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Northern Tier 2021
  • Chrysa Niewald
  • Chrysa Niewald

Northern Tier 2021

Un’avventura di 72 giorni di Chrysa Leggi altro
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  • Chrysa NiewaldNorthern Tier 2021Chrysa Niewald
    Morning SAG StopRoad to KalispellFlathead LakeFlathead Lake2Tamarack Ale House Grill

    Day 13 Hot Springs to Kalispell

    21 giugno 2021, Stati Uniti ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F

    64 miles, 2763 feet. It is so amazing how vast this country is. For miles we see grassy valleys and hillsides. We were truly in a dead zone with no cell service. There were few houses, buildings or even livestock. The route was a pretty straight shot up Hwy 93 to Kalispell. At lunch we reached Flathead Lake. There were definitely more trees and signs of civilization. Our overnight tonight is in Kalispell, which is the commercial and medical hub for northwest Montana. We had dinner with friend, Julie Patz at the Tamarack Ale House Grill. It was a lovely location on a small stream near Flathead Lake.Leggi altro

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  • Chrysa NiewaldNorthern Tier 2021Chrysa Niewald

    Day 14 Kalispell to Lake McDonald

    22 giugno 2021, Stati Uniti ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    36.9 miles, 1266 Feet. The route out of Kalispell was along nice quiet roads with some gravel. There was more big sky scenery with mountains looming before us as we approach Glacier National Park. I have been really surprised at the crowds here and the National Park Service is limiting the number of vehicles in the park by implementing a vehicle pass which are pretty much sold out for the rest of the summer.

    We had a nice lunch at Eddy's right on Lake McDonald. Our overnight for tonight and tomorrow night is in Columbia Falls which is about 15 miles from the park. Unfortunately we will not be able to do the entire Road to the Sun as the section through Logan Pass is still closed. It is open to cyclists on the weekends, but during the week the snow plows are still working on the road. Tomorrow is a rest day, but most of the group will make the ride up the west side as far as they can go.    Leggi altro

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  • Chrysa NiewaldNorthern Tier 2021Chrysa Niewald

    Day 16 Glacier to Saint Mary

    24 giugno 2021, Stati Uniti ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    Our original plan was to ride from Agpar Village on the west side of Glacier on the Going to the Sun Road to Saint Mary Lake on the east side of Glacier. However, the Logan Pass remains closed to cyclists during the week. So today our SAG crew went to great lengths to shuttle us to Saint Mary so we could ride into the park as far as possible. Just as we arrived, rain started to move in. We waited a bit and decided to take off. In the end we went as far as Rising Sun and turned around. We made it back to our hotel just in time for cold thunderstorms to start. We are disappointed not to do the Road to the Sun, but we still saw some incredible scenery.Leggi altro

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  • Chrysa NiewaldNorthern Tier 2021Chrysa Niewald
    Leaving St. Mary's
    2006 Forrest FireBlackfeet Reservation

    Day 17 Saint Mary's to Cut Bank

    25 giugno 2021, Stati Uniti ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F

    64.07 miles, 2521 feet. The route this morning was a cool long uphill climb away from Glacier and then a curvy downhill drop. The scenery again did not disappoint. About 20 miles in, we left the mountains behind us and headed deep into grasslands, grain elevators, and train tracks, Much of our ride today was through the Blackfeet Reservation. We also encountered a LOT of chasing dogs. My whistle came in very handy in startling them enough to scurry on by. Our route turned to the north and the wind picked up so we rode with a combination of strong cross wind and headwinds the rest of the day.

    Our overnight is in Cut Bank, Montana. Cut Bank is the county seat of Glacier county and is located just 30 miles from the Canadian border. It sits at the eastern end of a gorge known as a cut bank which was formed by Cut Bank Creek. A high railroad trestle spans the creek as you enter town from the west side.    Leggi altro

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  • Chrysa NiewaldNorthern Tier 2021Chrysa Niewald
    Looking Towards CanadaWind FarmMore TrainsPronghorn Antelope

    Day 18 Cut Bank to Chester

    26 giugno 2021, Stati Uniti ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    65.67 Miles, 862 Feet. Today’s route was mostly flat and for at least the first 40+ miles we had a slight tailwind. The landscape seems to go on and on forever. I am pretty sure we can see Canada from here. We did have one long climb just after we passed the small town of Shelby. I can probably post the same photos for the next week and you won’t know the difference! Our overnight tonight is in Chester, Montana. Chester is the county seat of Liberty County and has a population of 847. It appears to be an agricultural center doe the surrounding area We need rest before an 81 mile day tomorrow.Leggi altro

