Essence - Love & Support come to visit
Blogging so much last night, kept me up late, but all of us in the hotel room wanted a few more minutes to sleep in, not jsut me. Dutifully we roused ourselves and got the day under way. Not without its mishaps though. The grage at the hotel where our bikes were stored overnight was locked so we wound up waking th night manager and getting ourselves going.
It was cool, even dare I say chilly. The T-storms fromt eh day before had kept the night cool and the morning was chilly and damp. We rejoined the others at camp for breakfast. A jovial day. Due partially to Mary’s practical joke of taping a a large stuffed duck to the dent in the gear truck nose, that was left as a resulto fPollie’s colision withteh Wild turkey back in Montana. Pollie was good sport and took all the ribbing.
Rolling out the sun rose and the fresh rays of heat were welcomed as they broke the morning chill. The sun rise also played on the corn as we cast long shadows that gave the impression of indian heiroglyphics of creatures on bikes.
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Long trains and good cheer were the order of the day. It was a shorter day, than lately the winds had turned to crosswinds and even the occasional pseudo tail wind for a turn or two. The cooler corn and soy bean crops were still such a relief and change after the endless dry wheat fields. It was another good day brewing.
In addition to our good riding, I was looking forward to meeting up with Laura and Steve, dear old friends from Arizona who were on their own road trip. They had routed their path to cross ours and I was so looking forward to seeing them. Laura had been significant repeatedly during the plannnig process and to share a few moments on the road with her and Steve was tremendous for me. Coordinating via Text and voicemail we managed a rendezvous at our water stop in Brookings.
Rolling into Brookings we found a really cute little town, with tremendous amenities.
The local bike shop had been keeping up with our ride via blogs, especailly mine. We rolled in to a heroes welcome. Trek cycling tents outside providing shade to rest in. Free ice cream from the attached cofffee shop, The El Tour de France playing on TV and a a full service bike shop with so many opportunities for us to achieve a little retail therapy.
The onwer Robb, (Pictured seated above)had even printed several days of my blog and my pictures many of us riders. He had found my work and thought it good enough to print/display! He knew us by name and the welcoming was just overwhelming.
After the isolation of South Dakota and total reliance on oursleves, to be welcomed and to realize jsut how many people were actively watching, reading and following us was unexpected felt like so much love.
We felt good. Phil stopped in next door to the cafe for an old fashioned shave.
Pirate Thursday was in full force as Scott, our “Cap’n” showed off souvenir trinkets that
Cathy had found.
It was a good day and a great place to sit and chill out and eagerly wait to meet my friends.
And soon enough, Steve and Laura pulled up.
The conversations with Dear friends, sometimes aren’t the point. It tis that they are just there. With you... 1500 miles from home on a street corner and wiling to reroute their trip to see you. I don’t know how much time we spent but it was a welcome delight.
But with miels for all of us to travel, it came time to part ways. As my riding gang had left an hour before I set out on my own and for the first time in the ride really found myself riding alone. Not trying to catch anyone, not tryingot race or catch thte clock, just riding. Soaking in the love I have just been so blessed with and starting to look toward the condo and future plans.
Only a few miles up the road, I found Margo, Adam, Amry and Jeff at a roadside celebrity event for Margo. Chicago Red Cross folks that Margo had worked with, had surprised her on the route with a surprise gatorade stop. Sal had even made a fantastic sign and Margo was brimming with love and good cheer to see such friends surprise her.
The love and support for everyone, all across the board was so encouraging and just really set the essence and tone for the day. Shortly down the road we crossed into Minnesota and now several folks were back in their homestate.
Ane broke a shoe cleat at the “Welcome to Montana” water stop, so I rode the final 15 miles with her to make sure she got it okay and at least had help if she got stranded.
Always looking out for each other and taking care of our own.
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