilam Lutheran Church in Malta, Montana with the youth group and several of their leaders. It was a great time of getting acquainted, telling stories and sharing about how God has impacted different people's lives.
Stuart & I stayed in the home of Ned Mangis. He is 85 years old and very much enjoys reading Christian authors. Stuart and I had a great conversation with him last night when we arrived at his home. Ned came to the church with us this morning and had breakfast with us before we rode out.
WE were hosted by The Evangelical Church this night in Glasgow. They fed us very well for dinner and breakfast at the church and we had a great time talking with our hosts in their home before and after dinner.
Dan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
