Traveling Twosome
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Theodore Roosevelt National Park:   Cycling the Scenic Loop

9/4/2016

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One of the things Barry was most looking forward to during our visit to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota was cycling the Scenic Loop road around the park's south unit, where we were staying in Cottonwood Campground.  I was a bit nervous about the ride because I knew it involved quite a bit of climbing, though after driving it in 2013, I knew I'd be rewarded with amazing views along the way.

That's really an understatement.  Photos simply can't do this special place justice.  We actually rode the loop on two separate days, in a counter-clockwise direction the first day and clockwise the second.  Barry actually rode it twice both days!  The mileage from our campsite at Cottonwood Campground, around the loop and back came in at just over 26 miles, not a long ride by road cycling standards, but definitely an epic one.

The ride had some roller coaster climbs, requiring me to stop to catch my breath part way up on occasion, but the scenery was unbeatable. Bison!  Hoodoos!  Canyons!  Badlands!   Check out the photos and see for yourself.
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There were occasional bison roadblocks we'd have to wait out
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I was a little nervous not having the protection of a car around me!
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Herd of bison
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Wild horses could be seen along the way as well
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Grinding up a big climb
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Summitting another long hill
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Done!
​If you are a road cyclist and have a chance to ride this loop, do it.  You will not regret it!
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    ©2018 by Barry & Emily Smith .All rights reserved.
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    Emily & Barry

    We're a long-married, early-retired couple who are currently traveling as nomads with no fixed home base.  After years of living in North Carolina (Emily's home state), we spent 18 months living oceanfront on Ambergris Caye, Belize, a year road-tripping the US in a Honda CR-V, a year in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and are now roaming North America in our 32' motorhome, Pearl, following warm weather whenever possible.

    Our passions are bicycling, walking and hiking, birding, continuing our midlife struggles to learn Spanish, enjoying healthy food (and the occasional donuts & pie!), traveling (duh!)  We travel with a fleet of bicycles and Paisley, our 10-year old Boston Terrier. 

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    Paisley, May 2016
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    States visited (pre-RV)
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    Pearl, a 2007 Newmar Bay Star
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    States visited in "Pearl"

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  • Traveling Twosome Blog
  • BeBelize - Our life in Belize (2011-2013)
  • Earlier adventures (2003-2010)
    • First Belize Trip 2010
    • Fall Sail Cruise Aboard Logos 2009
    • Conch Key 2007
    • Charleston Sailing School 2007
    • Biscayne Bay Sailing School 2007
    • Key Lime Sailing Club 2006
    • Southwest Parks 2006
    • BEYC/Jost van Dyke, BVI 2005
    • Offshore Sailing School 2004
    • Annapolis Sailboat Show 2004
    • Finger Lakes 2004
    • NY State Bike Tour 2004
    • Biras Creek, BVI 2003