8/8/2015
The only sound in our room was the low hum of our air conditioner. The room sheltered us from the sounds of traffic and rain. The sour smell of cow manure from the nearby dairy farms were also nonexistent. The Fair Bridge Inn and Suites kept us sheltered and comfy. The rain on the window left the view looking like static on an old television. I used the time to mill around and organize my upcoming days.
The media had been effective in spreading the word about my mission. Runners from everywhere had contacted me to join me on the road. I had my hands full arranging times to run with everyone. Finally all our interviews were bearing fruit. I eventually took a break to prepare a cauldron of steaming hot water with a generous amount of Epsom salts added. As I sat in the healing potion, I closed my eyes and I thought about how far Crystal and I had travelled.
Time ticked away as the rain continued. We left the room when the clock signaled check out. Instead of being hasty, I completed my work in the plush seats of the lobby. Like all forms of weather, the rain passed. At that point I had caught up with all my work and my body was fully awake. I stepped onto the damp road sometime after noon. I could taste the moisture in the air. Fortune was on my side that day. There were no turns on the road. The landscape was like a perfect grid. Only at the very end of the run would I need to make a turn.
I zoned out for most of the day. Like many of the other states I had run through, I was surrounded by corn and soy beans. Little rolling hills began to pop up. The beauty of my destination made my day. Pine Harbor Campground was run by a wonderful couple. They ran a woodsy campground located next to lake Wissota. The trees made us feel secluded from everyone else and put us into a very relaxed mood.
I slept great but had an early morning wake up call. Even though I planned to take off after nine, Crystal decided to get busy around seven. Of course it was our routine whenever we had a campground. Eventually I said goodbye to Pat and Phil. I was surprised that they remembered so many details about my journey. I felt their warmth and support and it helped put some wind under my feet.
I ran seven miles to reach Heidi Kline. My friend Green had put us in touch. I met Green when I was running through Arizona and he had provided tons of support throughout the journey. The day was overcast and cool but once again the humidity was powerful. Within the first two miles I felt as if I had just stepped out of the shower. I was soaked by the time I reached Heidi. My saving grace was that she had just finished a half marathon so she was drenched as well.
We met at the Leinenkugel Brewery. The place was packed. It seemed the town was having a parade and festival. Floats with balloons passed me and Heidi while we ran. It was awesome to have company. Especially since I had 35 miles to run. She ran strong and we were able to converse the entire time. We swapped stories and took in the scenic farmland. We encountered even more rolling hills than I had the day before. They grew in steepness as well. Eight miles later, we spotted Crystal and the beast of a trailer. We hydrated, relaxed, and made plans to meet up again in the coming days. Heidi’s friend Kayla came to pick her up and I decided to have lunch and a nap. I would charge my batteries for the upcoming stretch of 22 miles.
I woke up fully recovered. After gulping down some fluids I took off. The running was rhythmic and the hills rolled like a sine wave. I had to change a couple of roads but nothing drastic. My rhythm was broken by a phone call from Crystal though. When she informed me that the Cancun Mexican Restaurant in Menomine was donating a dinner, my legs kicked into another gear. I was very excited since I hadn’t had yummy Mexican food in a while.
The place was upscale. Expensive bottles of tequila adorned the walls. I had noticed plenty of cars parked in their lot so I knew the food was going to be good. As always, Crystal and I ordered different items. As always, Crystal wound up coveting the meal that I chose. She tried my Chile relleno and said it was the best she had ever eaten. I was lucky she had plenty of enchiladas on her plate. We finished the meal and that signaled the end of our day. I felt blessed for the day. I had good friends, good family, and I was one step closer.
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