Northern Tier - Itinerary - Including Rest



Anacortes Washington to Bar Harbor Maine


This is a rough attempt at an overall itinerary. It’s tough to plan rest days with accuracy. What is shown here is a best guess. It’s safe to say that about every seven days some rest will be needed. My experience on my last two trans-continental tours has been when resting, two days is reasonable, but more could be required depending on overall health and fitness. I’m not as young as I used to be. I was 65 years old on my first trans-con, 68 on my second, now I’m a bit older at 72. All three tours are on different routes. This tour will complete the trans-continental trifecta. Since I haven’t done this route before, it basically comes down to a guess…


Washington

Ride Day Date Start End Miles Daily Miles
1 6/1 Anacortes Sedro Woolley 25 —
1 6/1 Sedro Woolley Marblemount 41 66
2 6/2 Marblemount Mazama 74 74
3 6/3 Mazama Twisp 25 —
3 6/3 Twisp Okanogan 39 64
4 6/4 Okanogan Tonasket 28 —
4 6/4 Tonasket Republic 39 67
5 6/5 Republic Kettle Falls 41 41
6 6/6 Kettle Falls Ione 46 46
7 6/7 Ione Newport 49 49
8 6/8 Newport WA Sandpoint ID 29 29
— 6/9 **Rest** **Rest** — —
— 6/10 **Rest** **Rest** — —

Idaho

Ride Day Date Start End Miles Daily Miles
9 6/11 Sandpoint Clark Fort 28 28
10 6/12 Clark Fort ID Troy MT 61 61

Montana

Ride Day Date Start End Miles Daily Miles
11 6/13 Troy Libby 20 20
12 6/14 Libby Eureka 76 76
13 6/15 Eureka Olney 36 —
13 6/15 Olney Whitefish 21 57
— 6/16 **Rest** **Rest** — —
— 6/17 **Rest** **Rest** — —
14 6/18 Whitefish Apgar 20 —
14 6/18 Apgar Essex 26 46
15 6/19 Essex East Glacier 28 28
16 6/20 East Glacier Browning 12 —
16 6/20 Browning Cut Bank 26 38
17 6/21 Cut Bank Shelby 38 38
— 6/22 **Rest** **Rest** — —
— 6/23 **Rest** **Rest** — —
18 6/24 Shelby Inverness 71 71
19 6/25 Inverness Havre 74 74
20 6/26 Havre Chinook 25 25
21 6/27 Chinook Fort Belknap 30 30
— 6/28 **Rest** **Rest** — —
22 6/29 Fort Belknap Dodson 29 29
23 6/30 Dodson Malta 22 —
23 6/30 Malta Saco 28 50
24 7/1 Saco Glasgow 56 56
25 7/2 Glasgow Frazer 40 40
26 7/3 Frazer Wolf Point 24 24
— 7/4 **Rest** **Rest** — —
27 7/5 Wolf Point VIda 29 29
28 7/6 VIda Circle 43 43
29 7/7 Circle Glendive 63 63
30 7/8 Glendive Wibaux 41 41
31 7/9 Wibaux MT Medora ND 52 52
— 7/10 **Rest** **Rest** — —

North Dakota

Ride Day Date Start End Miles Daily Miles
32 7/11 Medora Dickinson 47 47
33 7/12 Dickinson Hebron 40 —
33 7/12 Hebron Glen Ullin 15 55
34 7/13 Glen Ullin Bismark 64 64
35 7/14 Bismark Moffit 32 —
35 7/14 Moffit Hazelton 14 46
— 7/15 **Rest** **Rest** — —
— 7/16 **Rest** **Rest** — —
36 7/17 Hazelton Napoleon 35 35
37 7/18 Napoleon Gackle 41 41
38 7/19 Gackle Litchville 58 58
39 7/20 Litchville Enderlin 36 —
39 7/20 Enderlin Kindred 32 68
40 7/21 Kindred Fargo 30 30
— 7/22 **Rest** **Rest** — —
— 7/23 **Rest** **Rest** — —

