68.8 miles, 12.9 mph, Odometer: 1434 – Hebron, ND to Lincoln, ND
KEVIN – Rode Old Hwy 10 for 10 miles, then I-94 for 50 miles, then on bike paths most of the way in. Cold with some headwind but dressed appropriately; all was well. Lunch in New Salem at a cafe where all the locals and staff knew each other. Didn’t see Suzi until camp.
It is the end of May and the gardens around here are tilled and ready for planting; seems late which is probably normal for North Dakota. Ballad tells us that it has been warm at home. We are glad to be retiring in Wenatchee.
SUZI – Tidied up the trailer and blogged for awhile, then checked out a couple of the attractions in Hebron, ND. First was a visit to check out Fort Sauerkraut. Here’s the story and photos. From the Southwestern North Dakota Digital Archive at the Dickinson Museum Center:
“Colossal work went into the building of Fort Sauerkraut at Hebron during the Indian Scare of 1890. For the women and children and food supplies the Hebronites built a sod house 100 feet long. They surrounded this with a thick sod parapet 7 feet high and well provided with port holes for the riflemen. Tunnels led to rifle pits outside the walls, and farther out they drove in numerous posts to which they strung an intricate web of wires to trip the attacking Indians and their horses. Inside, the fort was stocked with food supplies, including kegs of Sauerkraut—hence the quaint name for Hebron’s historic fort.”
This is Bicentennial Story No. 56, prepared by Father Louis Pfaller, for the Stark County Historical Society.
Next I ventured into the Dacotah Clayworks to check out the pottery for sale. What a delight. I met Robin, the artist, and she described the pieces in the shop and how they were made. Not being a potter myself, I can’t do justice to the details, except to say that she has several different types of kilns, materials and methods. Her small pots for growing succulents are made by exploding a firecracker inside a ball of clay. The hole that is produced gives her inspiration for the rest of the design. I purchased one of these pots and can’t wait to try a succulent in it! A photo in her shop caught my eye and I learned the story of her teaching on the Michigan Art Train in 1976. Here is a link to her website and my photos.
https://www.ndclay.net/about-the-shop
And finally, this building in Hebron that just made me smile. It appears that a porte cochere is essential in North Dakota, no matter the size of the home or office.
Cycling with Kevin & Suzi 