Diana, my grandson Jack’s awesome 1st grade teacher, gets the Super Star Farmer award by identifying the yellow crop featured on my last post, canola! As I ride highways and rural roads on this Journey, I am “blown away” by the vastness, incredible beauty and diversity of this our fabulous country of ours. In just the last two days I rode through fields of soon to be golden wheat, bright yellow fields of canola, and today acres and acres of alfalfa and grazing cattle. Most of us, myself included, don’t realize the impact American farmers have on our lives.
Last night my life was once again impacted by a delightful couple, Pat and Margaret, owners of The Rock Roof Inn in Glen Ullin, ND. This fine couple has lived, farmed, raised a family, taught school and provided travelers like myself with a comfortable, cozy “room away from home,” for most of their lives. Pat, who will soon turn 90, worked the family farm for most of his life and Margaret was always been by his side. Since my wife Anita comes from a family of Kansas wheat farmers, I asked Pat a lot of questions about wheat. He called it their, “cash crop,” but they also raised cattle just incase the wheat crop failed. Pat told me that for the first three years after they were married, their combine never cut any wheat because the wheat crop dried up! Imagine, no income from your “cash crop” for three summers, newly married and no outside income. I could go on and on with stories shared by both Pat and Margaret about life in rural ND, but it would take way too long. This morning I ate a delicious breakfast, watched the local weather channel, said my goodbyes and started pedaling west. I am once again blessed to have found yet another example of what I call Givers in Pat and Margaret.
The weather took a turn for the worse after leaving Glen Ullin, but not before I took the above photo. The Burlington Northern train is almost a constant companion on my travels across ND. Grain, freight, tanker cars, and coal are headed in all directions throughout the day and night. After this photo, the wind and rain started because I think Mother Nature once again decided that Alaska Greg has had it way too easy crossing ND. It took me four hours to cover the last twenty miles to Dickinson, ND. Oh the joys of touring on a bicycle.
I just had to post a photo of “The World’s Largest Sandhill Crane” with my trusty mode of transportation next to the crane. In just the last few days I have experienced the largest buffalo and sandhill crane statues, and when I get to Glendive, Montana, I hope to explore the Glendive Dinosaur and Fossil museum.
Take care and tomorrow is hopefully my last day in North Dakota.
Greg
Some great statues out there, glad there are distractions along the way. Live your Giver term for your people encounters Finally cooled down to a reasonable 60
Greg the pictures are great and as a child of farmers I share in the love of tilling the land. Yet I m so blesed to live in the foothills of the Cascades and can only find peace in the mountians. As I wrote this I realized the joy any biker would feel treking along a flat road for miles just having the nicest ride. My minds eye shows me a tecnicolor vision of You struggling up the heights I so love and I hear the (teachers version of) you cursing my beloved peaks “Gosh Dang Hills!” and poof the next brain video of you doing 90mph+ down hill being chased by a loging truck laying on his horn. Walking up or down stairs has become a chore for me, Greg you are a god among us enlightened, safe riding my friend.
you write well
Once again, you brought a smile to the end of my day. It is hot and dry here. Fascinating how Alaska and NM could be having the same type weather while the rain finds you. Maybe biking is the new rain dance!
Stay safe and know we are all enjoying your trip!