November 19, 2013
Fargo, ND
133,935.6 ( 420.1 miles – a new record for us)
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-StRrnO1m6AM/Uow3IJGCeBI/AAAAAAAAD9I/D-tng5Htgj0/s144-c-o/1119131001a.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundDay10#5948189820869310482″ caption=”There was home last night. Very Grateful to the owner, Richard for letting us stay right there.” type=”image” alt=”1119131001a.jpg” pe2_img_align=”right” ] When I went to bed last night with a Bobcat (Big Rig with no trailer) parked behind me with his generator running, I was sure sleeping was going to be out of the question. When I woke up around 2am and peeked outside to see what the noise was, I saw two UPS trucks switching a trailer and the bobcat still there with his generator running. Back to sleep I went. Woke up again at 8am. So I guess sleeping wasn’t an issue after all. 😀
[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JbQ4IYvwJ7s/UoxGeaJEp1I/AAAAAAAAD_Q/9WbhKCKcaG8/s144-c-o/1119131348c.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundDay10#5948206696076978002″ caption=”I think this is my favorite Prairie picture.” type=”image” alt=”1119131348c.jpg” ]I fed Lexie, washed up and adjusted the Fuel Mixture on Sandy and then hit the road only to stop and readjust the settings a few more times as she was running really hot. Our last stop was when we turned north off I-90 and I was so ecstatic that I got it right. She was now running cooler! That was until I turned East again. So why would she be hotter running East? How about a consistent 20 mph wind gusting to 30mph and trying to blow us off the road. Heading east, it was all I could do to keep Sandy on the road. Heading north I could let go of the wheel. he wind was really affecting her performance today and the day would be filled with “Head East for 30 Miles” then “Head North for 30 Miles” So it was Nice, Stressful, Nice, Stressful all day long. It would also be our longest day on the road too. We had to make Fargo by tonight if we wanted to stay out of the approaching snow storm and make it home by Thanksgiving so I spent a few hours driving in the dark to insure we’d make it to our Host, Joel and Jill’s home just north of Fargo, ND.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VwCUW2tUbf0/UoxGkMhjZ8I/AAAAAAAAD_Y/5ZNDiB9-gX8/s144-c-o/1119131448.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundDay10#5948206795500775362″ caption=”At Laura Ingalls Wilder’s house.” type=”image” alt=”1119131448.jpg” ] We spent the majority of the day driving through large tracts of Wheat and Hay Fields. So large that you could not see the ends of them or another building in sight. Occasionally I’d see a Combine out working the fields. If I understand correctly, they actually use GPS to drive the equipment as the farms are so big they need to keep track of everything. Eventually we rolled through De Smet, SD also know as the home where Laura Inglles Wilder lived and wrote the stories that many of us watched in the TV series “Little House on the Prairie” when we were children. Now here I was, by chance, in that very town so I paid a visit to the Survivors House.
Back on the road, it was more prairie and more farms and I enjoyed every moment of it, but such a stark contrast to the mountains I was just in a day earlier. That is the beauty of traveling…seeing the vast differences of each area and meeting some incredibly nice people. Soon we were in Watertown, SD when a shop caught my eye. “Jensen’s” was all the sign said and if you have been following along, that is the same name that was on the street sign when I was heading to Alzada, MT.It is, after all, my last name. Well I check it out on Google and it turns out its an Auction House. Here they are. Jensen’s Auction Center, but what’s even more of a coincidence is that the font they used is the very same font my Dad used in his business, Jensen Office Products.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Uzp8ZUjVrE8/UoxG4H-HeGI/AAAAAAAAEAQ/ZKNs3wH1rxE/s144-c-o/1119132041.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundDay10#5948207137875785826″ caption=”Joel and Jill set out the Welcome Flag for me.Or maybe it’s always out, but it did let me know I was in the righ” type=”image” alt=”1119132041.jpg” pe2_gal_align=”right” ] Just up ahead, we jumped on I-29 North which would take us clear into North Dakota which leaves me with 3 states left on my list. We arrived at Joel and Jill H’s home around 7:30pm. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to find his house as it was dark and the homes were not well marked. Then I saw a VW Flag flying and a yard that any VW Collector would drool over (too dark for that pic) and I knew I was in the right place. Jill made a delicious Lasagna for us and Joel presented me with a VW Water Bottle and a window sticker from the Red River VW Club for Sandy.
Tomorrow, if the weather holds out, I’ll check Sandy’s timing and then its off to see an old Motorcycle friend in Minnesota.
