The CANDISC

We left on Sat., August 2, for Fort Stevenson State Park by Garrison. After we registered we set up camp and waited for supper which was a taco feed. After supper the "Guitar Guys" sang some 70's music which I enjoyed.

DAY 1:
During the night we had a deluge and high winds and everyone had wet tents and sleeping bags by morning. So the start of my first day was in the rain. Thankfully the wind had gone down and it was just a nice gentle rain. But my windbreaker wasn't waterproof so I was getting pretty wet. About every 10-15 miles they had a rest stop set up with porta-potties and water and sometimes different groups from the surrounding towns would sell muffins, cookies, trail mix, gatorade and other goodies for us to buy. The sun came out around 11 am. but I was still a little soggy by the time I got to Beulah, our next stop over. I rode with my new bike seat the first day and even though I had not front pressure, my "sit bones" were getting quite sore by the end of 67 miles. There were a lot more hills than I expected, my legs and knees were pretty tired and sore by the time I got there. It was a nice fairly cool ride in the morning because of the rain and clouds and after the sun came out I think it got up to 78 degrees. Curt got me a cheeseburger and Georgia Mud Fudge Blizzard after I got to camp. I left camp around 7:30 am and got to Beulah around 2 pm.CDT. For supper they had fresh fried walleye caught at a fishing derby on Lake Sakakawea. It was delicious! They had a gospel group called "Undivided" for the evening entertainment that was very good.

DAY 2:

Woke up feeling great! No aches or pains from the previous day :) The morning was cool and cloudy with a few sprinkes but made for great riding. To start out of Beulah was a mile long hill. Most of the day was one climb after another but they were nice and gradual inclines for the most part. In Glen Ulin the rest stop had an Hawaiian theme and they gave us each a lei, lip balm and a fan. The food was always good at all the stops but you had to make sure you took a lot of money along. It was only 47 miles to Hebron so I got there by 11:30 am. There was a big grassy area behind the Luthern church that they had marked out like a monopoly board to mark the camping spots. We camped on Conneticut Ave. After showering at the school gym we spent the rest of the day walking around Hebron and took in a movie "The Incredible Hulk". It was a very well kept old theatre.

DAY 3:

It was suppose to be sunny and hot so I got an early start while it was cool. It was a fairly steady climb to start but by Richardton there was a nice 10 miles or so that were fairly flat. A man from Bemiji, rode along side me for a while which helped to pass the time when you have someone to talk to. For the most part of the ride I usually ride alone. The last 30 miles of the ride this day were difficult. I was using my old seat both yesterday and today and had a lot of front pressure pain even though I was trying to take frequent stops and stand up a few seconds at a time to take the pressure off, but nothing was helping. I had a pity party and asked myself why I was doing this to myself because this was not enjoyable. And the plan started formulating in my head that I might not finish the ride. I arrived at Belfield at 12:30 pm. It had taken me 6 hours to go 60 miles. But I made it! Curt and I went swimming at the public pool after we made a trip to Dickenson to buy him a swimsuit and I bought a new outfit. You see I had packed for biking, not thinking that after you bike, you shower and need clean clothes to put on. So far I just wore the clothes that I had on the first day. Knowing that we would be spending the next day in Medora I wanted something clean to wear.

DAY 4:

Today was only a 19 mile ride into Medora so I was not to worried about getting an early start. I stopped at the Painted Canyon Overlook on the way there to take some pictures and then on to the Medora Campground. It is a really nice campground with nice showers and a laundry. After I got there we drove through the National Park. Many of the bikers rode the 36 mile loop but I know I would never have made the hills. They are steep and curvy! I really admired the ones that could do it! Then we cleaned up and headed into Medora and spent the day going into every shop there was and the Harold Schafer Heritage Center, he was the one primarly responsible for restoring Medora to what it is today and for building the amphitheater where the musical is performed. That night 3oo of the CANDISC bikers attended the musical and most of us wore our orange CANDISC T-shirts, so we were very visible as a group. They always put on a great show!

I decided that day that I wanted to go to Lincoln to see Angela before she left for Mexico. I made it to the Badlands, 190 miles. Further than I ever thought possible a year ago. Maybe next year I'll take another go at it, maybe not. Who knows! But it was a great experience and one that I am glad I had. The Lord watched over me and I didn't have any breakdowns, flat tires or injuries and He even sent a few meadowlarks to cheer me on!