Minnesota

Ride Day Date Start End Miles Daily Miles
41 7/24 Fargo ND Hitterdal MN 32 —
41 7/24 Hatterdal Richwood 25 57
42 7/25 Richwood Two Inlets 36 —
42 7/25 Two Inlets Lake Itasca 23 59
43 7/26 Lake Itasca Bemidji 38 38
44 7/27 Bemidji Walker 32 —
44 7/27 Walker Hackensack 13 45
— 7/28 **Rest** **Rest** — —
— 7/29 **Rest** **Rest** — —
45 7/30 Hackensack Backus 8 —
45 7/30 Backus Pine River 10 —
45 7/30 Pine River Peguot Lakes 10 —
45 7/30 Peguot Lakes Nisswa 6 —
45 7/30 Nisswa Merrifield 7 41
46 7/31 Merrifield Fort Ripley 31 —
46 7/31 Fort Ripley Little Falls 17 —
46 7/31 Little Falls Bowlus 14 62
47 8/1 Bowlus Morrill 31 —
47 8/1 Morrill Milaca 25 56
48 8/2 Milaca Dalbo 19 —
48 8/2 Dalbo Harris 28 47
— 8/3 **Rest** **Rest** — —
— 8/4 **Rest** **Rest** — —

Wisconsin

Ride Day Date Start End Miles Daily Miles
49 8/5 Harris Osceola WI 40 40
50 8/6 Osceola Stillwater 33 —
50 8/6 Stillwater Minnespolix 29 62
51 8/7 Minnespolix Hager City 78 78
52 8/8 Hager City Maiden Rock 14 —
52 8/8 Maiden Rock Alma 32 46
— 8/9 **Rest** **Rest** — —
53 8/10 Alma Trempealeau 37 —
53 8/10 Trempealeau La Crosse 27 64
54 8/11 La Crosse Lansing IA 36 36

Iowa

Ride Day Date Start End Miles Daily Miles
55 8/12 Lansing Elkader 43 43
56 8/13 Elkader Dyersville 42 —
56 8/13 Dyersville Cascade 20 62
57 8/14 Cascade Muscatine 74 74
— 8/15 **Rest** **Rest** — —

Illinois

Ride Day Date Start End Miles Daily Miles
58 8/16 Muscatine Cambridge 54 54
56 8/17 Cambridge Henry 57 57
57 8/18 Henry Wenona 22 —
57 8/18 Wenona Odell 35 57
58 8/19 Odell Rensselaer IN 84 84
— 8/20 **Rest** **Rest** — —
— 8/21 **Rest** **Rest** — —

Indiana

Ride Day Date Start End Miles Daily Miles
59 8/22 Rensselaer Buffalo 28 —
59 8/22 Buffalo Denver 45 73
60 8/23 Denver Monroeville 77 77
61 8/24 Monroeville Defiance (OH) 45 45
— 8/25 **Rest** **Rest** — —

Ohio

Ride Day Date Start End Miles Daily Miles
62 8/26 Defiance Bowling Green 46 46
63 8/27 Bowling Green Fremont 38 38
64 8/28 Fremont Huron 46 46
65 8/29 Huron Cleveland 50 50
— 8/30 **Rest** **Rest** — —
— 8/31 **Rest** **Rest** — —
66 9/1 Cleveland Painesville 33 —
66 9/1 Painesville Conneaut 47 80
67 9/2 Conneaut OH Erie PA 33 —
67 9/2 Erie PA Westfield NY 31 64
— 9/3 **Rest** **Rest** — —

Note: I’m hoping to take in a Guardians game in Cleveland.


