Reunion Bike Ride Report

Ron Morsch, (Dillon, Colorado) VCHS 61er, invited anyone in the All-60's group, particularly our class, to ride with him to Baldhill Dam during the reunion, July 8-10-11, 2010, in Valley City (ND). What happened with his "dam bike ride?"  Pictured above are (L-R) Ron, along with Nancy and Steve Bachand Click on photo for larger image.

HERE'S RON'S REPORT:

"I had five people indicate that they were interested in making the ride. I got to the school administration building, the old Red Owl, just north of a library on Central about 6:45 a.m. Saturday. I had Marty bring the truck and her mission was to drive out to Baldhill Dam and provide water and a banana to the riders when they got there. No one showed, so I sent Marty back to the motel and I headed out about 7:15, arrived at Baldhill dam, some 11 1/2 miles later, about 7:55 a.m. As I rode up the road to the overlook I thought to myself, when I get back to Valley City and cross the finish line and throw up my hands in victory I will also have taken second, third and last place. I set my cell phone up on one of the railings and took a picture of myself and my bike and the picture looking down the valley.


"It was really a great morning to go for a ride, was about 60° absolutely no wind, and only a couple of early-morning drivers either going fishing or headed to the farm to do some work. After wandering around looking at the dam and the lake I climbed back on my bike and headed back to Valley City. About halfway back I saw two bike riders headed toward the dam and as we approached each other one of them said, 'Ron?'

"It was Nancy and Steve Bachand from Colorado Springs who had indicated by e-mail they would like to go on the ride. Nancy (Perry) Bachand is a '68 graduate of VCHS. They had gotten a little confused on the start time and didn't get to the school until 7:30 a.m. and when they found no one there in the undaunted spirit of Colorado they headed out anyway since it was such a beautiful morning. Since we had only met electronically we introduced ourselves and I told them I'd ride back out to Baldhill dam with them. I again set up my cell phone on the railing and the third picture is of the three of us at the overlook. Some of you may have known Nancy's dad, he was the Culligan man in Valley City in the 60s, I don't recall when they first moved to Valley City. Anyway we took some time riding back and I gave them a little history of that area, pointed out where the old Foss dam was, a little history of the Soo Line at North Valley (both my grandfathers worked on the Soo Line) and some tidbits about growing up in Valley City.

"Nancy had a luncheon to go to so when we got back to the school she loaded up her bike and headed to the motel to get ready for a luncheon. Steve and I rode through town and I told him a little about Valley City back in our day. We finally got back to the Americinn about 11 a.m. and Steve decided to ride down the Kathryn Rd. a bit. I had put in almost 34 miles by then so I decided to call it a day."