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  • Chrysa NiewaldNorthern Tier 2021Chrysa Niewald
    Montana Dinasauer Trail
    Bear Paw MountainsPhoto Courtesy Tres SmithRape FieldMany Old BuildingsIrrigation in the Hay Field

    Day 19 Chester to Chinook, Montana

    27 giugno 2021, Stati Uniti ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    81.60 Miles, 1118 Feet. We continued our journey across Montana on Hwy 2. The scenery this morning was much the same as the last couple of days. It seems like there are more grain silos than people here. In the distance, we saw the Bear Paw Mountains. Otherwise, it was once again grains, plains, and trains. There were several small towns along the way.

    As we approached mile 60 we reached the city of Havre, and the scenery changed dramatically. The terrain has a badland character with high slopes. The Milk River runs through town and is a tributary of the Missouri River which lies to the south the Bear Paw Mountains. Harve is the largest town in this part of the states due is in the center of the High Line which is the railroad that follows Hwy 2 and the US/Canadian border.

    Today was hot, long, and windy. Tomorrow we head to Malta and a much needed rest day on Tuesday.    Leggi altro

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  • Chrysa NiewaldNorthern Tier 2021Chrysa Niewald

    Day 20 Chinook to Malta

    28 giugno 2021, Stati Uniti ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    66,99 Miles, 409 Feet. We continue riding on Hwy 2. From Chinook there seemed to be more green grass as we headed toward Malta. The Milk River and a few creeks provide a water source. Beyond that the slopes appear to be dry.
    There was really nothing notable to see today. Although we had at least five wide loads pass us forcing us to get off the road. The lead cars gave us plenty of warning and the wide loads took up almost both lanes. They were carrying single blades for wind mills. Each was longer than two normal semis.
    Tomorrow is a rest day and the heat appears to be catching up to us.    Leggi altro

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  • Chrysa NiewaldNorthern Tier 2021Chrysa Niewald
    Dinosaur MuseumLeonardo- fossil found 30 miles from MaltaPhillips County MuseumPhillips County MuseumHG Robinson House & GardensTrafton TrailMilk RiverMalta- Another Rail Town

    Day 21 Malta Museums

    29 giugno 2021, Stati Uniti ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    Today was a rest day. The small town of Malta is part of the Montana Dinosaur Trail. There are 15 dinosaur museums across the state. We visited the one here and learned about several dinosaur fossil finds in this area. We also took a tour of the Phillips County Historical Museum and The gardens at the HG Robinson house. I also made a quick trip to the local quilt shop and found some bicycle fabric! Malta is a nice little town.Leggi altro

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  • Chrysa NiewaldNorthern Tier 2021Chrysa Niewald
    Chrysa, Tres, Tom, Clark, Richard
    Malta Temp at 6:30 pmBowdoin LakeRich and TresSleeping Buffalo RockBest Scenery of the DayCourtesy Tres Smith

    Day 22 Malta to Glasgow, Montana

    30 giugno 2021, Stati Uniti ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    70.08 miles, 1026 feet. The extreme heat has caught up with us! As we left dinner last night it was 100 degrees in Malta. Today, we were up at 4:30 and rolled out at 5:45. The early morning was nice and cool and the winds weren’t too bad. The land here is wide open and we often see little but grass or dry land as far as you can see.

    A few miles from Malta we saw Bowdoin Lake. We made a quick stop at Sleeping Buffalo Rock near Saco Flats. Otherwise there was little to stop and see. By mid morning a head wind and the heat set in, making the ride slow and tedious. Most of us had to stop multiple times for water refills.

    Our overnight tonight is in Glasgow at the Rundle Suites. It is a really neat hotel on the historical registry. Glasgow is another railroad town of about 3000. While small, it is the largest town in eastern Montana. Fort Peck dam is located near Glasgow and is the highest of six dams on the Missouri River.    Leggi altro

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  • Chrysa NiewaldNorthern Tier 2021Chrysa Niewald

    Day 23 Glasgow to Wolf Point, Montana

    1 luglio 2021, Stati Uniti ⋅ ☀️ 93 °F

    53.08 miles, 507 feet. Today might as well have been a 90 mile day because the headwind and the heat was horrendous. We left Glasgow a little after 5:30 am. There was no reward from the long climb out of town as the wind only allowed one to coast at about 11 mph. There was not much scenery change today.

