West. Day 18.

June 26, 2016

Hazelton to Bismarck, North Dakota

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Vast fields gave way to homesteads with "No Trespassing" signs as I neared Bismarck, and still no services. I had to go. At a long, gentle uphill curve, two round bales sat in front of a row of tall, spreading pines. A house sat about a quarter-mile behind the pines, but I thought the bales might afford some privacy. I set my bike down a distance from the road.

Welcome relief for the remaining miles.

The state road gained two more lanes. And traffic. Two little girls waved from the far side of the now-divided highway. "Lemonade!" I could almost taste the tangy-sweet drink, but I resisted a crossing. I just wanted to get to the end of my day.

A mile or so further, a long, winding descent into the Missouri River basin softened the challenging day of blast-furnace heat, headwinds, and pushing my bike up mile-long climbs. I made a bee-line for General Sibley Park, a half-mile off route about four miles south of Bismarck.

When I laid me down to sleep, the ground was a heavenly cloud. I melted, thinking how each day was an exercise in logistics, planning the next day's route, figuring out where to get food, and where to set up camp. Oh. And where to do laundry.

A new plan to shorten the ACA route: pick up I-94 at Mandan, west of Bismarck, and ride straight for Glen Ullin. If I stayed on the expressway the next day through Dickinson, I should find a laundromat there.

How far can I pedal without overdoing?

Despite the demanding day, I drifted off with a desire to ride home after the party in Missoula. No train for me. Go figure.

From my B'76 journal:

6/13/76

...Rode over Lolo Pass yesterday. One of the bikers we met, Gary, stood on the sign in his birthday suit. Unreal.

Last night we hit a saloon, college kids and got super-rowdy. Jeez. Feel like shit today, good thing we have a rest day here in Missoula.

Free bird at the top of Lolo Pass.