Day 28 - Let's add another state
Day 28 - Hettinger, ND to Elgin, ND (via SD) - 72 miles - 1493 ft of elevation gain
There was one restaurant open for breakfast this morning, so we hit it at 7:50am (a little later to allow the boys to get some sleep). When we entered the restaurant we took the average age down considerably. The fellow patrons were all interested in our trip, as several of us were wearing our travel t-shirts with the map on the back. One of the gentleman asked where we were headed and then proceeded to give us some advice on the route. He mentioned that Route 8 was a terrible road and currently under construction, and advised that we head into South Dakota to avoid the road that they don’t even drive on.
After breakfast we headed back to the hotel to pack up and get on the road by 9:30am (breakfast took a while). We were on Route 12 heading east (and a little south) into South Dakota. The wind was headed in the opposite direction, so we fought a headwind for the first 36 miles. It was slow going and some were struggling more than others. At one point it was misting, and hazy almost all day long. When the wind is blowing so hard, we don’t even talk, except to say “gravel” or some other warning. Yesterday, I think we went 15 miles without saying a word. At the first water stop, it was decided that we break into 2 groups to allow those that wanted to go at a slower pace to not feel the pressure to stay as one group. The method worked for today, as everyone finished and there were no van riders.
We turned north around mile 36, and as soon as we turned the wind disappeared. It was amazing! The van was parked just after this turn in the middle of the signs between the border of South Dakota and North Dakota, so we ate lunch in no-mans-land. The second group caught up with the first group at the lunch stop and we could exchange stories. We then split again, and were off to enjoy just under 30 miles of a cross-tail wind. Our speed majorly improved at this point, from an average of 12 mph to 15-17 mph. There were still a lot of long hill climbs, not hills that registered on my bike computer “climb-o-meter” indicator, but enough that you had to work to keep up speed. The scenery was beautiful, rolling grassy hills. I was thankful for the cloud cover, as it kept the temperature cool. Yesterday and today were cooler temps, like in the 50s in the morning and barely climbed above 70 degrees by the afternoon. I enjoy these temps for cycling.
For the last 6 miles we turned east again and headed into the wind. There were a few more climbs before we reached the town of Elgin, ND. We are staying in the only hotel in town, so we are easy to find. Someone from another town, maybe Hettinger, gave the Elgin newspaper a heads up that we were rolling through town. So when the second group rolled into the hotel, they brought with them a reporter who saw them along the road and followed them to the hotel. We will apparently be a story in their local paper.
So the only restaurant in town is closed for a week-long holiday. Welcome to small town America! Thankfully the hotel had a grill out front, so I ran to the only grocery store that was open and picked up 4 packs of Brats, 3 packs of raw chicken tenders, 4 packs of baby carrots, 5 packs of frozen broccoli, and rolls. We fired up the grill and we ate EVERY single item of food. Some of the boys devoured the roasted veggies (something we haven’t been getting a lot of on this trip). After devotions (by Micah C.) I brought out the danishes for dessert. I think everyone is going to bed satiated.
Tomorrow is our last ride day for this stretch and we get a free day in Bismarck. Already the boys are asking that we don’t do any walking or hiking. I think after 63, 112, 47, 80, 87, 72, and tomorrow’s 80, everyone is feeling their legs and sit bones.