Day 60 - 8/6/16 Badlands National Park - Day Off

I had some real ambitious plans for today – an early bike ride to watch the sun rise, a hike on some of the foot trails this afternoon, and then another sunset ride tonight.  But, upon laying my head down last night, I realized there is no need to wake up at 4:00am, I'll already be doing that on Sunday.  And there's no need to go out and watch the sunset again, I can do that from tonight's campground and then tomorrow as well.  

And as for the hike, well that's still up in the air I guess.  It's just about noon and this picnic table is just getting more comfortable by the minute.  A lot of folks left the campground this morning.  I'm sure most of them are heading to Sturgis for some biker weekend there.  

Motorcycles, not real bikes.  Now it's quiet, a little on the windy sode and I still have a nice virw of the great big rock walls.  Yes, there is nothing wrong with right here and that is something to be thankful for.

Day 52 - 7/29/16 Sioux Center, IA to Irene, SD

No need to stealth camp tonight because there are no cops in this town.  I learned about the city park from the bartender, Linda at the only bar in Irene.  She used to work for the city council, specifically for the parks and she said there's no one that will bother me here.  I'm sitting under the pavilion, I have outlets to charge my electronics and there is a fully functioning bathroom with running water and toilet paper right next to me.  

I am in paradise. It's great to meet new people and stay with them but, sometimes a night to myself is exactly what I need.  Well, today I got the best of both worlds.  Riding down the steep hill into town, I came upon the Irene Bar and Grill.  The place was completely empty except for Linda who was taking care of Belinda and David.  They're an incredibly nice couple just passing through Irene to go to their camper for the weekend.  

The 3 of them had so many questions about my trip and for anyone wondering if I get tired of answering the same questions all the time, I do not.  If I can inspire one person to go out and do something out of the ordinary, all my efforts on this trip will have been worth it.  Anyway, David and Belinda decided to pay for my lunch before they headed out – yet another act of kindness I hope to pay forwars one of these days.  Shortly after they left, the bar started to fill up with locals.  

Boy, they could practically smell that I wasn't from the area, they could just tell something was different.  All really warm, friendly people just trying to pass the time on a Friday afternoon.  I knew if I didn't leave soon, I would've speent all night there or I would've gotten in the van with Big Earl and Matt, a couple other outsiders (not as outside as me) headed a couple towns over to play some music at another bar.  So, here I am at the park around the corner, my wet clothes hanging on my makeshift clothesline and the rest of my stuff spread out on the picnic tablea in the pavilion, just trying to get caught up with documenting this ridiculous trip.

Day 43 - 7/20/16 Marengo to Freeport, IL

Last night was great, first time in the tent since Indiana and first time stealth camping since New York!  I wasn't expecting to stealth camp but, the campground I had on my radar turned out to be closed for some reason.  What else was I supposed to do besides pitch my tent and make myself at home?  

The solitude and fresh air is a nice change from the citt.  Everything is good in moderation.  I got up early so I could beat the heat and the potential thubderstorms looming overhead.  It's also just really pleasant riding in the morning light, knowing I have the whole day to get where I'm going.  I may have escaped the heat for the most part but, I rode right into the rain.  The plus side to the rain, or at least the time leading up to it, was the clouds that added so much drama to the otherwise redundant scenery.  

To the North, the sky was streaked with pink and purple like it was 7:00pm what it was only 12 in the afternoon.  And straight ahead, nothing but blue-ish gray covering every inch of clear blue sky.  I would've had more photos if I didn't pack my phone away for fear of getting soaked.  

I'm glad I put all the proper rain covers over my bags before it rained because when it finally did with 10 miles left in my ride, I was so tired, I might've just said screw it.  There were a few moments when I was so hungry and tired and cold that I was hoping for a pick up truck to offer me a ride.  Looking back, I'm so glad I didn't even have that opportunity.  I found some trees in someone's yard that looked like a good umbrella.  

I stopped for a minute, gave myself a mental pep talk, put on my poncho, ate a snack and felt good as new!  Thus is no great accomplishment, toughing out 10 miles in the rain but, I was almost ready to throw in the towel if the opportunity came along.  From this point, I went slow, a comfortable pace, and tried not to look at how many miles I had to go on the odometer.  I just had to pedal, and that's all I did.  

Words cannot describe how nice the shower felt once I peeled off my soaking wet clothes.  As a human, I realize I have a great ability to make things seem much worse than they are, we all do.  But, if we just focus on the most important thing and ignore everything else, we can get through anything.

Day 20 - 6/27/16 Chesterland, OH - Day Off

When Mary Kay offered to let me stay another day, I couldn't resist.  It's been hard to catch up on sleep when I've been meeting such great people and staying up too late with them and waking up and doing it all over again.  It's also going to be in the 90's again today, really terrible weather to ride in especially when there's a lot of humidity too.  Yesterday was about the same.  

There were times when I would take a short break and the sun was just so damn oppressive when I stopped moving.  Aside from being able to rest up, I really like this place and the people that are taking care of me but, I can't wait to keep moving to see who else I might meet.

Day 18 - 6/25/16 Erie, PA to Geneva, OH

Ohio is the last of the states I've already visited before this trip.  Once I'm out, it will all be new.  The Midwest is going to be interesting.  I hear there's a lot of nothing out here, especially since I won't be venturing into the bigger cities, at least I don't think I will be.  

I got my first flat tire today.  It took me 800 miles to finally hit a nail that popped my tube.  And I was only 2 miles from the campground.  Oh well.  I was kind of excited when it happened though.  I felt like I was getting too lucky.  Something bad was bound to happen so I'm glad it was just a flat.  

I busted out the tools and a spare tube and 30 minutes later I was at the campground.  For once, there's actually a lot of people here.  Mostly RVs but, a handful of tent campers as well.  My neighbor already invited me over to enjoy his fire with him later, I would've done the same thing if I had brought a ton of firewood as well.  It's good to be good to your neighbor, no matter how long you're neighbors for.

Day 8 - 6/15/16 Sharon Springs to Bridgewater, NY

Today was spent mostly on Rt. 20, a scenic byway was how the sign described it.  I can't disagree with that.  There wasn't too much of a variety of scenery but, rolling over hill after hill, passing farm after farm was a beautiful thing in the early light of the morning.  I woke up at 5:00 this morning to a bunch of crows squawking like maniacs.  So after breaking down camp and another quick stop at the local Stewart's Shop, I was on the road by 8:00.  

I made it to my deatination by 1:00 in the afternoon, Lake Chalet Motel and Campground.  This place is great.  Mike and his wife, Chrissy, own and operate the property which includes a hefty amount of space for maybe 20 RV's, about half a dozen little cabins and 45 tent sites all surrounding this small lake with a dock and a roped off section for swimming.  

Again, I'm the only one camping in a tent and I didn't see anyone go in or come out of any of the RV's.  There's a big roofed porch area they refer to as the pavilion near the main building.  There are many picnic tables inside and all the vertical and horizontal beams are strung with lights.  It would be a great place to party if there was anyone else here.  I swear, one of these nights I stay at a campground, there will be other people to share the experience with.