Dakota Skys

Day 132, August 11, 2011, Dakota Skys

Route from Minot to Dakota West Campground, Ross, ND

64.8 miles, averaging 15 mph

Worst Moment – There’s a lot of truck traffic on the road and when there is a construction zone as there has been for 8 – 10 miles today, things are just a little more scary than I’d like. 

Best Moment – Ruby’s back and has water pressure.  We can shower, wash dishes and even flush the toilet!  The guy at the RV place got Neita in early this morning, but couldn’t find what the problem was.  He ended up wiring the water pump directly to the fuse box.  Problem solved.

Thunderstorms were threatening all day.  With the big Dakota sky, I could see rain coming down to the south and to the west of me.  The sky was blacker than pitch and there was even an occasional lightening bolt in the distance.  I was nearly certain that I would be drenched.  Miraculously, I somehow missed most of the showers and only got sprinkled on once for about 20 minutes.

I was on Highway 20.  It had mostly good bicycle conditions other than all of the traffic and the construction, but at least the highway was wide enough to accommodate the traffic.  I’d heard that the alternative route also had a lot of traffic and was much more narrow.

There were sweeping vistas of rolling green hills.  Lots of grain production in the area as evidenced by the huge grain elevators.  There is also lots of oil exploration and production.  According to the campground owner, the area has gone crazy – there are boon town conditions.  In fact, that is part of the reason our camping has been more challenging here than in other parts of the county.  The oilfield workers throughout all of western North Dakota are forced to live in RV’s full time.  I guess this would be a good place to come for work.

Dakota West Campground has been full – so full that the owners haven’t had time to landscape or make other improvements.  We nearly lost Ruby in one of the potholes on the way to the campsite.  They have recently expanded adding the new section by the old school.  We are in the new section with an intriguing view of the abandoned school.

I’ve been listening to A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn.  He has a different perspective of our history than was taught in high school.  Most of our history and the decisions made were economic decisions by and favoring white males, according to Zinn’s view.

If you would like to donate to my ride, my link for the Lance Armstrong Foundation is http://grassroots2011.livestrong.org/billsbigride197.  I really appreciate your support.