Day 133 with Ruby and Rocket

As some of you might know by now Day 133 has been eventful. I left Ross in the rain and was afraid I’d get stuck pulling out. There are lots of potholes as they haven’t landscaped this part of their campground. It filled up so quickly they didn’t get around to it. There are so many people living in trailers all year around working in the oil fields. This is a picture of an interesting building (Public School) that’s very dated and we’re parked right next to it.

Old Public School house in Ross, ND

Travelling on Interstate 2 west there are lots of semi trucks hauling oil and construction equipment. So I’m travelling along and receive a call with the ND area code. I’m thinking it’s the bicycle store in Williston where I’m suppose to drop Bill’s bike off before parking at the campground. Well the man, Steve, says to me, Bill’s OK but he’s had an accident and we’re in the ambulance going to the hospital in Tioga. YIKES! My heart beats a little faster but I’m trying to concentrate on the directions he’s giving me to get to the hospital. It’s only about 15 miles away so I get there pretty fast.

Bill’s in the ER and he’s got road rash on his hip and a few cuts on his left arm and then I see his hand and it’s a mess and swollen. I’m sorry at this point but I’m also really thankful this is all that has happened. I find out a car clipped his shoulder and that threw him off his bike. I shudder to think about those semi trucks going by where he was biking.  Anyway they take x-rays and his bone below his little finger is broken and he is now in a cast.

After thanking everyone, we head in Tioga for a prescription at their little pharmacy. It’s amazing how a small town pharmacy is so very different from a Walgreens. The pharmacist actually talked to me and asked me if I’d been to Sun Devil Stadium. I laughed and said my kids went to ASU. He said he has a friend out there so it kind of made me feel good.

We left Tioga and headed for Ray, ND to pick up Bill’s bike and cell phone as it’s at the Fire Station. The emergency attendant, Sheri, meets at the Fire Station and we load his bike in Ruby and take off for Williston and the Buffalo Trails Campground. Bill said he’d heard that this campground looks like an old KOA that has gone to seed. Well he’s correct about that!!! There are lots of oil field workers but it’s a little better than in Ross. We’re here for 2 nights so we will be able to regroup and make a new plan.

So we’ve decided to head to Jackson Hole early since we have family and friends with plans to meet us toward the end of the month. We’ll leave here tomorrow, Monday, and drive to Bozeman, MT and stay the night there and then on to Jackson Hole Campground until August 29^th. Bill has visions of continuing the ride after that but my visions are wavering!!!

So we shall see ---- we’re off to Bozeman tomorrow and 4++ miles. I’ve never driven Ruby 400 miles – hope I can do that!!

Take care and thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. I know I’m thankful that we only have a pinky finger and some ugly road rash to worry about!