Day 4: August 8th, 2007

Distance: 51.2 mi.
Time in Motion: 3:33:56
Average: 14.7 mph
Max Speed: 31.1 mph
Miles of climbing: 14.9 mi
Miles of flat: 6.3 mi
Miles of descent: 29.8 mi

I slept in this morning, which was nice.  There were no zippers to wake me up at 4:30, for a change.  I ate breakfast, visited with mom for a while, and hit the road shortly before 8 o’clock.  I got to Park Road and rejoined the CANDISC route just as the luggage truck was leaving.  For a change, I was at the back of the pack.

I was concerned about weather when I left.  The radar showed rain, heading my way.  But the riding was good to start.

Soon I arrived at the International Peace Gardens.  The garden is beautiful, of course.  I met Justin and Nichole in the gardens.  I took a few pictures while we were there. Pictured above (on the left) I am standing in North Dakota. Justin is standing atop the border with Canada. His wife Nichole is standing in Manitoba, Canada. Here are a few more snapshots from the garden:

• Welcome to Canada
• The border crossing
• The main "mall" in the Peace Garden
• Wildflowers
• The 120' Peace Tower
• Another shot of the Peace Tower
• Yet another shot of the Peace Tower
• The Peace Chapel
• Interior of the Peace Chapel
• Rory, the bike mechanic, at work in the garden

After the Peace Garden, the three of us rode together for quite a few miles.  Nichole and I were drafting behind Justin to fight a very strong southeast wind.  But eventually they dropped me, somewhere near St John, just when the wind really picked up.  The wind was crazy.  I was very thankful to arrive in Rolla.

Justin, Nichole, and I went to Subway for supper and Dairy Queen for dessert.  Then we relaxed around camp for a while.  Many of our tents were clustered next to the school building to avoid the strong wind and the possible driving rain. It’s been sprinkling off and on all day.  The wind is still blowing.