    Our overnight is in Wolf Point located on the Fort Peck Reservation. We plan to leave at 5:00 am tomorrow as the wind and the temps promise to be worse than today.    Leggi altro

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  • Chrysa NiewaldNorthern Tier 2021Chrysa Niewald
    5:00 am Wolf Point, MT
    First Sag of the DayMissouri RiverPhoto Courtesy Amy RussellCountry ChurchMissouri RiverMissouri RiverCourtesy Tres Smith

    Day 24 Wolf Point to Sidney, Montana

    2 luglio 2021, Stati Uniti ⋅ 🌙 72 °F

    94.78 miles, 1785 feet. Heat and wind made for an early start at 5:00 am. For the first 30 miles or so, we were off of Hwy 2 which made for a nice change. The landscape today had more contour than on previous days. By mile 40, we encountered some long climbs. We had a lunch (actually a brunch) stop at mile 47 in Culbertson. It was only 10:00 am, but it felt like noon. The Wild West Diner served up some great bacon and eggs.

    We rode near the Missouri River several times today. The land near the rivers seems to be more fertile and green with a few trees. Otherwise it is grassland or barren hills as far as you can see.    Leggi altro

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  • Chrysa NiewaldNorthern Tier 2021Chrysa Niewald
    1Teaching city slickers how to open a gate

    Day 25 Sidney to Wibaux, MT to Beach ND

    3 luglio 2021, Stati Uniti ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    67.10 miles, 3620 feet. The mileage and the climb are what we were supposed to have, but today was a Murphy’s Law kind of day. We once again left at 5:00 am. Our first 10 miles was pretty nice and we watched rain storms in the distance.

    At mile 10, we turned onto a road that said Dead End. It was a gravel road that went from gravel to dirt, to single track through weeds and then back to gravel. There were numerous cattle guards and we had to open and close two barb wire fence gates. It reminded me of our bike ride through England in 2019. According to several local farmers, we crossed back and forth between Montana and North Dakota several times.

    While we saw some incredible scenery, the road was difficult especially for those on road bikes. Thirty miles and several hours later, we finally returned to some nice pavement. By noon it was nearing 100 degrees and everyone was miserable. When the route turned back into a gravel route, everyone threw in the towel and sagged to the end.

    Our hotel was supposed to be at a Roadway Inn in the town of Wibaux. However, the condition of the motel was pretty bad. There were missing shower heads, broken air conditioners, and rooms that had recently been bug bombed. Our Sag crew moved us to a motel 10 miles away in Beach, ND. We have a rest day here tomorrow and our only plan for the day is to do laundry. Hoping for a break in the heat!    Leggi altro

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  • Chrysa NiewaldNorthern Tier 2021Chrysa Niewald

    Day 26 Rest Day in Beach, ND

    4 luglio 2021, Stati Uniti ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    0 miles, 0 feet. Today was the fourth of July and a much needed rest day. I took a short walk this morning and we did laundry after breakfast. Otherwise, we spent the day cleaning the gravel dust off our bikes and just hanging out. We had a nice dinner at a local restaurant - Dobre Brewhouse. Tomorrow is a much shorter day as we head east to Dickinson, ND.Leggi altro

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  • Chrysa NiewaldNorthern Tier 2021Chrysa Niewald
    Sunrise in Beach, ND
    Photo Courtesy of Ray GoodfellowButtes1I-94

    Day 27 Beach to Dickinson, ND

    5 luglio 2021, Stati Uniti ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    62.56 miles, 1983 feet. No gravel today! Our early morning route took us to a nice state highway with practically no traffic. We rode the early morning route and saw some interesting buttes and other strange formations. At mile 20 we jumped on Interstate 94. It is a very nice four lane with wide smooth shoulders. We soon entered the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We stopped at the visitor's center for some great photo ops.

    With only 62 miles, everyone arrived in Dickinson before noon. We enjoyed some milkshake treats at Dairy Queen and a relaxing afternoon. Tomorrow we expect a change in the weather. There is a small chance of rain and a high of 74 which will be good as tomorrow is a 97 mile day.    Leggi altro

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  • Chrysa NiewaldNorthern Tier 2021Chrysa Niewald

    Day 28 Dickinson to Mandan, ND

    6 luglio 2021, Stati Uniti ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    97.60 miles, 2442 feet. NOT. What a difference a day makes, we have been fighting heat and wind for over a week now. This morning we set out at 7:00 and the temps were in the low 60’s. By the time we pedaled out of Dickinson, the temperature dropped, there was fog and a light mist. On top of that, there was a 15 mile an hour headwind.

