June 15, 2018 – Bismarck to Napoleon, ND
Still some wind today, but much easier than yesterday. It got stronger toward the end of the 72.1-mile ride and winding our way through the ponds outside of Napoleon brought us face up into the wind.
And about those “table tops” we’d be sailing across after we got past Bismarck? No signs of them today.
But we were on the “Lawrence Welk Highway” today, which brought back many memories. Thought of my Grandma Saul, who sat down in front of these TV shows every night, long after they had gone off the air leaving only reruns to go on and on forever. If they aren’t still there and if she were still alive today, she’d be searching for the Lemon Sisters and Jo Ann Castle on Youtube.
We did love Grandma back then, but at the time, we had little good to say about Mr. Welk and his music. Wonder if we’ll be sitting around looking for American Bandstand, Shindig and Soul Train reruns in our older days? Maybe not yet.
Napoleon had a special ring to it for those of us who grew up in Henry County, Ohio, whose county seat was also named Napoleon, the dreaded arch rival back in the day for those who grew up nine miles down the road in Liberty Center, which is not some shopping center that came along much later.
Not so friendly coming out of Bismarck, where the sure-to-show-up on any bike ride is some jackass yelling out the window at they speed by you. Made me wish we were back in friendly Montana.
But in Napoleon, ND, they were getting ready for a parade of old tractors the next morning, and several of them were out cruising the town that night. Every tractor driver I ever met was friendly and always gave a wave. Same here.
This was a great day of riding until just entering Napoleon with the wind in our faces again. When I saw Napoleon on our Adventure Cycling maps for North Dakota I knew I wanted to stay there. Everyone in Napoleon N.D. was just as friendly as the folks in Napoleon, Ohio.
If you can get through Lawrence Welk for an hour, and can make it through the Dakotas. Good luck. The wind is really strong in that area, and I have struggled in it before. On in-line skates. You can make it.