First long tour

[eclectic]

Ahhh yes the exploding soda cans. Be glad they were in a cooler. Ever have one explode out of the cooler? Not pretty and nasty to clean up
(you would think we would know better having lived here for more years than I care to admit)

At least you can appreciate why I choose not to ride outside from Dec to March.

[Kano]

Yup, had a whole 12 pack explode in the garage one winter, and once a six pack was on the floor of my car when it went unexpectedly cold. Ahh, memories of Minnesota winters! I'm actually surprised you don't include November as an indoor only month!

I sure do like winter better now that I don't live in THAT kind of winter anymore!

Karen in Boise

[eclectic]

I'm actually surprised you don't include November as an indoor only month!

I sure do like winter better now that I don't live in THAT kind of winter anymore!

Karen in Boise

November can be included sometimes. I do have recollections of washing windows on Nov 11 with the temp +70.

We usually don't get permanent snow until around Thanksgiving
Now watch me eat my words. All my kids Hallowe'en costumes were designed to go over snowsuits

[Kano]

All my kids Hallowe'en costumes were designed to go over snowsuits

My kids' costumes too! No delicate little fairy costumes here -- the year of the blue aliens, there wasn't room for snow suits exactly, but room for plenty of long underwear!

Oh wait -- DH's costumes were designed to allow for being pretty well insulated too. Heaven forbid he go out traipsing with the kids without doing something fun himself!

Karen in Boise

[kjay]

[QUOTE=eclectic]Just note to let everyone know we survived!

First day was gorgeous! great temps, a tail wind, averaged 16.6 for 53 miles Hooked up with Kathi from TE at the first rest stop on the first day in the basement of a quaint prairie church then who should appear but Rjay![QUOTE=eclectic]


Hi, Eclectic! I finally made it to this post, as I had been checking the Candisc thread all along for updates about the tour. Today I uploaded a pic of you, Kathi, and me on that thread. It was fantastic to see you and Kathi in that quaint church where I remember eating a sumptious home-baked custard dessert. I lost about three pounds, but had I not eaten my way through North Dakota, I would probably have lost a lot more. Not that that was super important, just an added treat to the already fantastic Candisc tour. I actually would love to relive it all over again! The roads were perfect: no pot holes, no debris, wide shoulders (especially on the freeway), and minimal traffic.

My 45th high school reunion in Jamestown followed the Candisc tour, and I was almost too pooped to pop. I did see the albino buffalo in Jamestown because I was able to zoom way in with my camera. What a beauty (the buffalo).

Eclectic, my favorite night was spent in a tipi outside Washburn. What a great experience and wonderful hosts at the Flaming Arrow Ranch. My first time ever camping out. Two other bikers (from Minnesota) stayed there, but I got the tipi.

All in all, I am happy that North Dakota is my home state, and I look forward to next year's Candisc.

[eclectic]

too cool - I didn't know you camped and in a tipi yet.

I guess we take our state for granted, I don't always consider the roads clean and well maintained but when I leave the state i appreciate them more

I DO appreciate the long distances and the lack of traffic - that in and of itself is a reason to come and cycle here.

Did you hear that ladies ???? you can do a century and perhaps only have 25 cars pass you! We have hundreds of miles of bike lanes - they are called County roads! ( on the downside the reststop towns could be 30 miles apart )

Kjay and Kathi we need to start plugging Candisc for next year and have a bigger TE contingency.

The highlights will be the International Peace Gardens, have your picture taken while your left side is in the US and your right side is in Canada. Another photo op is in Rugby where you can stand at the geographical center of North America - Just think an equal commute to all beaches, Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic and Carribean only about 2000 miles as the crow flies

Candisc has been touted as one of the best tours support wise and friendly people and did Kjay mention? the food is good!

[luv'nAustin]

Wow, eclectic...can't believe that I am just now finding this thread! Great post. Thanks for taking the time to share with us.

My brother may have already told you, but all four of our Grandparents are Germans from Russia. Oh, and I think that Rory is a distant relative of ours. I would have really loved the food on this tour....yummy...lot's of carbs!

btw, did you get the pm that I tried to send back to you? I'm not very good with this stuff and I hope you got it.

karri

[cosc]

I'm so glad to hear a report about Candisc this year. I've ridden the tour 4 years and experienced glory days and unspeakable head/crosswinds. I'd thought about riding the tour this year, but decided to try a Wisconsin ride that was the same week. Congratulations for completing a great challenging week of biking!

