I'd Rather Be Cycling: Day 25: 6/14/19: Minot to Powers Lake, ND

I remember when I was in the Air Force a threat was commonly used that, "You'd better shape up or you'll be sent to Minot AFB." Well, I must say right now that it's pretty nice in Minot - but, I have been told that temps can get down to like negative 60. An aircraft mechanic at Minot AFB just told me they continue working outside until it drops down to negative 47. I can't even begin to comprehend that. He's been here 8 years, and is about to be stationed at Guam. A little bit of a climate change for him.

Tyler told me last night about an instance when his car's outside temperature reading was negative way down there. I didn't even know a car thermometer would show negative temperatures.

It rained on me again last night, but it was a very restful sleep. Pic of sunrise this morning.

After I left Minot, towns were scarce on the route I took today. There was one stretch of over 32 miles that there were no towns at all. Most of the towns I went through had very limited services. Burlington was the first small town I went through.

I also went through Donnybrook, which looked as though it was pretty much dried up (pic below).

I started out on U.S. Hwy 52 again today and rode several miles on it. This section was better than the section I rode on yesterday because the shoulder was wider and there was not as much traffic.

I would have made it to Portal, ND, today and crossed into Canada, but I decided to continue riding west in the U.S. several more miles. Tyler told me about a route to Plentywood, MT, last night that is good roads and low traffic. I decided to use the route he recommended to get to Canada. So far, it has been a great route.

I'm also ditching my original route and "winging" it using Google Maps for the next few days because my plans have changed for the better. My oldest daughter, Hannah, is going to drive to Banff from Denver, and my wife, Lisa, is going to fly to Calgary. We are all supposed to meet either in Calgary on 6/25 or in Canmore on 6/26. I think it's doable. My original route kept me out of Calgary, and now I'm gonna bust it wide open.

Looks as though the old barn in the pic below is sinking in the ground and crying for help.

Below is a pic of my scenery today for several miles. I was riding in a valley between 2 ridges.

I had about a 1.5 mile climb when I first turned off Hwy 52 onto Hwy 50, and my scenery went from this...

To this.

Then got back into some hills later on.

I saw one of these today for the first time on this trip.

I made it to Powers Lake, and will be camping beside the lake tonight. Photo of lake.

I pitched my tent under a pavilion because it is supposed to storm tonight.

I have some prairie dogs as neighbors, and they seemed very interested in me and my food. As a precaution, I hung my food from a rafter in the pavilion.