Jill's bike log 6/15

6/15 (Tue-Biked 28 miles) - Packed up and loaded the bikes onto the van we were originally going to stop in Ellington 26 miles down the road. Very twisty, winding and hilly roads. My cigarette lighter converter died so stopped in Ellington to pick one up. Checked at a hardware store which looked like it dated back to when the town was formed. It was stocked with everything under the sun, but unfortunately didn’t the kind of converter I wanted, but did have UPS service. Most of the clerks were men, but the clerk who waited on us was a woman. She definitely didn’t have the Wall St. professional look, but was pleasant and helpful. She was wearing cowboy boots, with neon green short shorts, and a grey t-shirt. She was overweight with a lot of dental decay. Found a box just the right size to mail home the back panniers and Trevor’s tent.

Trevor was ready to ride from Ellington, which would have been a 60 plus mile ride and it was already 11:30 am. Talked Trevor into riding in the van to Centerville 10 miles further down the road. With Trevor’s departure, had our first conflict during the trip. Trevor pared down what he was carrying to be more streamlined. I insisted that he put the flag on his bike to be more visible on these treacherous roads. He took off without the flag but then turned around a little ways down the road and came back to reluctantly put on the flag. Headed out without having all of the direction how to get to Farmington, which into riding 18 miles on a bike path. When we stopped to get clarification for directions, the store clerk again confirmed how dangerous the roads were for bicyclers. After we met up with Trevor in Farmington, he said when he asked for directions, he was also told the roads treacherous because of the lack of shoulders and winding twisting roads with very limited visibility. They told him of a shortcut to Farmington which wasn’t quite as traveled but not as dangerous, which he took.

Mal and I started biking in Bismarck. Rode 10 miles on a very busy highway and then turned

Mal and I started biking in Bismarck. Rode 10 miles on a very busy highway and then turned off to St. Joe State Park where we linked with a bike path. The path was paved and could easily accommodate two bikes riding side by side. A welcome relief to the hazardless road we had been traveling on. It winded through the woods, including some very steep up hills. For about a mile it opened out to a sandy, barren, bluff with high exposure. We noticed black clouds beginning to build, so quickened our pace to get back into the woods. When the thunder and lightning were overhead, we took refuge under some under story trees. We alerted Claudia on the cell phone that we were safe. She was apparently trying to find Trevor who was a Dairy Queen. We arrived at Al’s Bike Hostel before Claudia and Trevor. Apparently it was an afternoon of Hell for Claudia between trying to find Trevor and worrying about Mal and I in the major thunderstorm, she kept driving up and down Maple St where she knew we’d come off of the bike path. Al’s Place was welcome reprieve. It was an old jail which was renovated into a hostel. The bikes could be stored downstairs and upstairs was air conditioned with bunk rooms, a comfortable lounge area and washing machine.

Trevor decided to stay at the hostel and Claudia, Mal, and I headed up to St. Louis to pick up Bryce at the airport. It seemed like forever that we waited for Bryce to deboard the plane. Went to eat supper at an authentic Mexican restaurant. Headed back to Farmington, but missed an exit so the Garmon routed us a round about way to get back.. Didn’t get back to Farmington until midnight.