A Break in Bismarck

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As we pedaled through Hazelton the evening before, we saw there was a storefront labeled "Coffee Shop" with a simple hand-painted sign. Hours 8 AM - 11 AM. With another stretch of limited services, in fact no stores at all on our day's ride, we thought we should stop in. And we're glad we did. Arlene and other volunteers run what I'd call a community kitchen and gathering space. After the town's only cafe closed last year they came together to run a place where people can mingle and eat and see their neighbors. Coming from a big city it's easy to lose sight of the importance of such a place when there's a restaurant everywhere you turn. And without the pressure of money and expensive rents a group of volunteers can more easily embark on such a project.

Arlene showed us some photographs of previous riders and cooked us scrambled eggs and toast with her homemade fruit preserves. Plus an Oreo for dessert. We bought a container of homemade honey as well. The day's ride would only be about 45 miles as we'd done some extra in the previous days to give us more time to enjoy the Budget Express Inn in Bismarck. I have found this stretch of North Dakota to be very beautiful. I think it's because there is still so much of the prairie left. There is traffic to be sure, but our bicycles are quiet, so much of the time we get to hear the whisper of the grasses swaying in the wind. The low hills roll away in muted tones of green and gold and all manner of birds dart around the numerous small ponds near the highway. Rach and I had some opposing wind during the first stretch, but took an advantageous turn about 15 miles in and even got some help from the breeze.

Temperatures were much cooler after days of more intense heat and we reached Bismarck in the early afternoon. After a few shopping errands we found our new home in the motel with orange walls. We took a very luxurious and relaxing rest day yesterday. It consisted of the following in no particular order: watching TV, browsing the internet, drinking smoothies, eating pizza, cleaning our sleeping pads, Rach washing her gloves, visiting the thrift store downtown for two new books, eating cantaloupe, and lounging in a real bed.

I must wrap up this dispatch and put away all my things as we suit up and begin heading west again. We're now more than half way across North Dakota and headed to Montana.

Thank you Arlene!

Nearly into Bismarck

Comments

  1. UnknownAugust 16, 2018 at 7:12 AM

    Beautifully written! Thanks again for taking the trouble to keep us informed, loving it. Hope there are more days like this and more Arlene 's on your travels. xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Debbi StevensonAugust 16, 2018 at 12:25 PM

    Sounds a lovely rest day. So good to meet great people and good ideas along the way. Lovely weather here. Not too hot but warm enough to go to the lake at 7:30pm and swim then read our books and have a beer. Glad we live here!! Xxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. the Old GuyAugust 16, 2018 at 3:30 PM

    Tomorrow is day one of move Kellie days. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. Wish I was in Bismark instead. Still hot and very humid here, but not nearly as hot as it has been. I've been painting furniture, mowing lawns and fixing various broken or damaged things. After the move, I am not fixing or helping anyone. I am going to ride. Haven't gotten a ride in for days. I suspect that little old ladies in wheel chairs can go farther and faster than I can. Must do something about that. Otherwise, all is well. Dull, very dull but well. San Pasqual fire didn't scorch much and no buildings damaged. Thunderheads forming over Palomar and other mountains which have been getting a little rain. Slightly breezy today. Good sailing weather. Know anyone with a boat that has a mast?

    ReplyDelete
  4. CheriAugust 16, 2018 at 4:23 PM

    Arlene, if you are checking in on the blog, thank you so much for preparing a hot meal for our riders. I am sure your preserves are delicious but I doubt I will ever make it to your part of the country.

    Kellie is home from Ridgecrest and the foyer is full of furniture ready to be loaded onto the van tomorrow. Mike, your wide dresser is departing, but appropriation happens when you live on a boat and then bicycle about the country.

    And Rach, do you remember the hotel with orange walls in Tijuana when Mike and Mike were sailing the boat up the coast? The border was a bother, and you were making airline reservations and trying to repair your laptop. Your Bismark orange room day sounded much better!

    Ride safely.

    Cheri

    ReplyDelete

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