America One Spoke At a Time: Busy in Bismarck

On Thursday July 5th, Jay felt free enough from the aches and pains that had plagued him from July 1 to take a short 35-mile ride from New Salem to Bismarck, ND. The morning was sunny, but evening thunderstorms were predicted. The unpredictable”weather of North Dakota is becoming more understandable. To avoid camping in the bad weather, Helen booked a room at a motel.

Jay’s ride to Bismarck put him back on the same Route 139 he had ridden the day his body pains began. He realized that as he rode over rough road seams again and again, that a more plausible explanation for his body aches was not bacterial or viral infections, but the pounding the road had given his body. Jay slowed to a 10 mph pace and spent most of the day standing on his pedals when crossing road seams.

When Jay reached Bismarck he returned to the health clinic and discussed his “road pounding” findings with his doctor. Back x-rays thankfully showed no compression fractures. The next day, on Friday, Jay visited a sports medicine specialist who further confirmed “the road did it” theory.

Bismarck ND UUs around the campfire

Lower back traction was applied at a visit later that same day by a physical therapist and Jay was given a set of exercises to help with his recovery. A Monday visit to the physical therapist was scheduled to re-evaluate his readiness to resume his ride. All the professionals involved voiced their objective, “We need to get you back on the road!”

Having a weekend in Bismarck was a stroke of good fortune. We had previously declined an invitation from the Bismarck Mandan Unitarian Universalist Congregation to attend their 4th of July weekend camping outing. Well, now we could attend.

RV temp home, thanks to
Janis and Steve

The outing was held at the Cross Ranch State Park near Chester, ND. We had a marvelous time with our fellow UUs. The outing was planned from Friday to Sunday, but reports of late Saturday evening severe thunderstorms resulted in all of us packing up and heading home. We had no local home, so Anessa offered us her son’s bed for the evening. Things always work out.

On Sunday morning at Anessa’s home, Helen stayed to do laundry and chat with her new gal pal and Jay went to Sunday service, a contemplative Taize service of song and silent

Bismarck-Mandan UUs were active at Standing Rock

meditation. Jay reported that it was excellent. The UU Bismarck Congregation is known by many Atlanta UUs for its participation at Standing Rock to protest the XL tar sand pipeline.

With Anessa’s son returning Sunday evening, we drove to the home of other church members, Janis and Steve, who offered their 25-foot RV as a temporary home. We have been offered the most gracious home hospitality that could ever be imagined. We are ever so grateful to Anessa, Janis and Steve.

Jay has a southeastern ride on Tuesday, July 10 with predicted head winds of 10 – 15 mph. The plan is to drive to the end point and ride back to Bismarck with a tail wind. His momma didn’t raise no fool!

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