June26- Killdeer.

 

Leaving Killdeer this morning around 6.

Heading towards the dark had me second guessing my choice of riding today. So I stopped on top of the hill and snapped some photos and killed sometime waiting to see what the weather was going to do. As the sun rays were succombing to the shadows of the clouds I thought it might be a good idea not to ride today.

Returning to Killdeer this morning around 7.

As you can see the weather deteriorated as I  booked it back 5 miles to Killdeer for another night. The last picture  was taken from the back porch of the Motel I'm staying at, again,and arriving just in time ahead of this front. CabinFever!

June25-Killdeer

Thunder storms as I woke this morning so I decided to postpone my departure from Killdeer for a day.  Instead  and headed out for a 20 mile ride out and back to the foothills of the badlands  This is the top of the gate on the entrance of a ranchers acreage where the Killdeer battlefield is. It seems allot of these historical sights are on private land with agreements between the landowners and the public to keep them open.

The battle field was to the right of the S in the road. The sight was picked  for a  fresh water spring as well as Mt.'s and ravines to escape into if things didn't go well. This area is on the edge of the badlands and you can see how beautiful it is.

June23-24,Underwood-BeaverCreekBay-Killdeer

Some more friends I met while riding out here in the wide open. The usual,scratching there nose kept them around. As you can see in  the photo there's no end to there pasture. I couldn't see a house either that might of been there homeAllot  of open grazing for healthy ,happy animals. Theres plenty of land for everyone her in N.D.

As I was riding on 1806 west ( Lewis & Clark Trail)and  was checking out the chickens on this prairy farm along the road and out ran Janet from the barn and invited me in for some coffee and doughnuts which I gladly accepted. Margie ( Mom) just got done filling her orders of fryers and broilers for the neighbors.She's 82 and going strong  and I'm guessing from the good life on the farm. 35 she had ready by 9:30 with the help of Tim her son and her daughter, Janet, who drove up from Colorado to help out.

Who says farming doesn't pay! I see more oil wells as I head west.

This is Lake Sakakwea a added bonus on my 200 route west. I was going to go farther south and connect to T.R. National Park till I talked to a couple at a Tasty Freeze I stopped at  on my ride to Underwood They reccommended I see Garrison Dam. A 2 1/2 mile long earthen dam you can ride on  built on the Missouri R. which is Lake Sakakwea. Before getting here I had been looking at the map and noticed how close the spelling Sakakwea was to Sacajawea . Well I was informed that it had gotten mispelled out west at some time. Sakakwea was added to the expedition about 10 miles form where I was having coffee and doughnuts.  

June21-22 Cooperstown-McCluskey-Underwood.M-116.13,T-11:19,AVG-10.25,El-2031. M-35.89,T-4:34:38,AVG-7.84,El-896

Another McGoo decision took me away from the rains and road closures on 2. You can see the dark clouds in the picture of N.N.D.I decided to stay on 200 out of Coopersfield so I could visit Teddy Roosevelt Park on the west end of 200 and then I'll hookup on 2 again. Steady headwinds put me on the road longer than I wanted to yesterday. There wasn't any stops either so at he 60 mile pt.I could of turned around and went back to Carrington but decided to go to McCluskey anyway. So I'm a little burnt out but should be ready to go tomorrow.

An ag. bldg I came across yesterday while riding 200. The 1st damage I've seen of the Storm last thursday.

June20 Fargo-Cooperstown.M-101.78,T-9:03:34,AVG-11.23,El-1626

North Dakota. You can see the towns a hour before you get there. A water tower or grain elevator labeling them on the horizon.

A right turn is coming up in a 1/2 hour as a car or truck crosses the road ahead and as I verify it on my map.

Horses on the horizon  as I was entering Coopertown. A saving grace  for my photo shot as I was struggling  with what to take a picture of.

June19 Fargo

It was a quiet sunday morning as I was leaving Fargo. I hung out a extra day and took in Hjemkost. A replica viking ship built by Robert Asp a school  guidance counseler. Eventually to be sailed by his children to Norway.   http://www.hcscconline.org/ 

 A replica of Norway's Hopperstad Stave Church. 

I could of spent another day in Fargo but will have to return someday.Theres a certain attraction to Fargo with it's own culture and identity.