The Heat & New Friends

Chris and i are amazed at how well we have adapted to the heat. We have gone from wet and cold to extreme heat. Initially it was a dry heat but with all the weather we have experienced on this trip, this is not the usual weather pattern. It usually isn't this hot for this long. It is not usually humid in ND from what we have been told. But it has been all of the above. We finished one day and it was close to 100. We try to start early around 6:30 to 7AM and finish by early to mid afternoon. We have been using 80 sunblock to keep the sunburn and sunrash to a miminum. Today we had a reprieve, it was cloudy, headwind and only in the 80s. We rather enjoy a side wind when it is hot because it keeps apus cool as we ride. We are spending the night in Gackle, ND, a town of about 300 people. Last night we were in Napolean, ND and got free ice cream at the grand opening of the credit union. We love camping in these small towns and meeting the people, they are so intestered in our trip and share small town living with us. Last night we camped in the city park, tonight we are in an RV park, the owner said no charge for bicyclist, they love having us. We have really enjoyed the people in MT and ND, they are so friendly. The truck drivers are even friendly, giving us a friendly honk or wave! Besides meeting so many locals we have also met many wonderful other cyclists. Most pedaling faster and farther each day, but a few our pace as well. We have been traveling with 2 women from GA for the past week and half who are on recumbents and also with a couple from Boulder, but they are now ahead, on a tigher schedule than ours. Our mileage range per day has increased from 30 - 60 to 40-70 miles per day. Camping/lodging options and headwinds/tailwinds are the determining factors on when we stop. The headwinds seem to be most frequent, another unusual element this summer, in past winds tended to be more from the west. As with every day, the weather, temperature and winds are what they are and create a new adventure and story each day.