Pedaling Pilgrim Blog Home

Miles to date: 2,077.8

We started the day perplexed; without winds in our face and gravel haulers by our side we weren’t sure how to act. The trail out of Alexandria was quiet and clear, the sky was overcast with a few drops that didn’t even constitute a sprinkle. It was a great start after several consecutive challenging days.

We forged out on an empty stomach with a target for breakfast at AJ’s in Osakis. Lecy ordered biscuits and gravy and asked for some fruit. The waitress said, “We don’t have any fruit.” Lecy, “How about a banana.” Waitress, “Banana is a fruit.”

5 miles after we left Osakis, we passed a house with a Confederate flag flying proudly. We were equally annoyed and confused. When I see a Confederate flag at someone’s house, I think it’s an advertisement that says, “Hate lives here.” I imagine the residents at this house having as many friends as they have flags, of which I counted two. We believe this is the first Confederate flag we’ve seen in our month on the road, and we were surprised to see this in central Minnesota. But… we didn’t let this stick with us as we pedaled on down the path.

The day went by quickly as we pushed down the path. We took saddle breaks every hour; we didn’t make any slushie or midday beer stops; we pressed on as if the biking task was our full-time job. A few times when I was leading the charge, the wind gusted and it made me smile as I know the journey would not be worthwhile without the challenge.

When we rolled into our destination in Clearwater MN, we stopped for a couple rounds of Grain Belt Premium at Flintstones Bar. As we walked up to the entrance, Lecy challenged me to exclaim a “Yabba-dabba-do” when we walked in, which gained us some instant recognition and immediate friendship from a few long truckers at the bar. We had a conversation with OTR trucker Scott that turned to revelations about addiction. Scott admitted that at some point he was so addicted to on-line gambling that he kept a bucket by the desk so he wouldn’t have to pause his electronic slot machine when he had to relieve himself. We talked about the sad state of corporate predatory practices that prey on addictions: gambling, tobacco, alcohol… Scott said he felt the best thing he could do is to tell people his story to save them from a similar situation… stay away from the on line gambling folks… the house always wins. Scott’s assessment of his current state: “I’m not quite where I wanna be, but I’m better than where I used to be.” I hope we can all say the same.

Joshua at Flintstone’s said he read once that you’re lucky to have 3 guys that you meet in your life that you can call friends. He was impressed that the three of us have survived 4 weeks together. A joke we’ve told the past few days.., there was a fourth guy… he was delicious as we hit the hard miles through the Rockies.

Tomorrow we hope will feel even more like a recovery day: 62.7 miles from here to my brother-in-law’s (Shootman!) Day 28: Clearwater to Shootman.

For the playlist… today I felt 20-40 raindrops. The day was overcast with threats of downpour most of the day. We were expecting rain several times that never arrived. With that in mind, thanks Mark Lecybfor this recommendation: Feels Like Rain

And… on the opposite end of the spectrum.., we went to the Clearwater Corners for dinner tonight. When I arrived, someone played the Homey Pokey 3 times consecutively. As the newcomer to the bar, a woman accused me of playing it (I didn’t). 2 hours later, we were walking out after dinner when a woman played an ELO song, expressing she was a big “Guardians of the Galaxy” fan. And… my daughters used to hate this song as it was the house wake up call on cross country competition mornings! This is for you Sarah and Caroline: Mr. Blue Sky