Feeding Kids

Getting Lost and Construction Sites

If I’m out hiking through the woods or biking down a country road, my sense of direction is spot on. When I moved back to New Hampshire after being away for over ten years, I took the trek up the hill, over fallen trees, across the stream, through new growth and still managed to find my favorite, secret, secret fishing spot. Put me in a large town or city, I’m lost within in a few minutes and throw a detour sign in there, it’s a disaster. I’m sure I’ve lost over a day’s cycling time going in circles or even in the wrong direction. And, if you want to avoid construction zones, go in the opposite direction of me! There is one important lesson I learned in Stillwater, Minnesota, never, never go downtown there with a fully loaded bicycle. I missed my turn coming into town and ended up screaming down a steep hill hoping that my brakes would still work when I hit bottom. I have never been afraid of “cutting loose” and hurling down a hill or mountain before, but I was terrified that day. It also meant finding someone who would transport me out of there. Thank you to the homebuilders who were willing to do so.

Memories

I can’t recall where we crossed the Mississippi back in 1976. This time it was Minneapolis. My only regret was not ignoring the sign that said bicyclists had to walk their bikes across. Would it have been a crime if I had done so?

I rented a car in Stillwater, Minnesota and made the six hour drive to Watertown, Wisconsin for our 50th reunion. Yes, it’s been 50 years since we made that trip from Oregon to Virginia and yes, I climbed every mountain and rode every mile of that 4,300 mile adventure. Nobody can ever take away what we as a group accomplished that summer.

We talked for hours, shared memories, told tales about the things we got away with on that journey, and talked proudly of our families and other accomplishments. The best part was that we truly cared about each other and the bonding we had formed. There were tears on that last day. Some were joy, others were from sorrow knowing that there would be others no longer with us the next time we met. I cried most of the way back to Minnesota.