Day 23: 85.3 Miles

Friday July 8th

The third Friday of the trip began with the usual rounds of 'Friday' by Rebecca Black. With only 85 miles to bike today (an easy feat compared to our 110 mile day), we started out with smiles. Those however disappeared when we saw our turn onto a hilly and sandy back road. Our bikes fish tailed, tipped, and some toppled over completely in the dirt. Besides the dirt, there was an unnecessary amount of rolling steep hills. The only thing that could cure our intense frowns and frozen arms, that were determined to keep our bikes going straight and staying upright, was the sight of pavement over one of the hills. On one of our many snack breaks, we ran into some locals who were walking their dogs and had a daughter who was going to attend Andover in the fall. We chatted with them for a bit about boarding school life and they graciously offered their bathroom to us travelers. Most of the time we are accustomed to find the tallest tuft of grass along the road for a bathroom so this was greatly appreciated. Mile 84 of our 85 mile day, we crossed the Mississippi River. This was a feat in my mind. The Mississippi River seemed so far away from Washington and way closer to home, but we ended up still thousands of miles from the Atlantic ocean in an Episcopal church in Little Falls, MN. There we were met by all the members of the church so that we may be divided up and given showers. I went to Ray and Robin's house with Brit (disaster watch) Marien and there in addition to the warm showers and clean towels, we were given delicious homemade jerky, cold drinks, and chocolate covered nuts. We ended talking to them for so long that they even realized that my watch was missing the part that holds down the strap. This was soon fixed by little hair ties of any color that I wished (I chose the purple sparkly one). When we returned, I proudly showed off my prize and my full belly. It only took a look at dinner until I was hungry again. The church members had cooked us a dinner of salad, warm bread and chicken lasagna. Somehow our stomachs have turned into bottomless pits such that we could still managed to have room for the Dairy Queen chocolate sundaes and brownies after dinner. Now I'm lying on my sleeping pad, awaiting pancakes, fresh fruit, and sausage for tomorrow's breakfast because once again I am hungry.

-Anna Richardson