Salish Sea to the Potomac : Day 26: Fargo, N.D. to Fergus Falls, Minn.

This morning we took it easy, as we knew we had another relatively short day. Shortly after we left Fargo, we crossed the Red River and entered into our fifth U.S. state. From Moorhead, which is the Minnesota suburb of Fargo, we headed southeast, again paralleling the I-94 corridor, but this time following some very quiet county roads instead. Our first thirty miles were relatively calm and scenic, with minimal traffic and just a slight headwind. We stopped for a snack in Barnesville, and when we got back on the bikes, the wind had increased substantially. The following thirty miles we were heading almost directly into 10+ mph winds. Thankfully, our extra long days across North Dakota meant that we didn’t have to go too far today, so we took it easy and switched back and forth riding into the wind. The corn fields were clearly very impressed with our efforts, as you could see them bowing to us throughout the afternoon.

We stopped at a truck stop for lunch and a group of construction workers were very eager to learn about our trip, though we were both pretty hungry and really just wanted to eat our sandwiches. After another 15 miles into the wind, we turned toward Fergus Falls and found our way to the hotel. One downside of paralleling the interstate is that many of the hotels are by the freeway, which can sometimes make for an unpleasant last mile, and a less-than-optimal walk into town. Today we are about 2 miles from the town center, but there doesn’t look to be much of sidewalk. We may opt to just see the town when we ride through tomorrow morning.

Today’s ride should mark the halfway point, in terms of mileage, for the trip, as we passed the 1900 mile mark. I haven’t taken the time to re-count the miles for the trip, so that’s not a definite number, but at some point I calculated this route at 3800 miles total.

We rode along a Minnesota state birding trail at one point today, and there were indeed many birds. Someone had alerted us to an eagle’s nest along the route which we did see. I am obviously spoiled at living in Seattle for so long, but the other alien-looking birds they have here are much more interesting to me.

There are also more trees along the route.which is great news both in terms of providing potential shade as well as, at times, blocking the wind. Niamh checked the map of where we are today and said she could confirm that we are indeed in the “land of lakes,” a term which I will forever associate exclusively with margarine and cream cheese.

By the numbers:
Miles traveled: 58
Average moving speed: 12 mph
Maximum speed: 19.7 mph
Current elevation: 1250 ft.
Specialty donuts consumed: 2
Father/son pairs in our lunch stop: 3
Orange-strawberry infused water bottles drank: 2.5

Donuts from Sandy’s donuts in Barnesville. We did not opt for the Cookie Monster donuts, as appealing as they looked. As we ate these in the parking lot, a woman stopped and was very proud to tell us that the brewmaster at Drekker brewing, where we went last night, was the son of the band director at Barnesville high school.