New York

Ride Day Date Start End Miles Daily Miles
68 9/4 Westfield Dunkirk 19 —
68 9/4 Dunkirk Orchard Park 46 65
69 9/5 Orchard Park Buffalo 12 —
69 9/5 Buffalo Lockport 31 —
69 9/5 Lockport Albion 28 71
70 9/6 Albion Rochester 34 34
70 9/7 Rochester Wolcott 63 63
— 9/8 **Rest** **Rest** — —
— 9/9 **Rest** **Rest** — —
71 9/10 Wolcott Pulaski 54 54
72 9/11 Pulaski Osceola 27 —
72 9/11 Osceola Boonville 24 51
73 9/12 Boonville Long Lake 75 75
74 9/13 Long Lake Toconderoga 60 60
— 9/14 **Rest** **Rest** — —
— 9/15 **Rest** **Rest** — —

Vermont and New Hampshire

Ride Day Date Start End Miles Daily Miles
75 9/16 Toconderoga NY Sharoo VT 71 71
76 9/17 Sharoo Haverhill NH 35 35
77 9/18 Haverhill NH Conway NH 76 76
— 9/19 **Rest** **Rest** — —

Maine

Ride Day Date Start End Miles Daily Miles
78 9/20 Conway NH Lewiston ME 65 65
79 9/21 Lewiston Brunswick 23 —
79 9/21 Brunswick Waldoboro 42 65
80 9/22 Waldoboro Rockport 20 —
80 9/22 Rockport Bucksport 39 59
81 9/23 Bucksport Bar Harbor 42 42

SUMMARY

Ride Days Rest Days Start Date End Date Miles / Avg Elev/ A vg
81 30 6/1 9/20 4,517 / 55 191,000 / 2,500

Averages are per/day.


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Entry # 1,713

Journal Entry - March 13, 2026


Rogue State


The real failure of America is that the richest and most powerful nation in the world — the nation that has led the world since World War II and that established the postwar international order emphasizing multilateralism, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law — is now being led by a rogue president who rejects all these values.

If you voted for that man because you thought he would be good for your 401K, because he would lower the price of gasoline, because he would end all wars around the world, or for any number of other promises he made that have all been broken, you have been duped.

Now, let’s talk about immigration. America was founded as a pluralist nation. The strength of our economy and society has always been based on the diversity of our population. You cannot have a nation of golf-playing white people and expect that nation to thrive socially and culturally.

Now, let’s talk about war. America is engaged in a genocidal war and the American people don’t even know why we are fighting it, not to mention the fact that whatever the perceived threat, it can not be solved by bombing a nation. Many U.S. allies have declared the American and Israeli action a violation of international law and a breach of the UN Charter. In what world does it make sense to wage a war without the support of your closest allies…

Now let’s talk about democracy. Never in America’s history have we been led by a man with more authoritarian desire. Authoritarianism is something that is difficult to roll back once it becomes instantiated. We have a weakened Congress that is afraid to do its job — legislate. We have an administration that has filled its leadership rolls with people that have little to no experience in the duties that have been assigned to them. We have people in positions of leadership who outwardly confess that violence and chaos are valid leadership strategies. We are watching the dismissal of anyone in government whose job it is to provide legal guardrails. These deficiencies are hallmarks of authoritarianism, not democracy.

Let’s talk about government waste. At the same time that benefits and important programs supporting Americans are being cut, Government spending is at an all time high on things that are benefiting those in power instead of the people they are supposed to be representing.

We are in for a tough time ahead. Let’s consider the possibility of a change in leadership direction. Let’s encourage our legislators to start talking to each other. Let’s consider electing representatives that are more interested in America than they are in their own wealth or self-aggrandizement.

Let’s think critically about the future of our country when we go to the polls.


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Entry #1,729

Journal Entry - March 12, 2026


Why Am I Here?


The title might lead you to think I’m asking an existential question, I’m not. What I’m asking is “why am I here and not on Facebook?” The simple answer is I look much better in print than I do in a video feed or a photo. That’s not the only reason. I’m 72 years old. All I’ve done my whole like is write (and occasionally take photos to remind myself where I’ve been). To go after “followers” and “produce content” for consumption by strangers, all the while counting my likes and follows is not something I want to spend time doing. (You can, if you prefer, insert the word “curmudgeon” in place of any pronouns used to identify me.)

