July 6 Day 36 New Town ND 73 miles 7:33
This was the most grueling day of our ride so far. Up and down every inch. Hot dry wind, either cross or head. The only respite along the way was a cafe and campground at about mile 25 - I missed the sign and Michele and Roy waited until after we were well past to mention it. At mile 56, we begged some cold water when we finally encountered a farm house. At mile 70, a steep, long, butt-kicker hill exposed to the sun the whole way.
We had expected New Town to be cool and green on Lake Sakakawea (New Town is where people moved when the old towns were flooded to create Lake Sakakawea.) Instead, it is hot and dry well above the lake. The motels were full; the campgrounds are a couple of miles outside town across the lake. We did not want to pedal back and forth. Feelings ran high! As some have predicted for years, we wound up in the hands of the police.

New Town happens to be on reservation land for the Three Affiliated Tribes - Mandans, Arikaras, and Hidatsus. Those of you who have read about the Lewis and Clark Expedition will recall that those tribes were crucial to the success, even the survival, of the expediation. Officer Robert Bird Bear of the Three Affiliated Tribes' police proposed that we camp on the grass behind the police station. He observed that nobody but bikers and people sprayed with pepper spray used the station showers. Best bacon cheeseburger of my life at the Better B cafe.