Bloomington to Lincoln

Well, well, well...I've been able to secure a computer that does not have a time limit! I was using the one at the Lincoln Public Library, but now I am back at the house I'm staying at and I can use my host's computer. I feel like I have to go backwards now because it's been so long since I added a post. First of all, thanks to all the folks who have already read my previous posts, and thanks for your comments! One of the rewarding things about being away from home and all your friends and loved ones is that I feel like I now get to say things to people I never seem to say when I'm hanging around them all the time--like when's the last time you said "I love you" to a good friend? For me at least that doesn't often happen--but now being away from folks, it's like a big old love fest every time I talk to someone on the phone or write an email. Anyhow, I'm getting a little gushy.

The thing is the other day, June 22nd to be exact, I woke up at Pershing State Park in northern Missouri and had two voicemails from Gina and Phil from the previous night which was also the day they got married. ! They were lovely and hilarious voicemails and after talking to Gina for a few minutes on the phone that morning I began my ride that day feeling pretty darn great. In fact I couldn't keep myself from smiling to myself while riding down the highway and telling myself that I keep having the best days of my life on this trip. Like every day offers something surprising and rewarding: whether it's a short conversation with a stranger at a restaurant, or a great meal, or a completely flat, windless 10 mile stretch of road, or a small town that I pass through...That day I really felt a rush of giddiness and I definitely have Gina and Phil to thank for it.

At the same time, these past few days have also been some of the hardest. I think coming up on the first month of being out on the road is maybe a tough time for all bike tourers. At least for me it has been. The last two days in Missouri felt like they would never end or rather that the state would never end; I had all sorts of mishaps trying to get to a campsite one night which I'll write about in detail later on; and something people don't really understand about the midwest is that it actually isn't all flat. Missouri in fact has some of the hilliest ground I've had to cover. So I've had literal and figurative ups and downs over the past week or so since I left Bloomington.

Currently, as I said before, I'm in Lincoln, Nebraska, which is an awesome town. I've really been lucky to have connected with folks from an organization called Community Crops. An acquaintance (I feel like I've never had to actually spell that word before. Is that right?) of mine from DC who is doing a bike trip from DC to Montreal with a couple other people to document community garden and farm share (CSA) initiatives along the east coast told me about Community Crops and said I should check it out when I got to Lincoln. The folks here have been extremely welcoming especially since I contacted them completely out of the blue and just asked if I could help out and talk with them about the organization while I was passing through on my trip.

One of the staff, Brad, is hosting me at his house and all the other staff have already invited me to dinner at their house or to hang out tonight and see Lincoln's "Jazz in June" outdoor concert. I've been able to have great conversations about local food and whether there's really a "movement" in the U.S. to eat more locally grown produce and support smaller, regional farms. Today, as I wrote earlier, I spent the morning weeding rows of squash with some folks from Community Crops. Tomorrow I'm hoping to visit some of the youth community garden programs they have going.

There now, you have a new blog post to read. Talk to you all soon!