8/15/2015
Life is like sport. There are ebbs and flows. At times it is easy to ride the waves of momentum to a peak. Of course, every moment change happens and momentum shifts. I had spent the last days of Wisconsin and the first days of Minnesota riding a wave of energy. It got me caught up on work and I was on the go. I had plenty of company to keep me running efficiently. Suddenly the landscape changed. On day 339 I found my body wanting to just stay in bed. The sheets at the Hampton Inn were comfortable as always and I had filled my tummy with several hot waffles. I decided to remain motionless and let the minutes tick away. Even though the rest replenished my strength, it couldn’t produce cloud cover on a scorching day.
I hit the road after check out time and made sure to douse myself in sunscreen. I had to reconnect with the road and with nature. I had to make sure my senses were in tune with my surroundings. After dragging my feet on the ground for the first mile, I felt a surge of energy. I climbed a hill at the end of town and then began to let loose. Sweat dripped into my eye and splashed on the ground. I could have been called masochistic because I enjoyed the heat. It seemed to add fuel to my tank.
I took two hydration breaks on the road and one meal. I appetite was skimpy in the baking temperatures but Crystal had found Pancho Villa Mexican restaurant and they were happy to help our cause. The cool air brought new life to my body. The staff brought us ice cold water and knew the exact dish to put a spring back into my step. They prepared vegetarian fajitas for Crystal and me. The order was huge and definitely enough for two people. I was pleasantly surprised to hear the bartender had run around his country for charity in his home country of Ecuador. He not only donated the meal but also wanted to donate some of his tips to our cause. I was humbled by the gesture.
My destination of Rogers was only eight miles away at that point. I walked off the meal for a couple of blocks but I started to fly once the food had settled. I entered the town of Becker and saw that everything was on the one main road. I met up with Crystal beside a little hotel. I knew True was driving out to give me a book so I got cleaned up in the trailer. Cold water trickled out of the bottle with a sport top. It was the way we took showers when we had no other option. The air temperature hadn’t dropped a single degree so the liquid tickled my skin. I closed my eyes as the evaporation helped me relax.
True arrived and brought me a book and some papers that could help parents become more financially literate. She told me about a program that could help parents send their kids to college without depleting their bank account. It was very enlightening and I was sure I could pass the information on to others.
The night came quickly but there was no respite from the heat. Crystal and I sat outside in the warm humidity chatting with our new friends Al and Steven. We were delaying going back into the trailer since there was more fresh air outside. I had sprayed my body with insect repellent and of course the little buggers found one tiny area which I hadn’t covered and drained my blood from that spot. We dreaded the coming evening but yet again someone came to our rescue. Steven asked if we would like to have a room donated to our cause. He was like an angel that appeared from nowhere. Even when the hotel had turned us down for a donation, someone wanted us to have a good night’s rest. The room was perfect. It had a hot bath and cold air. We were in paradise.
Again I got off to a late start. The heat had climbed to a new high and records were breaking all over the country. I powered through the route at a steady pace. When I reached the Minnesota Visitors center, Crystal and I practically fell asleep under the shade provided by green trees. The grass was soft like a mattress and a cool wind blew. My destination city was still twelve miles away but the town of St. Cloud was only four miles away. Crystal and I tried to get to a park where we could watch a movie we had picked up the previous night. I missed a turn because a large correctional facility sat on the corner of the street and it wasn’t on the map. I made the assumption that the street next to the prison was a road that led to the prison parking lot. I was incorrect in my assumption and it cost me an extra mile. I crossed the Mississippi River for the second time on this trip. My first time was down south. I took my time crossing the bridge because I wanted to enjoy the moment. It was almost a year later and we were still in good shape. When I reached Crystal, we splashed around in a park with fountains for kids. We didn’t get too drenched because she informed me of a last minute hotel donation. Thank goodness for Karen at the Country Inn Hotel and Suites.
I kicked my legs into a higher gear but traffic lights regulated my speed. It seemed like every light conspired against me. I was eager to polish off the day and I tapped my foot at every stop. Eventually I broke free. Like a caged animal set free, I went wild. I reached a town with quaint little shops and clean air. I was surprised I had reached St. Joseph. Crystal pulled up behind me just as I finished the day. It was time to relax and refuel. 
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