Day 25: Howling winds and screeching hawks

I slept like a baby, had a great breakfast at a local cafe (which was even nicer than a gas station, but I miss talking with the old geezers) and hit the road by 08:00. As forecast, I headed out directly into a 10-15 mph wind which increased to 20+ over the day. But I don’t care- I LOVE the wind now! It doesn’t bother me anymore- it just makes me go slower. So anyway, I was merrily pedaling into the wind listening to music and I slowly became aware of a screeching noise…  I looked around me but didn’t see anything, so I looked behind me and a kamikaze hawk was dive bombing me! I threw up one arm and started shouting “get away!” as he passed by about 1-2 ft over my head. Then he turned around and dive bombed me from the front- again pulling up about 1-2 ft above my head, screeching the whole time.  He (it?) then flew to the south over some trees and I lost sight of him. Incredible, I thought, glad I didn’t crash and that he quickly lost interest in me. So I continued to pedal into the wind and then- screeching again! I looked behind me and he was coming in for another pass! Same approach- one pass from behind and another from the front, both coming within a foot or two of my head! Then he headed off to the south for good…As I pedaled on into the howling wind I pondered my evasive actions. I simply didn’t know what to do.  I had thought through possible encounters with bears, rednecks and robbers (all those plans included bear spray) but I never considered the possibility of an attack by a raptor. I should have since I was once attacked by a confused pelican- but that is another story. I finally made it to my first snack stop in Bellfield where I had my usual pie and coffee and left in good spirits. Some of my riding today was on old route 10 again, but half was on I-94. I-94 has a wide shoulder, a new, smooth surface for much of the section I rode and the trafficc wasn’t bad. Not too far out of Medora I left the badlands landscape and entered grasslands and fields of wheat, corn and sunflowers. I think I am in the Williston Basin now- I am starting to see some large rod pumps- I wonder if they are producing from the Bakken? I had a good lunch in Bismarck and then rode another 25 miles into the town of Richardton. My Warm Showers hosts (Joel & Sasha) asked me to call them from the church. Well, the church is a beautiful Benedictine Abby that was built in the late 1800’s. Joel & Sasha’s 7 year old daughter, Masha, gave me a very nice tour of the abby and then we had a really nice dinner followed by tea and lots of conversation. Joel & Sasha have graciously allowed me to take a rest day tomorrow so I will leave  for Bismarck (about 80 miles away) on Thursday morning. Daily mileage 64, trip miles: 1,434

The last remnants of the badlands as I pedal out of Medora:

Old highway 10; you can see I-94 just to the north (left):

A large Wiliston Basin rod pump. It must be producing a lot of fluid judging from the size of the tank battery:

The landscape now is gently rolling grassland and farmland:

The Abby in Richardton. There are about 25-30 resident monks. I met the Abbot (Abbot Brian) while waiting there and enjoyed talking with him. I am going back tomorrow to talk with some of the monks.

Masha, giving me a tour of the Abby. She is a very cute and animated 7 year old!

Inside the church at the Abby: