Thank you for your comments! They are very helpful to the morale which has been a bit low during the last few days.
Today was another long one 91.1 miles. Started south on the Lawrence Welk Highway to Hazelton then turned east. Cross headwind (close reach port tack) most of the day. Wind from NNE. At one point the road turned and I was dead into it for about 8 miles. 4% grade up, granny gear, 5 mph.4% grade down, midish gear pedaling downhill at 12 mph. Then the road turned east again. What happened to my westerly breeze?
Raced a thunderstorm in Gackle. We arrived at the same time. Fortunately the little league dugout was empty and covered so I camped out there until the storm passed. Only a few drops got me, but it poured with an accompanying squall.
As I was pushing my bike up from the baseball field a guy on his front porch (Doug) started talking to me. Soon beers followed and then dinner and a spare couch for the night! Incredible hospitality! He had some friends from Wisconsin staying in his adjacent house, here for the fishing, all great guys!
Seeing lots of corn now, hay and beef cows. Big wetlands coming into Gackle, lots of birds including: coots, a variety of ducks & white Pelicans. Other birds: hawks, vultures, killdeer, meadowlark and redwing black bird.
The road out of Sterling
Along the way
The road into Gackle
By the numbers:
Dist - 91.1 miles
Elev gain - 2,584
Elev Loss - 2,488
Moving time: 7:53
Perk you are doing an awesome job. I am also inspired by the hospitality you are encountering along the way - the world needs more of that! No doubt your classy beard and smiling face attract a crowd. We are having a heat wave here in BC - Victoria was 90 degrees to day !! Have a good one tomorrow - thinking of you! Tim
ReplyDeleteHang in there Warren. This is your Dog Cove. Just one mile at a time. Tenacity is your strength!
ReplyDeleteIn the long run you will probably remember the kindness of the people you met along the way. Really impressive how folks are responding. Sorry about the thunderstorm but liked hearing about the birds and the fishing. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteHi Uncle Warren, I just got into your blog! How can you tell a beef cow from a regular cow? I’m now reading your daily updates and I’m with you in spirit!!! Love, Your Favorite Niece
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear you are making friends along the way. We are SO proud of your perserverance. Keep up the inspiring trek! When do you next meet up with a biking buddy? Please hear our Cape CHEERS and remember the alpacas in Patagonia. I KNOW you are SMILING now!
ReplyDeleteLOVE YOU Wa
xoxoxoxoxo your favorite sister-in-law
Sounds like a productive if sometimes challenging day. We always tend to think of winds in ND or MT being westerly, but not always. Sometimes they just aren't a factor as with most of our ride west. Roads turn and the wind changes. Glad you made it: the hospitality of people-- especially rural people-- is amazing. Beer, dinner, bed and conversation. Great way to end the day.
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