Wednesday, May 13, 2009

memories

We spent last weekend in my hometown of Fargo, ND. It hosted a relatively new, but growing marathon. I don't do 26.2 miles unless I'm pedalling, but when I heard that some family members were walking in the 5k, and others from IA and MI running the half marathon, I thought it would be good to see everyone. Mini family reunion. Added bonus: the weather was really cold and grey (it is North Dakota) so I was asked to spend some time with my great-nieces, 25 months and 16 months.

As we drove through South Dakota, which makes up almost half the trip from KC to Fargo, I thought back to the first organized tour I did. In 2006 I joined my brother-in-law for the 2nd annual Tour de Kota. The route that year started in Yankton and ended in Milbank. Along the way it criss-crossed I-29 several times. Several of the small towns we camped in had names I recognized from exit signs along the interstate I had travelled dozens of times.

We got to ride in a horse drawn wagon, eat spaghetti at the church, and sit in the city park listening to a guy with a very Scandinavian name signing some pretty good blues. We enjoyed the hospitality of people who live in small towns that they are very proud of, and we understood why. A tour of 500 riders coming to some of these towns is a big deal. As we rode into Milbank drivers were honking and waving support for our finish.

Now, every time I drive on that boring stretch of highway, it's a little less boring because of the memories from a week on a bike 3 years ago. Just one of many benefits of being a cyclist.

5 comments:

  1. I have yet to do a tour like that, but I sure want to. Sounds like fun. I put serious thought into one in ND. It went up along the Red River...I think...and the price was reasonable, but taking a week of vacation plays a role.

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  2. I grew up on the east side of SD (Brookings, Sioux Falls, Estelline) -- lots of good memories there. I've often though to the Tour de Kota, but it hasn't fallen on the right days yet!

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  3. I looked back in my junk, found the brochure and it is the CANDISC that I pondered riding. Some of it went along the Missouri river that year.

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  4. I think I saw the route for that year too. Up along the river into Montana, and back down on the other side of the river. That would be a scenic ride!

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  5. I had much the same experience going through Kansas to Colorado in March. Several exits marked with names of small towns we visited during the two BAK's I rode. Good memories!

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