Bicycling the Lewis & Clark Trail
Washburn, ND to Mandan, ND

Thursday, August 12, 2004
Distance Cycled: 50 miles
Vertically Climbed: 1,310 feet
Average Speed: 13.2 mph

We woke up to another day of cloudy skies. The good news was that there was no where on the weather channel that showed any local rain. We went next door to the restaurant, ate breakfast, returned to the motel, loaded the bicycles and headed south. Today's route took us along the Missouri River. Unlike previous days when we only got glimpses of the river once in a while, we were able to see the river most of the time. At first the route was very flat but after a while we started going up and down hills again. This continued for 4 or 5 miles. I sure am tired of what are essentially rollers. You climb a hill in a very low gear and then rush down the other side at a high rate of speed only to immediately go up and down another hill and another hill.

We came to a sign that said Double Ditch LP, fresh oiled road. We looked at the road and decided to take it. About ¼ mile further we came to a sign that said dead end in 1000 feet. We continued to the end of the road and found signs that explained various scenery and historic facts. We also found a bicycle path that started at the end of the road so we continued on the bicycle path until we came to some stone shelters. We left our bicycles on the bicycle path and climbed to the stone shelter and found that we were in the middle of the Double Ditch Mandan Indian Village site. All around us were round depressions in the ground where the Mandan Indians had built their houses. It looked like there had been 50 or 100 Indian homes in this location at one time. It was an impressive site. We continued on the bicycle path which ended at another freshly oiled road that led back to the main highway.

We then followed bicycle routes and roads until we found the ND State Capitol Building, and the Heritage Center next door. We spent several hours in the museum. Saw the best display of birds that I have ever seen. We then worked are way across Bismarck to Mandan and the motel. The bad news the motel is way out of town and on the top of a big hill. The good news they provide free shuttle service to where ever you want to go. So Jan picked up the dirty clothes and headed for the laundry mat.

We all ate supper in the lounge enjoying the free veggies and the Hawaiian Jazz Band, then some of us enjoyed the hot tub and then to our rooms to watch TV and sleep.