June 29 - Bismark to Napoleon - 70 miles

Bismark was a rest day for us and it poured down rain all day long.  We were able to get laundry done, bikes repaired and spent time at an inside mall and the library.  There was a big softball tournament in Bismark and many teams were camping at the park where we were camping.  There were parties going on all night long and most of us didn't get much sleep.

The big challenge today was biking 15 miles on a busy highway with a side wind.  Wind speed was 25 - 35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph and it was so hard to stay upright.  We were so exhausted when we got through that part of the ride.  The rest of the ride was tail winds and you could coast on flat roadway at 25+.  The two of us on the lightweight bikes had the hardest time.  All of us agreeded that we had never biked in such severe winds.  Tomorrow is also suppose to be high wind advisory.  Not sure how we will handle the riding.

July 30 - Napoleon to Gackle,  40 miles. - Even though today is a short day, Sussie and I decided not to ride because the winds are as strong as yesterday and it is projected to get worse as the day progresses.  Sussie has a Specialized bike like mine and she also felt that it was to dangerous to ride with the side winds on such light weight bikes.  All of the other riders were up early and on the road by 7:00 am.

Napoleon is a small farm town and most shops were closed when we arrived yesterday because it was Sunday.  We are camped in a city park which has a pool, showers and campground.  Six tents huddled under the one picnic shelter for the night and two of us put our tents out in the grass.  We found an ice cream parlor open in town and everyone pigged out on ice cream.  I think most were so stressed out by the ride and they needed ice cream to celebrate the end of a hard ride.   Pictures are of a field of canola plants and Russ changing a tires.