Fargo, ND

This morning we woke to find ourselves drenched in dew and absolutely freezing. It was a shock. I think we definitely forgot there could be moisture in the air.
After another delicious breakfast provided by the Graysons, checking each other for ticks, and fixing Ellie’s brake that was about to destroy her tire, we set off on another 100-mile day. As we were biking out of Minniwauken, trying to find our route, we came to a dead end street. Instead of retracing our steps, we just picked up our bikes and walked the twenty feet over the grass to our highway. (For some reason this started happening a lot today).
With the wind coming straight from the north (which was not only annoying but cold), we slowly made our way east bound, continuously hoping for a bend in the road taking us more south. We finally made it to snack. After over an hour of relaxation, we were finally coaxed back onto the road. After only five miles or so, a woman waved us down on the side of the road and out from behind her car came a cameraman. They asked if they could talk to us, explaining that they were from the Valley Live News stationed in Fargo, ND. They asked first Sarah then Renzo and I a few questions about our trip. (It was on the news tonight at 5:00, 5:30, and 6:00 on the local channels 4 and 11). Then they took video of us riding from every possible angle. However, it was short lived entertainment and we found ourselves with thirty more miles of fighting the wind before lunch.
Lunch was a quick but delicious meal, allowing us plenty of time to get to the Episcopal Cathedral in Fargo where we were planning on spending the night. The twenty miles after lunch consisted pretty much of riding with the wind. This made Sarah, Ellie, and Gwen find themselves far in the lead and making a wrong turn. After a couple of phone calls, they decided to forge their own route while the rest of stuck to the map.
For the rest of us (My father, Parker, Renzo, and me), we found ourselves biking down a dirt road. About mid-way down, Parker’s front tire hit Renzo’s back one causing him to veer uncontrollably off the road and into someone’s field. He came up unscathed and laughing pretty hard.
After a quick (or not so quick) ice-cream stop, we made it to the cathedral. I am sitting in one of the back rooms right now and it is unbelievable. The pastor found a cook who prepared both lasagna and chicken noodle soup for us. After eating an absolutely delicious meal, some of us headed off to Scheel’s for a few bike necessities but ended up riding a single-speed around the parking lot for twenty minutes.
Even though today was pretty fun, we are all very excited for tomorrow which includes Parker’s seventeenth birthday, our half-way point, and a whole new state: Minnesota!

By Ellen