Date: 2007-07-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

6-29-07Stanley, ND70 miles today1305 Northern Tier miles5390 total milesThe word for today's ride is TOUGH.It was a hard ride because of the 30mph headwinds.The day started out wonderful...but early. I set my new coffee pot to start brewing at 5am. That was good, but I forgot that we crossed from Mountain Time to Central time....sooooo, that coffee maker went off at what seemed like 4am to me. I struggled to sit up in my bed and pour a cup of coffee, then just sat there in the dark sipping on my Starbuck's.I started waking up by the 2nd cup, then was rarin' to go by the 3rd cup. :-))Mrs Gorp thinks I've got a problem with my coffee and she thinks I need an intervention.I think I just solved my coffee problem. I love my new coffee maker that wakes me up with 4 cups of Starbuck's waiting for me. :-))I turned on the Weather Channel and I guess I wasn't paying attention. We've had 2 days of headwinds...and they were talking about several more days of east winds that would reach 30mph.It just didn't sink in that we had 70 miles to ride into those 30mph headwinds.We left a perfectly good motel...with all the comforts I ever wanted and we heading towards Stanley, ND.We are now officially making our own way east. There will only be a couple of short stretches that we will actually be on the Northern Tier Bicycle Trail until we get to eastern NY.We headed north on Rt 2 for a short while. That wasn't too bad with the high winds, but we turned to the east and the reality set in...quick!!We were going to have a TOUGH ride today. :-((We pedaled hard to make about 8mph. There are lots more rolling hills here than I thought and it seemed like we were always looking at a climb in front of us. Those climbs were made at about 6mph and weren't easy.We rode through about 18 miles of road construction until we got to Ray.We found the PO and I mailed home my heavy winter stuff that I've carried all the way from VA. It just doesn't seem like I'll need that stuff for now...and I needed to make room in my pannier for my new coffee pot. Have I mentioned that I love my new coffee pot?? ;-))We then went to the recommended place to eat, the Gas-N-All. It was just before 11am, so we ordered breakfast and it was very good.I got done and headed back to my bike mindlessly. I didn't want to think about the wind, but it made sure I knew it was there.The only animal I saw all day was a pheasant road kill. I couldn't have seen anything else because my head was down to try and help become more airodynamic in the wind.All I did was pedal and watch my odometer barely move. It was later in the afternoon that we came to Ross. I was getting very thirsty. There hadn't been anything else between Ray and Ross to get drinks. We stopped at a bar and went in and sat down and I had two Cokes that went down quick.Another guy at the bar started asking about what we were up to and when we told him, he offered to buy us a drink.We still had another 7 miles to Stanley and that seemed like it was more like 50 miles because of how tired I was.We rode on and got to the motel. I stayed outside and held my bike up while Mrs Gorp got a room. :-))This was the most tired I've been in all the days we've been out here riding these bicycles.I have to say that it was still a great day on the Northern Tier Bicycle Trail because of the nice people we met today (I really like North Dakotans friendliness) and because my new coffee maker had a pot of Starbuck's waiting on me when I woke up. Have I mentioned that I love my coffee maker?? ;-))6-30-07Minot, ND54 miles today1360 Northern Tier miles5445 total milesGuess what I woke up to this morning?? :-))Yep, my coffee pot was set for 5:40am and I was sipping my first cup of Starbuck's by 5:45am.We got packed and left the motel. We stopped at a gas station on the way out of town for a breakfast sandwich and danish.The wind was already blowing out of the east at about 15mph and got stronger by the end of the ride today.We rolled on east on Rt 2. I looked to my left about an hour into the ride and saw something large running away from us.I stopped my bike and watched it run up a hill and go over the top, out of sight. It was a black bear...the second we've seen on this trip.I really never even thought of seeing a bear here in ND, but it was exciting. :-))We kept riding into the wind. The wind kept getting stronger and was blowing about 20 to 25mph by the end of the day.We stopped at a small store in Berthold and saw Ethan. We have been seeing him ever since the first day on this Northern Tier Trail.Mrs Gorp gave him an article she saved about mountain lions in eastern Montana, especially in the area where he saw one cross the road.We headed on towards the last stretch into Minot. The shoulder of the road was in really bad shape, so we rode mostly on the side of the actual road.When we got to Minot, we weren't sure whether to take the business route or the bypass. I chose the bypass because there is usually newer stuff along those roads.That worked out great because we came to a Comfort Inn that was in an area with a mall, a Target and lots of places to eat.Our plans were to FINALLY take a real zero and let the ol' bodies have a day off.Other than the couple days in between the westbound ride and the eastbound ride, the last zero we took was in Lander, WY on the way west...probably 2500 miles ago.We checked in, got cleaned up and went next door to Applebee's for a late lunch.It was so nice not to be riding in the high winds that were blowing. :-))When we came back to the room, I layed down and rested while Mrs Gorp checked email on a computer in the lobby. When she came back, I was ready to eat again.We headed to a buffet we spotted earlier. I wasn't sure how hungry I really was, but 3 plates later, I felt like I got my money's worth. Then came dessert. :-))My arms have been getting some sun damage lately. The bare part that faces into the wind and sun was getting a few little sun blisters, so we walked over to Target to look for a lightweight long sleeve shirt.They didn't have any, so we walked to a sporting goods store in the mall and I found an Under Armor white synthetic shirt that fit well.It's supposed to be for hot weather, so it should protect my forearms from all the weather they take.I don't like suncreen.I bought a bag of popcorn on the way out of the mall and got most of it back to the room before the wind blew it all out of the bag. :-))I went to bed early, planning on giving my body the rest it deserves.Another great day on the Northern Tier Bicycle Trail. :-))7-1-07Minot, NDZERO DAY!!!1360 Northern Tier miles5445 total milesWe finally got around to taking a zero day!!I made it a perfect zero too...I slept in until about 7:30am, then made a pot of Starbuck's.I walked downstairs and had breakfast and went back to the room and took a nap.We walked to the mall next door and ate lunch, bought ND stickers for the bikes, then I went back to the room and took a nap.I answered some emails, then dozed off.I woke up and walked to the buffet for dinner, then came back to the room and layed down and rested.I fell asleep for the night and really slept well.That was one of the best zeros I've ever taken. It was exactly what I needed. My body has been telling me it needed rest for over a week.Guess what...there were no winds blowing today...what luck. :-))Another great day on the Northern Tier Bicycle Trail. :-))