Naturally, you’re about to ask me so what is a blog if not simply an old school version of a Facebook presence. Fair question. The difference, for me at least, is I am reaping the reward that comes from writing without the pressure of having to “create.” So what good is writing without pressure? It fulfills me in a private and personal way that forcing myself to produce content can’t. Also, on occasion a friend drops in to see what I’m up to. But perhaps more important than that, I’m leaving behind a legacy. Even if it is one that is largely ignored. Some of the people closest to me don’t look at these pages, that’s okay. When I’m all done writing, or when I can’t write any longer, I’m going to have all of this printed and handed out at my memorial. (As punishment for the survivors I suppose.) I’m well over a thousand pages, so you shouldn’t feel bad if you skip reading a few here and there when you are handed all this and told your dad, partner, friend, wanted you to have this. If you’re not handed this, it’s because I decided to have it buried with me instead, or cremated with me, or composted with me, I’m not sure which path I’m going to take yet. Whether your receive this or not is largely dependent on whether or not I eventually master English grammar.


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Entry #1,728

Journal Entry - March 11, 2026


Ignore What?


President Ronald Reagan signed an executive order directing in part “no person employed by or acting on behalf of the United States Government shall engage in, or conspire to engage in, assassination.” Reagan was not the first President to sign such an order. The Reagan version narrowed the scope significantly, i.e., “no person employed by or acting on behalf of.” Reagan’s version of the assassination ban remains in effect, last amended by George W. Bush in 2008.

Unfortunately, sitting Presidents are not legally bound to obey the orders of previous administrations. Most often a new administration will rescind previous orders. President Trump hasn’t revoked it, but he has chosen to ignore it.


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Entry #1,727

A Year of Living Stoically - March 3, 2026


Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 143


Which is preferred, theories alone or conduct based on theories that have been tested and proven to be of value…

Conduct takes precedence over theory every day in every way.

As Hamlet said:

”There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”

Philosophy (theories) alone will not lead to a good life. Only action taken based on sound philosophy can bring us fulfillment.


Inspiration for these thoughts courtesy of
The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
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Entry #1,719

A Year of Living Stoically - March 2, 2026


Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 142


When something is told to you, don’t allow yourself to embellish that news with your own thoughts and opinions. It’s news and that’s all it is until it has been verified. The wise man verifies carefully. In other words, he uses an enquiring mind to examine the news from all possible angles before determining what is fact and what is fiction. Even then, the door to clearer understanding is never closed.


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Entry #1,718

A Year of Living Stoically - March 1, 2026


Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 141


“Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good enough.”

It’s not about “settling.” It’s about not getting overwhelmed by idealism. Don’t look at the world through the lens of where you want the world to be, look at the world as it is and ask, what is it I should be doing to effect change?


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Entry #1,717

A Year of Living Stoically - February 28, 2026


Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 140


Abraham Lincoln was humble, self-educated and well spoken. He was deliberate, fair, open-minded and purposeful. He did all that while following a career as a politician.

It doesn’t matter if you live in the snake pit of D.C., the materialist zoo of Wall Street or you grew up in a small closed minded community, you have a choice.

You can still live well. Others have managed to do it.


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Entry #1,716

Journal Entry - March 10, 2026


What? (Continued)


Besides the love of my life and my daughters, there are few people that care more for me than my camping buddy. Honestly, he can be hammered out of his mind but when it’s time to call it, he makes sure I get into my trailer instead of walking over a cliff. He even turns on the heat in the trailer for me because he knows the digital control panel is too complicated for me… Just so there is no confusion on this topic, that is a true friend.

This post may contain some slight exaggeration, but on balance, it is basically accurate.


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Entry #1,715

Journal Entry - March 9, 2026


What?


Somewhere in the deep dark recesses of this mind, I remember writing about this topic: Why write? Just so there is no confusion, I don’t do this for you. I don’t even know who “you” is. It certainly isn’t the love of my life. (Occasionally I will read something I have written to her, when she’s half awake.) It’s not my cat. He can’t read. I tried to teach him to read so I would have a following, but that was a hopeless endeavor. It’s not my good friend that goes camping with me. As pathological as he is, I can’t even get him to read this stuff. It’s 2:40 in the morning. That should tell you everything you need to know. I do this for me. That’s it. There is no other possible explanation.

