Minnesota

Minnesota (Men-a-soda)
after 2000 miles.... mutiny begins the other 2 riders did not want to do any more long mileage.......the Whining begins
Debbie and Bruce Cochran, Milaca, MN
Debbie and Bruce Cochran,home in Milaca, MN

I arrived in Milaca and went to church where I was adopted by Bruce and Debbie Cochran. Debbie asked me jokingly if I liked to arrange furniture. I jumped right in on their home and Bruce said it does look better. One of my favorite pastimes is arranging furniture. Barbara said...Man, that's impressive after riding 74 miles. I was happy to have a hot shower.Debbie has invited us to have dinner tonight, breakfast tomorrow morning

Pastor Bakewicz and Karen, home in Long Prairie MN

I did not have a contact in Long Prairie and arrived with no place to stay. By the time the girls caught up with me in town, we had been invited to stay in the private home of Pastor Bill Bakewicz and his wife Karen of the Lutheran Church. They live outside of town approximately 5 miles and when we arrived with appetites for lunch we were treated to home made venison sausage.When we 3 girls got up at 4:00am I fixed a piece of toast and it was thin bread with a hole in it, It set off the fire-alarm which i could not reach to fan, Karen came running out of her room I was so embarrassed......no more toast for Pam.
Loon at Glendalough State Park
Wild rice is native to Minnesota
Battle Lake MN
Craig and Wendy Molstad have generously donated 2 nights lodging at their "Battle Lake Motel" so we have a day off. Craig is the executive director of the regional office of Habitat for Humanity in this area. He has spearheaded the building of one Habitat house each year for the nine years he has been in this position. Wendy runs the motel as well as being a busy mom of Gunnar and Georgia.
Craig has taken the time to give us a tour of Glendalough State Park and the Battle Lake Community. In the park we spotted Loons, Red Ring Pheasant, huge Mayflies, even wild rice growing in the lake. Craig interviewed us for an article for the local paper AND he is sacrificing by getting up at "0 dark thirty" to get a picture of us ready to ride.
3 of us biking chicks

I seen lots of trucks moving dirt. This is why....
GeeseLarge Yard ART
Buffalo
This man was from Fargo, When I stop for breakfast he wanted to pay for mine . He said Its nice that your out doing God's work. and wanted to thank me.

One of many Churches that I seen, I liked this one . Kristin Johnson, Family Minister, Glyndon, MN

We are extremely grateful to Kristin Johnson for hosting us tonight in the Lutheran Church in Glyndon, MN
Jen of Island Park Cycles, Fargo ND

She got my bike all ready to roll on......
Ducklings at the sugar factory

Fargo , Minnesota

There was an awesome bike shop in downtown Fargo, Island Park Cycles. There were five mechanics and they had recently relocated the 20 year old store to larger quarters in an old railroad depot.
From Depot to Bike Shop

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.

Montana

Car Wash & Winery , Culbertson MT

Culbertson Montana.

I had to stop for the night here I had planned it out to do so.

Look Grand kids there is a town named after us.
Mary Lou Weeks and Barbara in Culbertson Montana where we spent the night. Mary Lou's daughter Laurie Mattelin dashed over to the church on her lunch hour to prepare a homemade lasagna she made for us.Mary Lou Weeks came to the church to welcome us and give us the grand tour of Culbertson. We loved the Culbertson Museum. It is filled with artifacts, which are beautifully displayed and depict life over the years on the Prairie. A bill for a doctor's visit, $3.00. We saw antique farm implements, ladies hats, even hand made quilts. She also showed us the Missouri Breaks, the reddish hills which make up the banks of the Missouri River.
Wolfpoint Montana

Pastor George and Gerry Draper

Gerry and George was ready for I had made contact with them before the trip i could not wait to meet them both. His Christianity and the Love for the Lord was great to be around. This is when I got to eat Rhubarb pie. Gerri loves to water color painting and in the evening they walk out to the garden with there cat Sammy what a sweet couple . For them so hope up there hearts and home to us. I am pleased to have met them in person.

Red Fox and Supper in Montana
Coyote in Montana
Baby Great Horned Owls
Antelope

Malta, Montana

Saint Mary's Church in Malta where Father Jim was amazed that we had come 92 miles on bicycles.
Glasgow, Montana
Reverend Susan Watterson honored us by asking us to speak at the Sunday Church service. It was especially festive because they were celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the United Congregational Church of Glasgow.They also paid for our room at the Star Lodge Motel(The lady in the picture runs the motel told me about her granddaughter Isabella 5 years old was in a horse accident they community was raising money to help her surgery she still where the pin on her shirt.) It was a lovely church and the service was especially enjoyable with an organist who played Bach and a five member chorus who harmonized beautifully both with accompaniment and a Capella.

Pam and Laurel LeChance at Bikini Espresso Shop, Chinook, MT





A train runs through it.



I do believe this was the train that caught me squatting down by my bike.

