Day 1: August 5th, 2007

Distance: 61.3 mi.
Time in Motion: 4:23:45
Average: 14.0 mph
Max Speed: 25.8 mph
Miles of climbing: 20.8 mi
Miles of flat: 12.2 mi
Miles of descent: 28.2 mi
Feet climbed: 961 ft.

I got up about 5:30 and was on the road by 6.  First, I stopped for breakfast at “Kyle’s Katering” in Garrison and then I headed eastward.  It was a cloudy morning with a threat of rain to the south.  But the start of the ride was calm and cool.  The sunrise was very dramatic. Once we turned north the wind picked up and the sky cleared.

Along the way, Little Flower Church from nearby Minot hosted the first two rest stops.  The first was nice, but the second was even better.  They had a clever theme.  As I rode along I passed some very professional-looking road signs.  One of them said “Nuns working ahead.”  Honestly, I rode right past it expecting road construction ahead.  But then it hit me … “did that say NUNS?”  I made a u-turn and, sure enough, the sign indicated that some sisters would be running the next rest stop.

As I rode along, I pondered whether they would be real nuns.  They could be, I thought.  But most likely they’re frauds.  After all, there aren’t that many nuns left up here in North Dakota.  And I don’t know of any associated with that church. Soon, I came across a second road sign that warned me I must "be prepared to eat" and a third one that exclaimed I was about to enter "burrito heaven." I wasn't sure I wanted to enter "burrito" heaven, but I kept pedaling anyway. I wasn't disappointed.

When I got to the rest stop, I laughed out loud.  These "sisters" had habits made from black cloth and white, plastic milk jugs cut in half.  There were “priests” as well, wearing black t-shirts with white squares stuck to their collars.  These religious folk were serving up some delicious breakfast burritos.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t hungry just yet.

The next rest stop was operated by the Velva High School cheerleaders.  It was titled the “spirit stop!”  (I think an exclamation point is warranted for excited cheerleaders.)  The whole squad cheered as I rode up to buy their concessions and take a break. 

As I pedaled along today I met Agent7719, a fellow geocacher named Ed, from the Minot Air Force Base.  We talked for quite a while as we rode along. 

Before long I arrived in Velva and set up camp in their amazing city park.  I love staying in Velva on these tours.  Their whole town is perfect for hosting bicyclists.  And the local residents work extremely hard every time the tour comes to their town.