Canada 2016 - Fargo and Moorhead, MN

Saturday - July 23
Since we were only moving across town and didn't have to check out until 11, we started our day with the penultimate stage of the Tour, a mountain stage in the rain....we could empathize with the rain part. We will miss the last stage since we will be on the train tomorrow.

Susan and Donna had several delightful conversations.....yesterday and today.

We only had 4 miles to go but there was a thunderstorm on the horizon in the early afternoon.

Our route took us past many of these big older homes. This one is now a law office.

We decided to check out the Amtrak station before we checked in since we were a little early. This is NOT the train station.

The old station has been converted into a really wonderful bike shop!

The Farmer's Market was being held in the parking lot next door.

Dad Chris and son, Jack, were packing up their farmer's market treasures as we talked about our journey and ways to do some bike touring with kids.

We especially like Grace's helmet and could imagine our granddaughters would love it too!

Mom, Jolene, and Grace heading home so they can hopefully beat the rain. Chris and Jack weren't far behind.

Our room was on the 6th floor. We did get checked in before the storm but got a little wet on our way back from lunch.

At 2:30, the sun came out again so we went on a little excursion. 

We crossed the Red River into Moorhead, Minnesota to find this replica of a Norwegian church in a beautiful park along the river. It is called Hopperstad Stave Church.

Our route back to North Dakota

Fargo has a bikeshare program and this is one of the stations. The tower in the background is the bike shop.

Great Northern Bicycle Co. did a great job of utilizing so much of the old train stuff. 

Every corner of Broadway, the main downtown street, had one of these towers on it. Three sides have the picture and the 4th side gives the Fargo history commemorated by the picture.

The Cathedral of St. Mary

We didn't know it ahead of time but it just happens to be the site of the Year of Mercy Holy Door for this diocese. Our home parish was visiting the Holy Door at the Grotto in Portland this very same afternoon so we were with them in spirit. :)

Now we just need to find dinner.  Fargo's downtown has plenty of restaurants.

Since our train leaves at 3:25 am, we plan to get up at midnight to give ourselves plenty of time to box the bikes. Fortunately, the hotel room has really dark curtains because we are going to bed before sunset. So far the train is running on time.

End of week 5
This journey is almost over.
Cumulative bike miles =  1,514
We will add 30 more getting home from the Amtrak station.
And yes, it did look that flat.
It was only that darned headwind that made it feel like we were going uphill!