Chester Montana
Our usual oatmeal coffee breakfast at the church in Chester Montana
Antique wooden grain elevator, Lothair MT

Windy in Montana
Arrangements I made with Mike Koeke we are in the Priest's Rectory in the Cut Bank Catholic Church. Another gift.
Mike Koeke and Pam

Rebecca and Cody, Two Medicine Grill

www.whistlingswanmotel.com/TwoMedicineGrill/twomedicinegrill.html

Rebecca, our waitress in Two Medicine Grill was telling us with her story of how she lives in a Tepee in the mountains near East Glacier, MT for four months of the year. The reason she only lives there for four months is because East Glacier has snow for the other eight months of the year. I asked if she ever had trouble with bears. She said she sees bears all the time, but depends upon her three trained bear dogs for protection.

We had many restaurants listed on our map, but every one was closed on Monday. We were finally able to pull into the Half-Way House in Essex on the Marias Pass. Ron and Myrna Sullens, our hosts. They fixed a awesome breakfast. But, since we laughed so hard at Ron's non stop monologue he was glad to let us stay as long as we wished. When I got there I asked Ron how far to East Glacier , I thought he was kidding me. we both started joking back and forth, Then the other riders came in.



Lake McDonald


Park Ranger Sam Thornton
A donated free night at the Mountain Pine Motel in East Glacier. I had made contact with a park ranger, Sam Thornton, through the Internet. He came to the motel to meet us and gave us a stunning tour of East Glacier, by car. We got to see a bear and goats.



http://www.shilohvalley.com/
Coram Montana
Barbara and I visited Pastor Fox's church service which he leads every Sunday in his home, The Bear Den. He even incorporated our Habitat Ride into his sermon and the congregation offered prayers for our safe journey

I had made contact with Pastor Tod fox before the tour. our accommodations in Coram, MT. We are being hosted in luxury by Pastor Tod Fox in the Fox Den. We are even able to stay an extra night for a day off.

Whitefish Montana
WhiteFish ,Montana

Whitefish United Methodist Church, Montana

I was always greeted by such nice people Ronica Hall helped me by taking a package to the post office and letting me use the PC and

a newspaper photographer from Hungry Horse stopped by the church for the 3rd interview I had given today .

Pam, Isaac and Lola, Eureka MT

I heard a "ping" going up the mountain. I knew I broke a spoke. I was flagging down a car and kept a positive attitude by reminding myself, "I'm thankful it's not raining. I'm thankful it's not hot. I'm thankful I have plenty of water." The woman who picked me up had a small car, but managed to squeeze my bike in after she put her grandson, Isaac, in the back seat. Lola lives in Eureka, so she gave me a ride to our donated room at the Ksanka Motel. She even offered to drive me into Whitefish the following morning where there is a full service bike shop.

The Mountain that I was climbing just before I broke a rear spoke.Oh But it was such a beautiful sight

Lake Koocanusa Bridge
Longest in Montana

Montana,Kootenai River

Libby Montana

We are treated tonight by Gerri Fink She prepared snacks for us, then a beautiful meal. She wouldn't tell us what it was, she called it a "sussy", a surprise from South Texas. It was King Ridge Casserole with chicken, cheese, tortillas, tomatoes and green chilies. She included all the trimmings and even a pecan pie. she said, "My house, my rules. You don't clean a dish or make a bed in my house. And if you need anything be sure and ask."so we didn't strip the sheets.

Libby Montana

http://www.libby.org/

Stokr (Scenic Tour Of the Kootenai River )
Susie Rice & her husband Greg showed up on their tandem at 5:30 AM to escort us out of town.

We have also been interviewed by Susie Rice for the local paper. Susie and her husband are cyclists and active here with Habitat for Humanity. They organize a bicycle ride here every year called the Stokr. They raised over $38,000 for Habitat for Humanity with the ride this year. This accounts for most of the operating budget for Habitat for Humanity in Libby, MT and has enabled this affiliate to build seven houses. Susie has offered to escort us out of town tomorrow morning on her bicycle at whatever hour we choose.

Montana
Montana

I was amazed that these Killdeer eggs survived in the front yard with all the elk,deer,Because they do not allow hunting on this property the elk and deer graze on their front yard and swim in the pond morning and evening.
Killdeer
The Osprey were diving for fish in the pond

Mike and Nancy also have a pet llama which hangs out with the wild animals.
Amber Bear Inn. Heron Montana

We had to turn off onto a hilly dirt road for 3/4 of a mile into the woods. Where was Pam leading us this time?Questioned Barb. Mike and Nancy retired from the corporate world and built a 10,000 square foot B and B situated in the middle of a 400 acre wildlife sanctuary. They were closed Tuesday and gave us the run of the place. They were so generous to us in every way.
Our room, since I was the one that got all the accommodations set up I always got a bed of my own.Carol said to me that if there is only one bed you get it. for all the work that I had done.One of the requirements that I ask of the girls was that they gladly removed the sheets off the bed. after all the places were giving us a gift to stay there for free. I said that's the least thing we could give-back as a thank you.

Mike and Nancy Masten



http://www.amberbearinn.com/