Fargo, N.D. to Fergus Falls, MN.

July 6, 2003

Westbound: Jamestown to Fargo Eastbound: Fergus Falls to Long Prairie

I awoke early on Sunday morning and went to the supermarket to use their postal substation to mail stuff home. Despite assurances received Saturday night, the counter was not yet open. I settled for getting some food for breakfast and returned to the motel. After eating, I completed packing and got going. I was on the road before 9.

When I first planned this trip, my wife expected to provide sag support. The trip from Jamestown would have skipped Fargo and continued to Wahpeton. From there I would have gone to Long Prairie. Riding alone, especially after falling, I adjusted that to stop at Fargo and to insert Fergus Falls on the way to Long Prairie. From Fargo, Minnesota would not let me ride on I 94. Consequently, I had two informed choices. I could follow the Adventure Cycling Route or go down I 29 to Wahpeton and then east and a little north to Fergus Falls on Minnesota 210.

Following the storm in Bismarck, the weather had been good but hot. Now after two days, the threat of thunderstorms was returning. The forecasters’ best guess was that the line of squalls on Sunday would move east through or north of Fargo rather than south. To me that argued for heading south first and then east. And so I headed down I 29.

The road was fine. As I write this, I don’t even remember the rumble strips, but I do remember the headwind. All the way down I 29 I had to work hard to maintain 9 mph. And it got hot. Consequently the journey that I thought would be just over two hours took until nearly 1 pm to reach Minnesota at Breckinridge.

Breckinridge is not a large town. The main street runs east from the bridge across the Red River. On the north side of the street one finds a very nice family style restaurant where I got a good French Dip with unlimited refills on the the Coca Cola. They were very nice.

After a good long rest, some reading, and refueling, I was ready to finish the day to Fergus Falls. The Minnesota highway was good to very good most of the way. I did not nearly fly down the road, but without a headwind, progress was steady and comfortable. The one hill I noticed brought me to the Fergus Falls interchange on I 94 with its attendant support services, including the Super 8 where I hoped to sleep. They had room, there was a restaurant next door, and the stairs were only a little annoying. I was happy.

The restaurant would have been perfect if it were smoke free. I had a nice meal and the server was friendly and efficient, but the air was foul even though she gave me the best available location.

By the end of this day, my mood was closer to even than it had been mid-afternoon Saturday. I was ready to continue the journey by choice and not merely necessity.

About 79 miles in 7 hours on the bike for an average of about 11.2 mph.

Back up to Fargo to Cambridge

Westbound: Jamestown to Fargo Eastbound: Fergus Falls to Long Prairie