July 28 - day 33

July 28 – day 33
Start – Bowman, ND
End – Elgin, ND
Miles – Marcee (50.4), Larry (about 26) – total 76
Start time – 722am, and about 220pm
End time – 1245pm and about 530pm
Miles driven (not ridden) – 26
Weather – overcast in the 70’s (nice!)

Rumble strips on the shoulder or white line serve a nice purpose to let drivers know when they are getting too far over.  They are just a little tough to ride the shoulder with.  This is what we found on most of the ride today. We started riding US 12 from Bowman and then drove Hwy 22 from about Reeder to the junction of Hwy22 and Hwy21 and then rode east on Hwy 21 to Elgin.

Since we were plotting out own route we were looking for help from locals.  In Mott we met Owen who had biked from Arizona to California with his son.  He was very gracious in taking some time to talk about route possibilities.  Lanny at Olson’s food store was the one who drove us down to the Good Samaratin Nursing Home to visit with Owen. 

Rancher Robert Martin who owns and runs the Flat Top Ranch stopped for a chat as we were getting ready to switch riders in Mott.  Robert was born on the ranch 80 years ago.  Wow.  That is a different life than I know.  The UPS man stopped to make a personal delivery to Robert but when he walked up to us he discovered that the package was for a different Martin.

We decided to get a motel in Elgin and found the Crossroads Motel run by Pam and Paul to be very suitable.  For under $50 we got a clean room with wifi and of course a bed which we really appreciated!  This motel came at the recommendation of Brad at the grocery store in New Leipzig 7 miles west.