East. Day 51.

July 29, 2015

Bismarck to Gackle, North Dakota

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Eastward from Bismarck, North Dakota.

I fought horrendous winds for two days on this route heading west. Heading east this day, I hoped to pedal all the way to the Honey Hub in Gackle. Could I do it?

The first leg, from Bismarck to Hazelton, proved to be a significant stretch for me. I'll leave you, reader, to find out why when you read Facing Sunset.

Meeting the sag driver for a group of riders going to the west coast.

Suffice to say, I was glad to meet Robin and Loren in Hazelton (an overnight stop when I was going the other direction). These two young men were cycling from Washington state to their hometown of Minneapolis. It was before lunch, and they were just getting on the road.

"Heading for the Honey Hub," Loren said. He got hit by a car in Bismarck the day before. He was okay, but his wheel got bent. A local bike shop straightened it out by banging the rim against a workbench. Loren was incredulous.

"If you help me get to Gackle, I'll take a look at it when we get there," I said. "You don't know this, but I'm the best mechanic you know." I didn't have the heart to tell him how many wheels I've straightened in that manner.

We had a deal.

Me (and shop-dog Stoker) working a Michigan tour with our bike store "Rover."

Golden grain fields unfolded rolling hills forever, it seemed. Before long, my heavier and aerodynamic recumbent pulled ahead. That was okay, I could keep myself company. But it was nice knowing Robin and Loren were behind me.

Pulling away. Photo by Robin.

Near Napoleon, the road curved between three lakes all named McKenna Lake. When I passed a month ago, the water had whitecaps. The view of abandoned structures offshore made a good excuse to stop. Maybe the boys would catch me if I took pictures.

McKenna Lake. A storm brews.

My strategy worked.

"I broke a spoke," Robin said. He had no spares, but I had a Kevlar FiberFix repair kit. We took refuge under a gas station convenience store overhang--a brief thunderstorm almost caught us.

Loren looks worried as I fix Robin's wheel.

Robin (left) and Loren, good to go.

Back on the road, I cruised ahead again. Where the ACA route turned north at a tee in the road, I waited for my newfound friends.

Two specks appeared o'er distant hill. Poetic? This imposing (for me) day turned playful. My Nikon clicked and clicked.

Fun with my Nikon.

Getting "artsy-fartsy."

Yep, here they come. (Can you see the hawk?)

"We turn left, kids!"

About to find out we have a tailwind...

We did not realize how strong a side wind we had until we turned north. For eight glorious miles, I hammered and flew, leaving Robin and Loren behind yet again. They didn't seem to mind.

SR 30 took a gentle curve east to join SR 46, supposedly the longest straight road in America. At the intersection where 30 continued north, a young man stood over his loaded touring bike in the middle of the lane. A tall man on a heavier loaded bike rolled up and gestured. "Move off the road!"

From a distance, I thought the third, slightly-built rider on a hybrid bike coasting downhill on SR 30, was a young woman. Nope. The young man had a smile as wide and bright as the prairie sky.

Steve, the gesturing man, ran the show. "We had some broken spokes and got a ride into Jamestown to get them fixed," he said. The three were headed to the Honey Hub for the night too. A crowd!

A circus at the Honey Hub!

Selfie with Loren (left), Robin, and me in the Honey Hub.

My original Facebook post:

Postcard from the road. Gackle, ND. July 29, 2016

Vindicated. I don't need no stinkin' tailwinds!

What took me two days to ride east to west against 24 mph, gusting to 45 mph, headwinds a month ago, took me one day to ride west to east today, with no help from the wind.

Oh, except for one glorious eight-mile section when the route turned north and the wind was with me.

Yahoo!!!!