North WinDakota

Today's Ride: East Grand Forks, MN to Minot, N.D.
Miles Today: 213

When you wake up and the North Dakota sky looks like this, you know you're in for trouble. The day started out with rain and wind..........lots of wind! As a matter of fact, this had to be the most wind I have ever..........EVER.............ridden a motorcycle in.

I've never really considered myself to be a white knuckle type of rider, but today was without a doubt, the most challenging day on a motorcycle I can remember. Gale force winds grew so strong that keeping the bike consistently within your lane became impossible. One instance you were blown into the passing lane, only to find yourself back across your chosen lane onto the apron without a seconds warning.

It came to the point of being downright dangerous to ride when you really didn't have control over the bike. After 213 miles of being beaten to death I called it quits and found a nice KOA campground. At registration, the owner informed me that eastern ND had been under a wind advisory with the local airport reporting steady winds of 53-mph and gust factors considerably higher. Well, that certainly explained a few things.

Setting up tent was an interesting adventure. I must have looked like a windmill in a hurricane. Mix in a good helping of rain and it's just a lovely day in the neighborhood. Sorry, but not picures of that little fiasco..........haaaaaaaaaaaaaa Despite all that, if you ask me if I'm having a great time, the answer is yes!!!!

Pictures # 2 & 3: One of the few times the wind calmed for a few minutes to allow for pictures. You have to love North Dakota when the sun peaks through the clouds and lights up a field of canola. Fields like these dot the landscape for miles as I travels west through the state. The flowers eventually develop into pods approximately 2-3 inches long and it is from these that the canola oil is extracted.

Pictures 4 & 5: If you ever needed to roll you lawn and was limited on time, perhaps this monster 50' land roller wouldbe the ticket. The rear rollers hydraulically rotate forward and lock into the lateral position. This then allows the farmer to roll the soil a whopping 50' at a time. You almost have to stand next to the 5' high rollers to fully appreciate the enormity of this implement.

Weighing in at 16,700 lbs., land rollers similar to this unit are some of the largest (although a 53' unit is made) and heaviest rollers available. Ideally used for peas, beans and lentils, these units are used to prepare a perfect bed for hays, grasses and silage. Farmers use them to roll the seeds into the soil versus having to plow them in.

Hope you enjoy the pictures and I'll post more farther down the road. Tomorrow's travel will be totally dependent on the weather. See you later.