Midway through Minnesota
Just a quick update: we’re halfway across Minnesota now, about to go “discover” the geographic center near Brainerd. We had a nice break for our 2nd anniversary at a hotel in Albert Lea, then enjoyed another rest with some AMAZING hosts in St. Paul. While in the Twin Cities, the local TV station did a really good piece about our journey. Check out the video while it’s still up.
Yesterday we pushed 76 long miles (against a headwind!) to make it to Brainerd, because our maps indicated that the city park offered camping. We rolled into the lush park on Rice Lake around 6:30pm, encouraged to see so many people out enjoying the beautiful evening: frisbee golfers, picnicers, people swimming in the lake, and groups playing volleyball. But our excitement at the park quickly turned to disappointment when we saw the numerous signs surrounding the lovely “campground”: NO TENTS ALLOWED. We tried to plead our case to the campground host, but she was away from her RV.
Luckily, we ran into a nice guy who’d seen us on the TV news the night before. His name was Tim, and he invited us home to stay at his place without hesitation. “I lived outside for a couple of years, so I know how it is.” It turns out that Tim and his wife and kids had been homeless for two years, including two brutal Minnesota winters, here in Brainerd. “Yeah, it was tough, then some people let us stay with them because they were Christians. But now we’re square, got a nice rent house, and I’ve been planting a garden in the back this year to grow some vegetables.”
We had a great evening hanging out with Tim and his two daughters, admiring his garden, and looking over his portfolio of wicker furniture that he hand-crafts from willow branches. Tim’s experiences had allowed him to empathize with our vagabond life, and his eager hospitality was truly touching.
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Hey, thanks for the great update and yes, what a nice TV interview. Keep up the great work. I can tell you still are truly enjoying your journey through life - the bike is just a tool, as some us know, to get us to slow down… Love you two, and think of you often.
Annie
I loved the new video! Keep it up and enjoy!
yay for kind people
wishing you guys safe, happy travels as always!
You two are still just as cute as a bug’s ear! I keep hoping someone from Warm Showers will email me this summer but so far no one has. We’re planning to have the guys from Buchanan’s over to bike the 1-1/2 mile trail Kenneth mowed for me for Mother’s Day (I can’t believe I asked for a bike trail for Mother’s Day. I have been hanging around Neil too long). Speaking of Kenneth he has now joined the ranks of true hard core musicians by getting a lip ring - charming. And Neil took Rose & Calvin to Cornerstone to see Kenneth play, and now Rose has a bass guitar and wants to be in a hard core band. Charming. Well that’s my summer in a nutshell. I miss you but mostly I’m very proud of you!
Greetings,
Thought I’d make a post here on the off chance that you update this someday. It’s fitting that I’m posting on the Minnesota post, as I’m letting you know that I hitched it back to Minnesota more or less with out a hitch. Hope you guys enjoyed the rest of Yellowstone and are able to successfully winter in Oregon. Good luck on the rest of the trip, and may the wind always be at your back.
Will