July 18 Day 48 Morrill MN 56 miles 4:53 riding
Up and down terrain, but not too bad. Farmers report drought - some of the corn is wilted.
The people of Sobieski are plain-spoken. Here's a warning from the feed store restroom: A dog followed us for miles out of Sobieski. When we reached the highway, Michele flagged down a driver and coaxed her into driving the dog back to Sobieski.
We crossed the Mississippi this morning! It feels like we must be in the East now. We pedaled down to a campground and changed into swimsuits. A cool and pleasant change.
We ran into Brad Werda riding west. He's ridden coast to coast three times, including the original Transamerica Ride in 1976, plus the Lewis and Clark Trail route. Now he's doing the Northern Tier over two years.
We met Michael Flaherty in Royalton. Michael is a Canadian performance artist. He is riding from Vancouver to Newfoundland for his current project. He has scheduled one-week periods with art galleries along his route. He conducts free bicycle repairs and art discussion with the repair customers in each gallery.
Discussion of where to go tonight. I'd like to stop at Royalton, but whatever charm it ever had has been obliterated by the highway. What remains is, I'm sorry to say, a blight of seedy auto repair shops and bars. The problem is that the next recognized campground is at least 28 miles farther on, too far. We proceed, trusting in St. Christopher to provide for us.
Morrill is an intersection with a bar, a church (Roy observes that every town has at least one bar and one church), and a baseball diamond. We are invited to sleep on the baseball diamond. The bartender is persuaded to change channel to the Tour de France. A drunk buys Michele and Roy a round. Everything is coming up roses. Lots of stars at night.