So what am I saying?

Nothing really. My vain hope is that doing this will prevent my brain from turning to Jello. I think it has already started (turning to Jello) maybe that’s why no one reads this… They don’t want to feel obligated to commit me. Still and all, I can go camping on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I can get 25 miles off road on the East Rim of the Grand Canyon above Glen Canyon Damn. How many people can say that? Damn few. Even our most respected leaders that pride themselves on knowing all and being able to do anything, have not had this experience. I consider myself blessed. So you play golf and you own golf courses all over the world… Good for you. All golf courses are pretty much the same, especially if your caddy will retrieve all of your shanks and put them back in the fairway for you. (I suppose that’s another story.) Getting back to the matter at hand, it’s now 3:10 in the morning and I probably need to try and get some sleep. Thank you for not reading this.


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Entry #1,714

Journal Entry - March 8, 2026


Blogs


What is the purpose of a blog anyway?

That’s a question with many answers. For me, a blog gives me a reason to write every day. What is the good of that you say? I don’t have a good answer. I find it fulfilling, although I’ll be the first to admit I don’t really know what that means. I think it might be a tool to help stave off the more debilitating side effects of aging, dementia in particular, but I realize there is no scientific evidence to back up that claim. Still, I’m hopeful. There is also a small part of me that wants to leave something behind. I’m not an artist or a musician, so those artifacts are beyond my ability. I worked as a software developer, but everything I built during my career has already been replaced and I’m only 7 years post-retirement. All I really have left is writing. The funny thing is no one reads this. I get it. In the age of Instagram, Facebook, Substack and god help us, X, who has time for the thoughts of one single person writing a daily blog? Perfectly understandable. A still small voice inside me says that I have something to contribute to this world, even if no one is listening. Maybe that’s the real lesson here. Do what we need to do and not worry about our influence. Many people today are more worried about their influence than they are about their contribution. Let’s turn that around. Influence be damned. Make a contribution.


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Entry #1,713

Journal Entry - March 7, 2026


Not Too Bad


My life good (better than not too bad). I have a beautiful and loving companion. I have a cat. I have friends that probably shouldn’t love me, but they do. I have beautiful daughters and two x-wives that don’t hate me (as far as I know). I am reasonably healthy for a man of my years. Enough good health to allow me to pursue that activities that I love. Who could ask for anything more?


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Entry #1,712

Journal Entry - March 5, 2026


Sometimes I Cry


I’m not sure why. I don’t know if it is physiological or emotional or something else. I’m not even sure if it is a problem or a good thing. (I’m hoping it’s not a problem.) It’s been occurring almost once a day. It’s often brought on by music but not always. I think music stimulates this response because our thoughts alone are not able to move us quite as easily as music can. Music engages more senses than thought does. There could be other reasons. Let’s get weird for a second, not “bank truck at a funeral parade” weird, but truly weird: Perhaps I have finally succeeded in slowing my life down enough that I am starting to feel things I should have been feeling all along. I think as humans we are supposed to feel, but we have trained ourselves not to for all sorts of reasons. I think we are becoming a society that only thinks what we are told to think. In a way we have lost the skill required to feel what is inside of us. Of course there could be other explanations. Perhaps I am reaching the end of my life and this is my body telling me to pay attention while I still can. Perhaps I am rewiring my brain to be more aware of myself and what is happening around me. I have no idea really. I don’t find it unpleasant. The only reason I can give is that it just is. I don’t want it to stop. I want to appreciate it.


