To be honest, I really don't feel like updating my blog. It's 11 pm and I'm in my tent with my little light on, sweating. But I missed yesterday, and for posterity sake, and also because I like to be consistent, I want to update. Days like the last 2 are hard to write about. I'm honestly not - despite what some might think - a negative person. Tony today had to remind me "this is something you enjoy doing". And of course he's right - I love this, and I loved the last couple of days. But it's been a tough love. Last night was one of the hardest nights camping I've ever had. The day before that day had been the wreck, and the night before I hadn't slept much. So I was tired. Then, we had a Fourth of July celebration, including a "Trailer Bar" which was amazing and fun but I drank a leeeetle bit too much. When I went to go to sleep, my arm started pounding for some reason. But after some ibuprofen, I managed to nod off for a bit, only to be woken by a terrifying Minnesota thunderstorm. I felt like a prey animal out on the Serengeti, fearing for my life. Finally I ran for the safety of one of the vans and cowered for an hour. When I got back to my tent though I realized I had left the flap open and it was full of mosquitos. The skeeters are really bad out here and they are cramping my style. One of my fellow riders Brian got bit 30 (!) times on just his kneecap because it was touching his tent wall.
Anyway, OK, enough. If it sucks so much why am I out here? A few answers there: one, it doesn't actually suck that much. It's actually great. The bike riding is great, for example. I love the feeling of the road under my tires and it was a good day riding. The company is amazing; I love my fellow riders. But also, I ride because it makes all my experiences so vivid. I ride because it builds memories, and turns the mundane into amazing. After a long day on the bike, even a really boring hamburger in a crappy air conditioned dive bar becomes haute cuisine. I don't suffer on purpose, but it is true that suffering builds character. I bond with these folks out here over this; we're all in it together. I'll be happy to leave, but also terribly sad.
Oh, and North Dakota: put up a damn "welcome to North Dakota" sign!!
