I crossed the border into North Dakota, just outside of Estevan, Saskatchewan. There were many trucks blocking the way, to my surprise. I thought it would be of no consequence to pass over a border like this. Anyway, I was able to go to the head of the line and got through in quick order. This marked the final part of my trip—the Home Stretch.
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June 24, 1999
Moose Jaw to Dickinson
494 miles
9,229.5 miles to date
About 1/2 way to Bismark the idea to visit Mt. Rushmore began to germinate. I decided to detour a bit to visit this remarkable monument that I hadn’t seen since a young boy when my parents took us there on a family trip. This actually added a lot of miles the next day’s ride.
The photo shows the North Dakota landscape shortly after crossing over from Saskatchewan.
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June 25, 1999
Dickinson to Mitchell
627 miles
9,856.5 miles to date
This day marked the most miles I have ever completed in a single day. The goal was to meet my mother and aunt Millie in Mitchell, South Dakota, but I had diverted from my route the previous day to see Mt. Rushmore.
I must admit that Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse were worth the diversion. Both are spectacular sites to see.
The Interstate East to Mitchell was more than 170 miles against a strong wind. My gas lasted only about 125 miles where normally I could get 180 miles to a tank—that’s how strong the wind was.
In Mitchell I had a happy reunion with my mother and aunt Millie. They had found a room for me in a fleabag. For some reason, Mitchell was full.
My chain on the motorcycle was loose and I had to get that taken care of. After trading adventure stories with Mom and Millie I was on my way due south. The sense of the trip coming to an end approached me like a freight train.
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June 26, 1999
Mitchell to Phillipsburg
404.3 miles
10,260.8 miles to date
I stopped by Genoa to see my sister. She wasn’t at home but left a note for me that she was at a softball game about 3 blocks down the hill. In one of the few instances on this 11,000 mile journey I did not put on my helmet and was stopped by a police officer, a young guy. He asked for my license and registration and it was at that moment I realized that I did not have any registration. It had been lost from my bike earlier in the year, long before starting on this trip. How did I get into Canada? I don’t know.
It was not really a problem though. The officer was kind enough to just caution me to wear a helmet so I wouldn’t bash my brains out.
I saw Marilyn, we chatted a bit, and I headed right on down the road and into Kansas.
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June 27, 1999
Phillipsburg to Childress
478.2 miles
10,739 miles to date
The road south was a constant melancholy. When would I be able to do something like this again? The melancholy grew as I approached San Antonio.
Not much to report, it was all cycling today.
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June 28, 1999
Childress to San Antonio
421.8 miles
11,160.8 miles total
The final day. It was due south, through Abilene to Junction to Kerrville and then into San Antonio. I came into San Antonio on Highway 16. Outside of Bandera I stopped for gas and the attendant was asking where I had been. I told him I was just now returning from a trip to Alaska, that this was my final day, in fact the final hours of the journey. He said that someday he would like to do that.
