COVID CROSS

Covid Cross Day #31 July 4, 2020 Dickinson, ND to Wilbaux, MT 73 Miles Start 6:46 AM Finish 4:02 PM Ride Time 7:28 Ascent 1785 Feet Descent 1576 Feet Tour Total 2656 Miles Details at:  https://cyclemeter.com/3f1ef27914a4c684/Cycle-20200704-0646-95335 This year’s bike tour is also a fundraiser for the Montana COVID-19 Fund, supporting Montana Native American communities. Please give what you can, a penny a mile ($40) or $10 a state ($160). https://www.mtcf.org/Giving/Give-Now?fn=Montana+COVID-19+Fund There was lightning on the horizon last night as I slipped into my tent. I slept on a cement slab up against a picnic table underneath a pavilion at Patterson Lake Recreation Area. The lake was nearby to the south and there was an adjacent volleyball court and barbecue grills. I don’t know what time the rain started pelting the side of my tent. Because I had set up on concrete there was no way to stake my tent in place. The fly and the tent were being blo...

Covid Cross Day #32 July 5, 2020 Wilbaux, MT to Circle, MT 80 Miles Start 8:17 AM Finish 6:07 PM Ride Time 8:18 Ascent 1455 Feet Descent 1702 Feet Tour Total 2736 Miles Details at:  https://cyclemeter.com/3f1ef27914a4c684/Cycle-20200705-0817-53257 I slept great last night in ghetto cabin number five on the other side of the door to the public bathroom at Beaver Valley RV and Cabins in Wilbaux. I was still used to Central Time and woke up early with the sun, but was able to turn over and get a few more winks. Everything was dry, clean, and charged. For those keeping track, I was at level one. It was drizzling when I went outside, so I put on my rain jacket. I regret that I was too tired last night to go to the Shamrock bar, which seemed like it was still hopping at midnight. Wilbaux only had 589 people, but it was a lively little town with some great bars and restaurants. This morning as I rode back through town, there was a musician setting up his equipment i...

Covid Cross Day #33 July 6, 2020 Circle, MT to Jordan, MT 68 Miles Start 8:43 AM Finish 4:20 PM Ride Time 6:24 Ascent 2095 Feet Descent 1943 Feet Tour Total 2805 Miles Details at:  https://cyclemeter.com/3f1ef27914a4c684/Cycle-20200706-0843-76206 I slept well last night on the cement slab underneath the picnic pavilion at the City Park in Circle. It didn't rain, but I was playing it safe. My Thermarest was so good that I could sleep comfortably anywhere. I woke up with the sun. I made use of the electrical outlet to recharge my devices. I finished yesterday‘s report on the picnic table this morning. I finally performed a micro adjustment on my saddle, which had been slightly out of whack since New Salem. It was already windy and the sun was bright. I ran into Bill on the main strip. He was coming back from the grocery store. He joined me at the Lunchbox, where I ordered an egg and bacon burrito, a large mocha latte, and three bottles of orange juice. The brea...

Covid Cross Day #34 July 7, 2020 Jordan, MT to Winnett, MT 77 Miles Start 6:57 AM Finish 2:53 PM Ride Time 6:34 Ascent 2710 Feet Descent 2393 Feet Tour Total 2881 Miles Details at:  https://cyclemeter.com/3f1ef27914a4c684/Cycle-20200707-0657-18241 I slept well in my tent in Jimmy Kariotis Park across the highway from the CENEX station in Jordan. The temperature went down to the mid-sixties last night and it was perfect sleeping weather. I didn't hear any traffic from nearby Highway 200. There was condensation under my fly this morning, which I thought was odd for 2500 feet elevation. I used the park outhouse and filled my water bottles from the spigot. My next stop would be Summit Corral for breakfast. Riding up the hill my rear derailleur cable snapped. I repaired it out front of the restaurant before going in for breakfast. The spare cable was from Mike’s Bike & Hike in Richmond, KY. It took five minutes to fix. I met a friendly rancher at Summit Corr...