New Salem, North Dakota to Bismarck, North Dakota - August 13, 2021

Sunflower Fields Forever 🌻 

It was colder last night. As long as I don’t start getting chills down my sides, I tend to sleep better when the temperature is low.

Getting out of the tent, I threw on my fleece jacket and had a bite on a pile of concrete pieces that were stacked at the corner of the field. They were in the sun. I was a little lizard. 

After packing, I rolled downhill to Tellmann’s Market before leaving New Salem. Hits from the 50’s were playing inside and outside of the store. I had more to eat at the plastic table outside, then pedaled down the road toward Bismarck.

Millennium Trail (Mandan)

Trail Marker

Closing in on my destination, I was impressed by the Millennium Trail, linking Mandan and Bismarck. In populated areas, it’s a relief to have designated bicycle trails to ride. Honestly, all communities should have these transportation routes, especially paralleling busy highways. In one hundred years, the routes that cyclists use will be remarkably safer in the States.

Crossing the Missouri into Bismarck

Exiting the route, I spotted Caribou Coffee. I entered a vortex there for ninety minutes, writing and doing a little research.

I then moved to the Bismarck Public Library and uploaded pictures to a couple of neglected blog posts and relaxed. Later, while outside, I took a picture of a recently planted tree and uploaded it to comTree.

Bismarck Public

Moving deeper into Bismarck, I cycled to the Motel 6 where I had made my reservation for the night. I was happy to have a place in town despite the fantastic amount of cigarette butts in the parking lot and the grimy interior of the unit.