Home Sweet Home!

 

Today marked the day that Kelli and I made it into the great state of Minnesota!  We both commented that we felt different once we made it into Minnesota and that it felt good to be back in familiar surroundings.  Unfortunately, the wind was not in our favor but it wasn’t really against us either, so you have to be thankful for that.

 

 

Minnesota definitely has more crops than any other state we have been to and the towns are much closer together which makes rest stops much easier.  I made sure to point out everything that Minnesota has to offer and even exaggerate a little to make sure we put our best foot forward.  At one point I said that there is nothing native to Minnesota that will cause a flat tire and that if you get one it is a result of someone from a different state bringing it into our heavenly state.  Someone asked if we had ticks and I had to say yes but I added that none of them have Lyme’s disease.  I think that last one might get me into trouble but then again I’m a Marine not a doctor. 

Tomorrow we have a big day to Mankato but I’ll be pushing to get there as soon as possible to see my family.  Kelli’s motivated to get to Rochester so she can smother our cat with love and attention, no matter how much he doesn’t want it.  It will be difficult to continue on as we will be leaving family and friends for a second time but the trip will be over before we know it and we will be saying good-bye to the friends we have made on this great adventure.  Kelli and I will be sad to see them go but we are excited to finally be starting our lives as civilians.  This year will mark the first wedding anniversary we will celebrate together in four years of being married! 

 

 

I hope anyone that is free can meet with Kelli and me at one of our stops in Minnesota but if not we will catch up when we return in August.  If anyone has dreamed of biking across America I highly encourage you to do so but know it is NOT a vacation, it is an adventure and you earn every icecream treat you consume. 

Semper Fidelis.

Fun at Wild Water West!

 

Today we had a fabulous rest day in Sioux Falls. We started out at the Pancake House and I ate 6 pancakes – I really should have been full, but sadly I wasn’t. Then Nathan, Josephine, Eli, and I went to the Wild Water West adventure park and had a great time. We went down water slides, battled at mini golf, and raced go karts.

 

 

Tomorrow reality will set back in as we get back in the saddle again for a 70 mile ride into Worthington, MN. Finally, we cross into Minnesota! I’m very excited to see my family and my little kitty soon. It’s weird to think we got all the way to Minnesota from Oregon by only biking. More tomorrow!

Semper Fidelis!

 

I Whispered But the Horses Didn’t Listen

 

Today Nathan and I biked 72 miles from Mitchell to Sioux Falls, SD. The ride was great! We had a tailwind of at least 10 to 15 miles per hour. We literally floated uphills and cruised at 25 mph for a good part of the day. Along the way we stopped so I could pet some horses that were standing right at the edge of the fence. 

 

 

Well, I tried to pet them but they ran away.

 

Oh well, maybe Nathan is a better horse whisperer than me! The best part of the day was when Eli and Josephine cheered us on as we were biking into the hotel! It’s so nice to have visitors on the trip and tomorrow the four of us will find somewhere to go swimming. We’re so happy to have a rest day tomorrow!! Our next post will be on Monday when we cross into the great state of Minnesota!! More then!

Semper Fidelis.

Patience Paid Off!

 

Today Nathan and I biked 70 miles from Chamberlain to Mitchell, South Dakota. It was supposed to be an easy day but the 15 mph south east winds and 30 mph gusts in the morning assured us that it wouldn’t be. A little over halfway we stopped at a little cafe and had lunch – we had heard the winds might shift mid-day so we thought we might wait it out. 45 minutes later we walked out and sure enough, the severe crosswind had turned into a slight tailwind and we coasted the rest of the 25 miles into Mitchell.

Once we got to Mitchell we just HAD to go to the corn palace. We couldn’t bike all the way in and not go. It seems like it was a lot more extravagant in the past as they had pictures from all of the previous corn palaces.

 

 

After an ice cream and bike through downtown we made it into the hotel and said goodbye to fellow rider Erik (on vacation from Denmark). We all signed a USA shirt for him as a souvenir of his trip. We’ve met a lot of great people on this trip and it will be hard to say goodbye to everyone when we reach Portsmouth.

Well, we bike into Sioux Falls tomorrow and finally get another rest day. I can’t tell you how much I need one. My body needs time to recuperate. More then!

Semper Fidelis!!

Half Way Day!!

Today was an exciting day because we reached the 1/2 way point!! So far Nathan and I have biked a little over 1,800 miles. It’s weird how it goes by quickly but slowly at the same time. We biked 85 miles from Pierre to Chamberlain, SD and it was HOT!! We had some good climbs for the last ten miles and we read a digital display that said the temperature was 101.

 

 

The headwind was so strong today we had to pedal hard to go downhill. Usually we coast downhill between 25 and 30 mph, but without pedaling we were only going 10 mph!! Here is a picture of the view we had coming into Chamberlain.

 

 

Only two more ride days until we get into Sioux Falls – our third rest day! We’re going to need it to let our bodies heal from all the abuse. We will be meeting up with my aunt Eli there (and maybe cousine Josephine too!) so it will be nice to see family again. More tomorrow!

Semper Fidelis!