Four States in a Day

 After yesterday's ride in almost perfect conditions except for the morning's fog, I was met once more by grey clouds. They were threatening but I had the hope that I might be lucky and avoid another round of rain. It was not to be. About 80 kilometres from Ironwood, a light rain began, so once again it was into the rain gear with hope that it would simply be a wise precaution. Wise precaution it was because very rapidly the light rainfall turned into a deluge which lasted for most of the eighty kilometres. In Ironwood I took refuge under the roof of a gas station. About five kilometres down the road the rain eased of but the damage had been done. My gloves were totally soaked as were my boots.

The weather cleared for the run across Wisconsin and buy noon the temperature was in the low 80s F. My plan was to stay on US2 and get through Superior, WI, and Duluth, MN. However, due to very poor signage I missed a key turn and did a detour through Duluth but eventually I made it to US to continue west. 

The topography if Minnesota changes from wetlands and scrub in the east to farmland in the west but for a good distance from the North Dakota border it opens up to flat farmland. Farmers grow corn, wheat, and sunflowers, along with other crops. The sunflowers are in full flower now and it is quite impressive to see huge fields of yellow flowers. The wheat is turning that light brown that happens just before the harvest. The railway runs parallel to the the highway and periodically there are large elevators and structures for storing the crops that are harvested.

There are long stretches of highway with no habitation but to the west the highway runs through small towns. One of these small towns, Fosston, has a most impressive memorial honouring those who served their country. In addition to an M-60 Patton tank and an Apache attack helicopter on display there are sculptures of three servicemen and the walkway to the memorial is lined with decommissioned 16 inch naval shells which were designed to be fired for the guns of battleships. Trees have been planted ito the memory of those servicemen from the area who gave their lives in the service of their country. It is an impressive display for such a small town.

After the morning's deluge, the temperatures became quite hot, and at 5:20 this afternoon, in Crookston, MN, thirty miles from Grand Forks, ND, the temperature was 93F. Warmest day of the journey.

M60 Patton tank

Sculpture of servicemen

Apache helicopter

16 inch naval shells lining the walkway to the displays

It was a long day in the saddle with the ride from Marquette, MI, to Grand Forks, ND, covering 869 kilometres, the second greatest distance that I have covered in a day in this trip. Tomorrow I will need to make a decision and where to go next. The original plan was to follow Highway 2 to Glacier National Park to ride the Highway to the Sun, but close to the North Dakota-Montana border and into eastern Montana, towns are few and far between as are places to stay. I could ride on, hoping to find accommodation in roadside motels, but many of those places closed during the Covid-19 epidemic so not finding accommodation could be very problematic.

The other option is to retrace my steps and cross the border at North Portal, ND, and carry on to Weyburn and do the remainder of the trip in Canada. I will need to make the decision quite soon. Travelling by motorcycle is fraught with challenges that people in cars don't face, but that it what makes it a great way to see the country. And I saw a lot of it today riding 869 kilomtres in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota. As for tomorrow, it is still to be determined.

However, the thunder and lightning that is happening right now may be a harbinger of bad things to come. I'm tired of rain!