Day 28

Bismarck,ND - Napoleon,ND (70 miles)

Today was by far our most challenging day, both physically and mentally.

We knew it was going to be difficult (thank you weather underground!) so we were kind of prepared. We got up early to avoid the brutal head winds, but universe was not on our side. Casey needed to change his back tire, which ended up being a disaster. Three tubes later he got the tire on and ready to go...well, kinda...the tire wasn't the best and because it had been rolled up it wasn't completely round. The tire was wabbly but okay for the first 40 minutes or so, but after that he got a flat, that was beyond repair. So off went the new tire and on went the old one. We all crossed our fingers that it would hold up just a little longer. There isn't a bike shop until Fargo, so hopefully luck is on our side.

Going to Hazelton we had both 20 mile per hour head and side winds with gusts up to 27 miles per hour. What a work out!  Plus it was overcast and 60 degrees. In Hazelton we ate and contemplated going further. It would be 26 more miles of wind. We decided to push on, but North Dakota had more in store for us. Three minutes into our ride to Napoleon it started to sprinkle, but there was no turning back, we see going to make it!

Dark clouds were chasing us, and the winds were unyielding. Finally it started to rain, but at that point we had already gone ten miles. Fight the up hill. Turtle speed down hill. Whoosh, a gust of side wind pushes us into the middle of the road. Three more miles.

Then the clouds broke, the sun came our and we saw hawks laying on hay nails, a weasel, a heron, nine pelicans, and a rainbow! North Dakota gave us a gift and it made the entire day worth it.