Jacob Friend
This morning felt like we were clocking in for another shift of Midwest biking. We awoke to the same grey skies and inescapable fog we have become all too familiar with over the past week. The easterly headwind made sure to accompany us as we made it through one of our last days in the Great Plains. We didn’t pout or complain, we simply surrendered to the wind and continued along for a quiet and peaceful morning ride.
Morning fog in the Cottonwood, MN city park
On the bright side, the folks in the Midwest are very polite and sweet people. When we were packing up our groceries for lunch, we made a friend who was really interested in our trip. He ended up donating $20 to our cause! This random act of kindness brought some much needed sunlight into a cloudy day 🌞.
This is my first time in Minnesota and it’s been fun to learn about the state and more about the Midwest. Minnesota is nicknamed the “Land of 10,000 Lakes.” The over 10,000 lakes allow the land to be used for harvesting corn and soybeans. The abundance of standing water also makes for the perfect breeding ground for flies and mosquitoes. Now, any small break we take on the side of the road is no longer a peaceful moment of rest; it’s a state of paranoia that we will be eaten alive every second we stand still. Today we’ve had mosquitoes penetrate our socks, horseflies annihilate our legs, and deerflies swarm our panniers. No where is safe out here.
Flies hitch a ride on Michael’s pannier, ready to strike the next time he stops
Today was not the change in pace we were looking for, but we made it 80 miles to our goal of Allie Lake. Upon arrival we cannon balled into the lake to wash away our battle wounds and cool off from the humidity. Afterwards, we talked about our feelings for a bit over dinner. While our morale is low, we’re still proud of our efforts and are optimistic for a reset in Minneapolis. 36 days on the road is no joke, but I think we’re handling it well.
Friend rides the last few miles to Lake Allie
It feels like our break day in the Badlands was well over a year ago. My biggest motivator for today was the fact that it was break day eve eve. I never would have imagined that the long flat sections of the Midwest would drain me more than the steep Rocky Mountains of the West. But with enough headwind, overcast clouds, and hog manure odor, I’m about to my wits end with this part of the country.