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Entry #1,711

Journal Entry - March 3, 2026


Yoga Plus


Yoga was first practiced in the Indus Valley some 4,000 years ago. Approximately 2,000 years before it was adopted in India and China. Archeological digs in the Indus Valley reveal a different form of yoga than is commonly practiced today. Statues of people practicing yoga reveal a sitting posture with focus on breathing — what today we call Breath Work. Vinyasa Yoga, or the practice of flow and movement yoga did not become prevalent until yoga practice moved east from the Indus Valley. Of course, this is a very simple explanation of the evolution of yoga. The history of yoga is a fascinating subject in itself. One I have barely tapped. I do know that I would like to lean more about Breath Work. From what I have read it has amazing healing power and can be very beneficial for overall health (as can Vinyasa Yoga).

I am currently reading the book “Breath,” by James Nestor. Nestor spent ten years researching this topic and it is an inspiring work. I’m planning to incorporate Breath Work along with meditation as soon as I complete a bit more research. I would like to find a teacher. I recently went to a Qi Gong class at my local Senior Center and was pleasantly surprised by the experience. Qi Gong is a gentle form of Vinyasa Yoga. I think the practice of Meditation, Breath Work and Qi Gong) can be very beneficial. I’m excited to try all three.


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Entry #1,710

Journal Entry - March 2, 2026


Manifestation


My writing tends to be pretty personal. Not what you would call non-fiction. That’s how I roll. There is a danger however; I need to be cautious not to fall into the “Manifestation” trap.

Manifestation can be compared to wishful thinking. For some, “imagining” an outcome you would like, means you can obtain it by persistent thought alone. That’s not how the world works. You can’t will the universe to give you what you want simply by concentrating your thoughts on your desires. I wish it were that simple.

In order to manifest any change in your life, you need a plan. A process to accompany that desire. I can’t simply write wonderful thoughts. My study of the Stoic masters and my occasional rants here about desirable attributes are not enough to effect change. I have to take substantive steps to achieve those things.

This is how I plan to achieve those things I write about, the ones that I find valuable. I’m going to meditate. I’m going to focus on my physical well being. I think these are the two things I can do on a regular basis to avoid simply “wishing” for change in my life. The first I commit to doing daily. The practice I plan to follow is wholly my own. The focus will be on asking myself how did yesterday go and what should today look like. I’ll also be critiquing my actions and looking for ways to improve how I am living. The second thing I commit to doing daily is exercise. I think exercise leads to more than good health. Besides making the body strong, I think it makes the mind strong. Both of those things bring the confidence to make the changes that are desired. To support those practices, I am also going to continue reading and writing. I like lists, so here is my list to help me “manifest” my self-improvement goals.

  1. Meditate for Understanding
  2. Exercise for Health
  3. Read for Knowledge
  4. Write for Joy and Peace

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Entry #1,709

Journal Entry - March 1, 2026


Wiring Your Brain


Whenever you use your brain (all the time) you are wiring your brain for its next thought. There is a reward circuit in your brain that takes whatever you are experiencing and records it. That circuit is accessed and whatever has been stored becomes what your brain seeks out. Whatever emotion you indulge in becomes what your brain seeks. So watch what you allow yourself to indulge in. Hate, anger and conspiracy will foment more hate, anger, and conspiracy. Love, happiness and joy will foment more love, happiness and joy. The choice is ours. Time spent intentionally cultivating the thoughts you would like to experience more often is time spent rewiring your brain. A few minutes a day is all that is needed. This is brain science.


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Entry #1,708

Journal Entry - February 28, 2026


Camping With Friends


Choose your friends wisely. Those with nothing to say sometimes make the best companions, even if they do steal your chair.


High West


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Entry #1,707

Mantra - March 10, 2026


Loving-Kindness


Breathe…

Think of someone you care about, say:
“May they be happy and free from suffering.”

Breathe…

Think of someone you are neutral about, say:
“May they be happy and free from suffering.”

Breathe…

Think of someone you dislike, say:
“May they be happy and free from suffering.”

