North Dakota

Hope Fire Hall aka Home for the Night
Allen Dunkel was my contact for Hope North Dakota he got a place to stay at the fire hall
Pee kin at our clothes in Pekin ND
Pekin Prairie View Lodge

When I got to town there was just this Lodge I contacted the owner and told him what I was doing and so Keith Forde said he would give me a room for the night. I was once again blessed by the kindness of others. The other bike riders were happy to have a bed to sleep on. I guess a 65.00 room free and another night to take our sheets off . Thank you Girls! Welcome to Pekin

When we walked the block to town we discovered Pekin was the home of the largest judged art show and sale in North Dakota. Since this would occur two weeks later, we were treated to a sneak preview. It was especially meaningful as so many of the scenes were of things we were seeing along our route.

A House once on now in Devil's Lake ND
Devil's Lake ND
Pelicans at Devil's Lake outside Minnewaukan
ND
Lilac

Donna, Memorial Diner Owner

I met a man on the road he was asking me about my ride I told him it was for my uncle for habitat for humanity. I ask him where a good place to eat breakfast he said in Granville, at the Memorial Diner. Then when I got there I seen his truck, He said. in here so we went in and had breakfast.When I asked Donna, the owner, for our checks, she informed us that Lance Johnson had already beat us to the cafe and paid for our breakfasts. We were overwhelmed. Lance works on an oil rig at night. When he gets off work he maintains the roadside rest area. On his way home to his family and some much deserved sleep, he stopped off to anonymously buy us breakfast. How could we not fall in love with the people in North Dakota?

Louis Arnold, Diane Streifel, Rod Wolf, Helen Arnold ($10 donation)
Esmond ND
Rugby, ND Geographic Center of North America

It was fun being in Rugby, the Geographic Center of North America. We snapped photos of ourselves at the official marker

Rugby ND

Minot ND

Church Secretary Sally Verstraete and Pastor Rick Fossum

I met Pastor Rick Fossum of the United Methodist Church. He took me home for lunch and I got my laundry done. I also met Sally Verstraete, the church secretary who took me into town to get some new pants. Sally also brought us food for tomorrow's breakfast. I got all this special treatment while the girls were spending time at the bike shop.

Deer one of many
Stanley, ND is famous as the home of the Whirl A Whip. This is a special kind of flavored whipped ice cream. Carol and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Stanley ND
Stanley ND

We were greeted at the Lutheran Church by Minister Mark Narum. He offered us everything we need for our comfort and more. When we went to explore downtown Stanley, we saw the local paper with Pastor Mark's picture on the front page. Congratulations were in order as he has just been promoted to Bishop.
Newly Promoted Bishop Mark Narum
so many wonderful looking horses




Yellow headed black bird
Raggy and Andy made of hay
Williston North Dakota
As Anna had just taken us on a field trip to visit Fort Union
Brandon, Doug and Anna Hoffman, Williston, ND
We arrived in town Anna was working the polling place for the local election and Doug was at work as business manager for the Trenton School District. In spite of this, they invited us to let ourselves into their home, never having met us. We were grateful to be in out of the weather. Anna and I had talked lots of times on the phone I had made a contact with here before I left Warrensburg . So i guess we were not total strangers. They are a Warm Shower contact for Bicyclist.