Day Forty-seven: 7/10/08

First and foremost, I apologize for the delay, (assuming any readers are upset that this blog has not been updated lately). I've simply had no reliable access to the internet since Minot, which isn't all that exciting because there are no towns of notable size from there to Minneapolis, with the exception of Fargo. But PeterB and I finally arrived in Minneapolis last night – a place where the internet is quick and plentiful – hence this update.

With a certain sense of guilt I must admit that for the first time on our trip, PeterB and I hitched a ride from a vehicle yesterday. Allow me to explain.... Before starting this trip my friend Marshal, who is currently attending Vermont Law School, agreed to keep an eye out for housing for me in the fall. Earlier this week Marshal called to tell me about some housing options, including a free housing option, that basically amounted to a house-sitting/dog-sitting gig, that I was interested in. On Wednesday(yesterday) morning we woke up in a city park near Parker's Prairie, Minnesota. I received a message from Marshal telling me that he had been in contact with the free housing people, and that they were interested in speaking with me. The only caveat was that they wanted to talk to me on Thursday (today) afternoon. Parker's Prairie is about 150 miles northwest of the Cities, so I was certain we couldn't make it to Minneapolis by the end of the day, but I wanted to be in town on Wednesday night. I needed to be in town on Thursday so I would have reliable phone service. I didn't want to miss a chance at free housing because I couldn't make a call when I needed to. I called my friend Marty in Minneapolis and he arranged to pick PeterB and me up in the evening, which he did about 65 miles outside of the Cities.

I can look at this 65 mile ride in one of two ways: one, even if we make it to the Atlantic Ocean, I cannot honestly say that we rode entirely across the county – that, in effect, we have cheated by piling our bikes in the back of a pickup truck and driving through the suburbs. On the other hand, we passed the 3,000 mile mark yesterday afternoon, (which is a conservative estimate), and after that many hours in the saddle and enduring as much physical and mental exhaustion that I have at certain times, a 65 mile ride is largely insignificant in the overall scheme. I'm not quite sure where I fall on the issue yet. I do feel a twinge of guilt, but I'm not sure I care. The shot at free housing in the fall was too good to pass up, which I am happy to report I am very confident that I have secured. The couple that live in the house are avid bicycle tourists themselves and are gone for much of the winter touring in warmer climates, hence the need for a dog/house-sitter. The arrangement would save me a huge chunk of change, and the house has a sauna. Sweet.

I have to get some sleep, but I'll fill everyone in on the past 10 days and update the Flickr page ASAP....