Breathe…


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Entry #1,706

Northern Tier - Section 1



Section 1, Anacortes, WA to Sandpoint ID, 460 Miles


Highlights of this section are the Cascade Mountain Range, the plains of north eastern Washington and the mountains of northern Idaho. The Anacortes ferry terminal is the western terminus of the Northern Tier bicycle route and starting point for my tour. The first climb out of Anacortes is over Rainy Pass and Washington Pass in the North Cascades. This will make for a challenging start to the tour. I am anticipating sag support for this Section of the tour. I plan to ride self-supported from Sandpoint to the finish in Bar Harbor Maine.



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Entry #1,677

Northern Tier - Section 2



Section 2, Sandpoint, ID to Cut Bank, MT, 450 Miles


One of the highlights of this section is the passage through Glacier National Park. Carved by glaciers 100 million years ago, the scenery through the park is spectacular. There is an alternate route that diverts into Canada. I’m planning to take the alternate. Passport required.



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Entry #1,678

Northern Tier - Section 3



Section 3, Cut Bank, Mt to Dickinson, ND, 550 Miles


Buffalo Jump State Park just west of Great Falls is where indigenous people used the natural mile-long sandstone cliff to stampede buffalo when harvesting them for meat, bone, and fur. There is a short hiking trail at the base of the cliff where you can see bones to this day. From the top of the cliff there is a spectacular panorama of the Missouri River, the Rocky Mountain front, and the buttes and grasslands of the Great Plains.

Great Falls was named for the falls on the Missouri River found here. The falls were a formidable obstacle to the Lewis and Clark expedition when they passed through this territory. The expedition spent several weeks negotiating the 18 mile portage. Today the falls are obscured by hydroelectric development.



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Entry #1,679

Northern Tier - Section 4



Section 4, Dickinson, ND to Fargo, ND, 350 Miles


Welcome to the Great Plains in all their glory. Created by an enormous inland sea that stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic, the plains are made from deposits left by the receding sea some 70 million years ago. The rolling prairie seen today was sculpted by the Wisconsin Glacier as it melted 25,000 years ago. The route follows that of the Red River Valley. The valley is one of the world’s finest for producing small grains. A highlight of travel through North Dakota is spotting Canadian Geese and the occasional Coyote. Remember: “Don’t get cozy with a begging Coyote.” Those signs are prevalent in Joshua Tree National Park in California, but the message applies equally here.



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Entry #1,680

Northern Tier - Section 5



Section 5, Fargo, ND to Walker, MN, 175 Miles


Continuing through the RedRiver Valley you gradually transition to a more lush and moister climate in Minnesota. There is a robust cycling culture in Minnesota so it’s not surprising to meet other cyclists along the route. Logging was a major industry here between 1860 and 1900. One treat is the sampling of wild rice harvested by the Ojibewe people. Try some if you get a chance. The Ojibewe people harvest the grain by canoe on reservation rivers and lakes. The rice is sold around the world as a delicacy and still serves as an important part of the native people’s diet.



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Entry #1,681

Northern Tier - Section 6



Section 6, Walker, MN to Stillwater, MN, 260 Miles


This section of the tour heads south to Minneapolis and St. Paul. With the arrival in 1823 of the first steamboat to navigate the Mississippi River this far north, the twin cities began their growth which ultimately would make them the largest cities in Minnesota. Lakes and ponds, grassy fields, meadows and marshes can be found in abundance. Wildlife is diverse and consists of a veritable smorgasbord of plants, animals, birds and insects, including the state’s unofficial bird, the mosquito.



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Entry #1,682

Northern Tier - Section 7



Section 7, Stillwater, MN to Muscatine, IA, 370 Miles


As you move south through this section of the route the Mississippi Valley widens. It now reaches points where the valley can span several miles in width. The main crop is no longer wheat. Now you will see fields of corn, oats and soybeans. Livestock, dairy, poultry and apple orchards are also important industries. The route passes Effigy Mound National Monument. Covering some three square miles, the monument protects over 200 ancient peoples burial sites dating back approximately 2,500 years. The monument also offers hiking trails that wander through beautiful hardwood forests. In the summer months wildflowers are abundant. One such, the Day Lilly, is actually an imported species that has gone wild.



Entries on this site are presented in chronological order.
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Entry #1,683