Day 6
Distance: 80.50 mi
Average: 13.1 mph
Time in Motion: 6:05:57

I woke up around five o' clock and left camp (after Steve drove me back to Medora from Belfield, where we spent the night in a motel) around six o'clock. When I woke up, it was 69 degrees with a thirteen mile per hour wind from the South-Southeast. People left camp very early, many by 4:00!

The forecast was for extreme heat and a strong crosswind. It was right on. I pedaled as fast as I could, wanting to beat the heat and strong winds. I didn't stop much - just once in Dickinson for candy and again in Richardton for a snack and drink.

I also spent a bit of time looking around Assumption Abbey while in Richardton. I spoke with Brother Victor, who gave me some simple directions to a few interesting sites within the Abbey. I snapped a few interesting pictures of the courtyard, the farmyard, and the exterior of the impressive structure. According the my Dakota Day Trips booklet, the twin towers reach 110 feet in height. Construction of the Abbey was begun in 1906 by monks the and German-speaking immigrants they came to serve. My booklet told me the Abbey is often reffered to as "The Cathedral of the Prairie," and I can see why. As I rode toward the town from the west, it was the first structure I could really see. It towers above the rest of the town.

After Richardton, I resumed my furious pedaling for Hebron. The rest of the ride was rather uneventful.

Hebron is a nice town. It's nicknamed "The Brick City." Their school's mascot has a unique nickname: The Brickmakers. They have a small swinging bridge, a cheese factory, a brick factory, and a newly restored movie theater, which is playing "Chicken Run" tonight. I'd like to go.

It wouldn't be fair for me to not mention my embarrassing accident. As I rode into the campground on my bike, I stared at our tent, which was already set up. I looked at the tent, Jesse, and his girlfriend Jen who had apparently driven to Hebron to visit Jesse. I was not, however, looking at the ground. I'm still not sure what I hit with my front tire, but I know that right after that I was lying on the ground. I had wiped out. I quickly stood (covered in grass) as several onlookers ran up to see if I was o.k. I was fine, aside from being very embarrassed. The funny thing is, Jen didn't see it and it happened right next to her. She was watching me ride towards the tent, she turned away, and immediately looked back to see me walking up, covered in grass with a few scratches on my knee. Ah, the graceful biker that I am.

I hope today's strong south winds persist. We head north tomorrow.