    At mile 38, it began to rain harder and we sought refuge in an antique shop in the tiny town of Hebron. We ended up eating lunch at a local cafe. We also entered the central time zone. In the end, all but three in our group decided to call it a day and sagged to the motel in Mandan. Not many photos today.    Leggi altro

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  • Chrysa NiewaldNorthern Tier 2021Chrysa Niewald
    Missouri River

    Day 30 Mandan to Napoleon, ND

    8 luglio 2021, Stati Uniti ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    75.3 miles, 2336 feet. Today the temps were very pleasant. We headed south out of Mandan and skirted our way through Bismarck on a nice bicycle trail. The first climb was an effort after taking the day off yesterday. We crossed the Missouri River and were surprised to see more green and trees.

    Much of the route today was on nice low traffic two lane highways. The one busy section had a decent shoulder, although the wind picked up and we fought a head wind for much of the day. Our overnight is in the tiny town of Napoleon at the Mozy Motel.    Leggi altro

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  • Chrysa NiewaldNorthern Tier 2021Chrysa Niewald

    Day 31 Napoleon to Jamestown, ND

    9 luglio 2021, Stati Uniti ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

    76.9 miles, 1970 feet. This morning was very gray with a chance of rain when we rolled out at 6:30 am. Almost immediately, it started light sprinkles. By mile 12 it was a light rain that required some rain gear. Fortunately the head wind wasn’t as strong as it has been on previous days.

    The landscape was rolling grass lands with few trees, fewer homes, and not much else. There were long gentle climbs with little reward on the downhills. There were numerous lakes along both sides of the highway. We asked a local about them and she told us they were natural lakes that collect snow melt and rainfall. Most are fairly shallow and some dry up when there is a drought. The only other point of interest along the route today was a collection of old threshing machines called Dinosaurs of the Prairie.

    Our overnight tonight is in Jamestown which is on the interstate, so there seems to be more amenities here. We did some laundry and stocked up on supplies at Walmart. We head onward to Enderlin tomorrow.    Leggi altro

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  • Chrysa NiewaldNorthern Tier 2021Chrysa Niewald
    Sunrise and Rumble Strips
    Photo Credit Tres SmithPhoto credit Tom CoePhoto Credit Tom Coe

    Day 32 Jamestown to Enderlin, ND

    10 luglio 2021, Stati Uniti ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F

    71.46 miles, 922 feet. Today was a perfect biking day. The route was fairly flat, the temps reasonable, and the wind was not a head wind! The first 20 miles were on I-94. The rumble strips were right in the middle of the shoulder which was a bit of a challenge. We crossed the continental divide. The second leg of the route led us south on a low traffic roadway with a very slight tail wind. It was fun to be able to finally cruise at 18-20 mph. The final leg of our route took us back east, but the north wind had a cooling effect as the temperature warmed.

    Because we left at 6:30 am, our lunch stop was at 10:30 near mile 49. We had one long drop and 3/4 mile climb as we crossed the Sheyenne River. We reached
    Enderlin before 12:30 and spent the afternoon resting and enjoying a nice breeze in the shade. The name Enderlin comes from End of the Line as at one time the railroad ended there.

    Tomorrow is a fairly short day, so we will sleep in a bit later. We head to Fargo and our last two nights in North Dakota.    Leggi altro

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  • Chrysa NiewaldNorthern Tier 2021Chrysa Niewald

    Day 33 Enderlin to Fargo, ND

    11 luglio 2021, Stati Uniti ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    56.26 miles, 281 feet + 8.86 miles, 59 feet. Today was a shorter and flatter day yet. We enjoyed the cool morning air and rolled into Fargo before 11:00 am. The scenery today looked much like Iowa on Ragbrai, but flatter. Corn on one side of the road and soybeans on the other

    Obviously our hotel rooms were not ready, so we had a milkshake at McDonalds. Dave served lunch at the Sag trailer, and several of us rode downtown for. Is it to a great bicycle shop and a few photos.

    Tomorrow is another rest day and our last one for the next seven days. Some of us will be getting massages tomorrow and taking care of odds and ends. We have two more riders joining us for the rest of the trip. Nate and Maggie are from North. Carolina and rode the Southern Tier in 2018.    Leggi altro

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