DAY 27
Friday, July 16, 2010
New Town (via van trip first to Stanley) to Minot, ND
54 miles

We got ferried in the van back to Stanley this morning, and since our (slower) group’s vanload arrived last at the previous hotel, our bikes remained on top of the van overnight. “And the last shall be first,” as they say, so we headed out in the van first today, and started biking ahead of the faster group.

On the way, I detoured to Berthold for coffee and a caramel roll. The coffee shop was decorated as nicely as my Mom has decorated her sewing room. I overheard a conversation in which a guy described helping out at his daughter’s church fair in Wisconsin.
“Do you know they had games and rides, and even beer? Whoever heard of a church having beer at a family festival??”
“Well, they are a bit more liberal in Wisconsin than we are here.”
“And then by the end of it, when we were cleaning up, they told us we were having too much fun, and that was the end of that. They never had beer again!”

I biked along pretty purple fields of flax, and yellow fields of rape seed (used to make canola oil) today. Other than that, not too much to write. We’re in Minot at a Comfort Inn for two nights, smack in the heart of “big box” stores. Minot’s not that big, but there’s an Air Force Base here that feeds the economy.

Anyway, here’s my favorite recipe that Linda has made at the trailer on this trip. Keep in mind that it feeds 30!

CUBAN CHICKEN STEW
8 lb chicken thighs
¾ C flour
1 tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
1 tsp paprika
½ C olive oil
3 chopped onions
3 chopped bell peppers
¼ C minced garlic
1 TB minced fresh oregano
1 C chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper
¾ C tomato sauce
1 C chopped green olives
½ C drained capers
¾ C raisins
1 ½ C red wine

Mix flour, S & P, and paprika
Dredge thighs and shake off excess.
Brown in ½ oil on all sides.
Remove and drain fat, add rest of oil, onion, peppers, and cook to soft.
Add garlic, oregano, and cilantro.
Season with S & P. Stir in tomato sauce, olives, capers, raisins and wine.
(Add a little chicken broth for more sauce).
Return chicken and juices and simmer until completely tender, about 1 hour.

Veggie version: Omit chicken, use veggie broth, tofu and beans.

Serve over rice.


DAY 28
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Zero miles – a layover day in Minot, ND

Peggy and I took our bikes to the mall next door, where there’s a sports store with a really good bike shop. She had to have her rear hub re-packed since it was leaking fluid. And I needed to get a new chain, since mine had gotten old and stretched. The upside of this is that I didn’t have to clean my bike and chain today!

At the bike store I also bought this stuff called Chamois Butt’r, which sort of speaks for itself. I never knew it existed before this trip, but fellow riders had given me welcome gifts of little packets of it earlier in the ride. We have gotten to know each other’s ailments quite well. “Hey Kit, how are your hemorrhoids?” someone will yell across the parking lot. “Are your abrasions any better?” “Did the sinus antibiotics kick in?” There’s not much decorum to be found, but it’s always with a lot of caring. We’re a motley crew, and I’d guess in normal life we might not have found each other as friends, but on this ride we certainly have.

Peggy and I took a walk in nearby neighborhoods this morning, and stopped at a few yard sales. Later on, I got a haircut at the mall. In the evening, several of us went next door to the Alaska Grill for steaks and ate outside. Jackie, the owner of the biking company, is with us for a few nights, so she and her sister ate with us.


DAY 29
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Minot to Rugby, ND
67 miles that I cheated by riding in the van

No pictures for a few days now, since the countryside is very consistently prairie and pasture and fields. Today was our last day to ride on Route 2, which most recently has been a 4-lane divided highway with a 70 mph speed limit. Since the shoulder has been of varying widths, I just haven’t felt as safe as I’d like while riding. So today, I didn’t.
Since our total mileage will be more like 1800+ miles than the previously expected 1600 miles, I’ve relaxed about biking every mile. I’m glad that starting tomorrow, we’re all done with Route 2, and group #1 has passed on great enthusiasm for the scenery in store for us.