[pooks]

I loved reading your report, eclectic!

It's amazing -- I can't even imagine doing what you did. And as I say like a broken record -- I don't do heat! Any reason they didn't wait a few weeks for it to be cooler?

And, um, a personal question.

You talked about eating and eating and eating. (I can imagine!)

What happens if you end up needing to, um, expel some of the food from your body when you're out cycling in the middle of nowhere as part of a group?

Or does that not happen when your body is working hard, cycling. Maybe (hopefully) it doesn't decide to poop until you stop?

(I can't believe I'm asking this question. I also can't believe I'm having so much trouble wording it in an adult manner. Sheeeesh.)

[Kathi]

I loved reading your report, eclectic!

It's amazing -- I can't even imagine doing what you did. And as I say like a broken record -- I don't do heat! Any reason they didn't wait a few weeks for it to be cooler?

And, um, a personal question.

You talked about eating and eating and eating. (I can imagine!)

What happens if you end up needing to, um, expel some of the food from your body when you're out cycling in the middle of nowhere as part of a group?

Or does that not happen when your body is working hard, cycling. Maybe (hopefully) it doesn't decide to poop until you stop?

(I can't believe I'm asking this question. I also can't believe I'm having so much trouble wording it in an adult manner. Sheeeesh.)

Normally on a tour you find you own stop. Many tours are in areas where there are lots of small towns with gas stations, etc. However, there weren't so many towns in N. Dakota so the organizers have their own port-a-potties. It was quite funny, every morning you could count on the first one being 10 miles out of town. Then they were moved to the sag stops. There were "his" and "hers". Hers had a pink seat and shelf with a vase of plastic flowers. They provided hand wipes, sun screen and body lotion.

There were plastic geese on the tops of the port-a-potties. They were dressed like the participants of the Lawrence Welk show!

On the hot days water containers accompanied the portapotties.

[pooks]

Geese! I love it!

[kjay]

Hi, Kathi ! Happy to see you here. Do you plan to ride Candisc again next year?

[eclectic]

I'm so glad to hear a report about Candisc this year. I've ridden the tour 4 years and experienced glory days and unspeakable head/crosswinds. I'd thought about riding the tour this year, but decided to try a Wisconsin ride that was the same week. Congratulations for completing a great challenging week of biking!

I was thinking of doing the Wisconsin ride next year and it is a bummer they are over the same time frame because Candisc will be really good next year.

Decisions, decisions decisions - may depend on if the BF is going to start riding again - he did Candisc 10 years ago and hasn't toured since, I think he is warming up to it again just needs a new bike

[eclectic]

I loved reading your report, eclectic!

It's amazing -- I can't even imagine doing what you did. And as I say like a broken record -- I don't do heat! Any reason they didn't wait a few weeks for it to be cooler?

And, um, a personal question.

You talked about eating and eating and eating. (I can imagine!)

What happens if you end up needing to, um, expel some of the food from your body when you're out cycling in the middle of nowhere as part of a group?

Or does that not happen when your body is working hard, cycling. Maybe (hopefully) it doesn't decide to poop until you stop?

(I can't believe I'm asking this question. I also can't believe I'm having so much trouble wording it in an adult manner. Sheeeesh.)

Re getting cooler - you never know what is going to happen in NoDak. That week could be cool and rainy or hot and dry. I have known labor day weekend to have temps of +103 and the other night the low was +43

I ride in heat much better than in the cold

Next years ride should be cooler on average it is in the Northern part of the state all the way up to the Canadian border

Kathi gave a great description of the porta potties - they were great as far as portapotties go. they had them set up every 10 miles or so ( they would just be on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere and if you were really desperate, as some were, the sunflower fields were still standing and they were about 4-5 feet tall so good coverage, also the big round haybales were still laying and they are over 6 feet tall! A person does what a persons gotta do

[eclectic]

Oh and BTW Pooks - 3 summers ago I couldn't imagine doing this either!