Day 22 – Leeds, ND (Saturday, May 23, 2015)
I had relatively good, consistent wind from the south by southwest and made good time.
I left Minot at 7:15am. I stopped at Rugby for lunch a bit after noon. Apparently I passed the middle of the continent today in Rugby. There was a big sign making the proclamation. Now I start going down hill! Unfortunately by my calculation I will have gone halfway in another 700kms.
I stopped at Leeds at 2:30pm and decided to have a turkey wrap at the road side joint (I was suspicious of the hamburgers). As I was eating a man a little old introduced himself. He said he recognized me right away as the cyclist; skinny, eating healthy food (only by random coincidence), and my apparel outrageous apparel. He had met a lot of cyclists passing through from all over the world. Apparently he and his wife had set up a spot at Knox for long distance travelers. It was too bad I had already passed Knox. I told him that I would mention the place if I met anyone going west.
I decided to stay the night at Leeds. This was a day that I would have liked to go farther but Devils Lake was 30 miles more (50 km). I still feel that if I stretch the distance on one day I may feel tired early the next. The distance to Churchs Ferry would have perfect except there didn’t seem like there was much there.
I am pitching my tent tonight. It is 6:50pm. With the sun still bright in the clear sky the tent is too hot to settle down.
I found a few things loose on my bike. One of the bolts and a spacer for my front rack came loose and was lost. I replaced the bolt with one of the spare bolts. The spacer will be difficult to replace. Another bolt came loose that was used to fasten my rear water jug. I will have to be more careful and check all the bolts regularly.
I have to look at the map for tomorrow. I will have a strong head wind after about 10am. I planned to make Niagara ND tomorrow (80 miles) but if the wind isn’t too bad I may see if I can camp adjacent the highway near Larimore (93 miles.)
I think Leeds is a typical American prairie town. I have an impression that the American towns are more prosperous. Stores, restaurants and accommodation are cleaner and better maintained in North Dakota along Highway 2 at least. The whole economy where I’ve been is based on some sort of farming.
I think there is a high premium on “large” genes. It might have something to do with three or four generations of farming in tough conditions. None of the locals here were shorter than 6 feet. I am speculating here… the runts all ran away and ran the banks in Chicago. Who know’s they may have found Steinbeck’s Kate. Then their offspring caused the market crash of 2008. Voila – the genesis of two new species – evolution!
