June 14, 2005

We decided in the morning to deviate from the Adventure Cycling Association (ACA) route primarily because of the winds. They were coming out of the northwest and the ACA route had us doing a series of L’s due south, due east, due south, due east. US Route 2 however goes primarily to the southeast meaning that we would have predominately tail winds if we went that way to Devils Lake, ND and then south to get back on the ACA route. Also it cut off about twelve miles which was something to consider as we needed to get to the Warwick Post Office before it closed to pick up our next four ACA maps. We have them sent, as it doesn’t make sense to carry twelve maps at a time. Our plan was to ride another eighteen or so miles beyond Warwick and camp at a commercial campground.

The route choice was an excellent one as the winds were great. The weather was overcast when we started and just before noon we suited up as it started to mist and rain lightly. We made great progress with a fairly light effort and were averaging around seventeen miles an hour for the sixty or so mile ride to Devils Lake where we stopped for lunch at 12:30. We stopped at a Subway as we find that there is no long wait to get served. We struck up a conversation with a family that raises and race sled dogs; something you don’t see too much of in the northeast. They asked about our trip and we about the sled dog races. They wished us well and then we stopped at a Wal-Mart to get some provisions. As we left the Wal-Mart there was a steady rain.

By the time we rolled out of Devils Lake it was around 2:00 and we had plenty of time to ride the twenty-five miles to get to the post office in Warwick as the winds were still with us. As we neared the actual lake I glanced at the GPS and it showed land where water was. Then we noticed people in boats fishing amongst the trees. The lake appeared to be very high.

Water Where Land Is Supposed To Be

All was going well until I had a flat in the front tire. It was a bit of a pain changing it in the steady rain. It was even more of a pain when the tube I put on wouldn’t hold air. The flat was caused by a piece of sand which got in a small hole in the tire from a previous flat. The whole tire-fixing episode took way longer than it should have and I was concerned about reaching the post office before 4:30 when I thought it closed. I mentioned to Nick that I was going to pick up the pace and sped off at a much faster rate of speed. The winds were still good and the rain was steady. The terrain has some light rolling hills to add to the pleasure. As I reached the sign pointing to where Warwick was and turned on the road I was dismayed that it was a dirt road. Well, more accurately it was a mud road.

Main Street Warwick, ND

Concerned about flats, we usually walk our bikes on sections like that but I had no time to spare and rode on it anyway as I needed to find where the post office was. I saw one brick building and went that way but turned around when I saw that that was a school. I got to the post office at 4:20 only to find that the Express Mail sent on Saturday that was supposed to arrive on Monday was not here on Tuesday. The attendant called the Postmaster who confirmed that she had not seen the envelope either. Nick arrived a couple of minutes later and mentioned that when he checked the internet this morning that the post office closed at 5:00 and he was wondering why I raced to the post office. The attendant told us that mail arrives at 8:00 each morning and that we could come by at 8:30 to see if the envelope arrived.

Smoothing the streets of Warwick, ND

There is no lodging or campground in Warwick. It was still raining and the ground was really wet so camping in the town park was not very appealing. I mentioned to Nick that I would ask about a church and see if we could stay there. I asked the postal attendant about a church and she was from another town and didn’t know. She suggested that I check at the bar down the street. When I asked at the bar the barmaid didn’t know anything about the church and suggested that I ask at the gas station down the street. I walked over to the gas station and asked about a church and was told that there was a Lutheran Church in town but the pastor lived in another community about twenty miles away. As I explained our predicament I glanced across the muddy street and saw a volunteer firehouse. As I inquired about whom I could contact to see if we could stay in the firehouse two of the three men looked at the other named David Eversvik. I followed their eyes so then three of us were looking at David. He then said “Well, I don’t think that would hurt anything.”

Warwick Volunteer Fire House

We have found that the people in the small towns in rural America are very friendly and willing to lend a hand to others in need. We talked with David Eversvik and one other man (who’s name escapes me) about our trip, our bikes, and the town. We also found out that Devils Lake (the water body) is about ten feet higher than it was five or so years ago and they are looking at ways to lower it to original levels. They are trying to get permission to let it flow into a tributary of the Red River that flows north into Canada but the Canadian government won’t allow that as they are concerned about silt and the potential for chemicals flowing into their country.

High Water on Devils Lake

As we were making our dinner in the firehouse the rain stopped and I heard a tractor going down the street. It had a grader blade on it and it was leveling out the puddles and mud in the street to make a better surface for any vehicles that might pass.

We will try to get our maps in the AM. If they don’t arrive tomorrow we will rely on the GPS and have them forwarded to a post office in Minnesota two or three days ride from here.

Nick is from Warwick, NY and in a manner of speaking he is at home tonight in spirit.

Jim

Cycledog (Ride the extra mile!!)

© 2005 - JNS

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