Fargo, North Dakota to Fergus Falls, Minnesota - July 12, 2023

Arrival / Goodbye Amtrak

We arrived at the Fargo train station just after five o'clock in the morning. After loading our bikes, we took a spin around the city, appreciating the quiet streets and minimal traffic.

At six o'clock, Third Drop Coffee opened its doors. We savored a bite to eat and mapped out the first leg of our journey.

Third Drop

Leaving Fargo and crossing into Minnesota, we made a stop at Hopperstad Stave, a replica of a Norwegian church. The well-maintained grounds, where a number of turkeys freely roamed, must undoubtedly instill a sense of pride in those of Norwegian descent.

Hopperstad Stave

After cycling about twenty-five miles, we arrived in Barnesville. Main Street was closed off, preparing for repaving. Don and I took a slight detour through tidy neighborhoods, eventually returning to the main drag where we found the Purple Goose restaurant. We took a break there, enjoyed some food, and poached a little power from a nearby outlet.

Purple Goose

For the final leg of the journey, we pedaled along tranquil roads for approximately thirty-five miles into the town of Fergus Falls. We stopped at a supermarket to pick up dinner and breakfast items. Before going inside, we encountered two young cyclists traversing the Northern Tier from east to west. These girls, who had started their journey in Portland, Maine, planned to finish in Seattle, and they provided us with an encouraging review of the route we were about to follow.

Train

Just outside the store, Don struck up a conversation with a gentleman who recommended a nearby park with picnic benches. After attaching our food to our bikes, we headed there to enjoy an early dinner, uncertain of what the mosquito situation would be like at our anticipated campsite.

Dinner Parking

Post-dinner, we treated ourselves at an ice cream parlor. We both ordered single-scoop cones, but were slightly alarmed after receiving double scoops at no extra cost. Donald generously covered the bill (Thanks, Donald!).

We then cycled another 3.5 miles to Delagoon Park, located just off the bike trail. After setting up our tents, we washed off the day's grime with a refreshing dip in the lake. As always, the bracing lake water was well worth it.

Lake View

As the sun started to set, a family pulled their vehicle in next to us. I can't say I've previously encountered a situation where people spent 1.5 hours setting up their tent.

We cycled sixty-three miles today.