Day 2 - Ottawa IL to Grand Forks ND

We woke up and quickly got to work packing the bikes back up. This was our first morning on the road so it was a little awkward as expected. We took our time to ensure everything was good, and took the mental notes required for the many times we'll be doing it in the future.

The ride out was pretty chilly, and I do not think either of us expected it to be this cold after having such a hot and humid day before. After the first gas stop we decided to get the liners out to warm back up. 

While on the bike, all I could think about was how much we needed to get Tiff out on the road to join us on this adventure. I had become so stressed I nearly lost sight of the very reason I was on this trip, but the moment those wheels started turning it somehow changed into something so beautiful that it all magically made sense. Everything fell into place. It was a good feeling.

I felt Tiff may start to get stressed to so I was hoping she would feel how I was on this motorcycle. As if anything truly unimportant had the volume turned down. It all was still there but became so easily manageable, I had wished I could stay in this moment forever. If only life can always feel this way.

Can it?

Am I still this different person I woke up as yesterday morning? Have all my worries gone away or had they simply become more tolerable? The thoughts seemed to vanish and were replaced with what mattered more to me in this very moment... food, gas, the hotel tonight... just the bare essentials of what I needed to be here in this moment... and nothing more.

Wisconsin ended up being a decent ride as the scenery was nicer than I expected. Lots of rolling hills and farms to see. We decided instead of taking a quick lunch stop like we did yesterday, to find the Mall of America and find the Food Court there.

 

We made our way to the food court for a late lunch and walked around a quick bit, but it was pretty obvious that you'd need a lot of time to go through this place. For a late weekday afternoon... it was quite busy. Add to the fact the sheer size of the place and it felt like a city within a city.

Unfortunately we ended up in some pretty bad traffic getting out of Minneapolis, I'm not sure if this was normal or not but even past the city there was a lot of congestion on the interstates. To make it worse the sun was right in our eyes by the time the traffic died down, so we were getting pretty worn out by this point.

We were soon chased by our own long shadows cast by the bright sunset. Am I riding to a destination, or am I merely running away from something in some generally defined direction? These thoughts would stay with me over the next few days but no answers ever came. However, I had never asked for any answers as I was too afraid of what I may hear, so the silent response was welcomed.

Gassing up in Barnesville MN, the last stop before the hotel:

 

We had to pull out the liners as it was getting pretty obvious cold temperatures were coming. The last 30 miles or so were done in the dark but the ride into Grand Forks was pretty easy, pulling into the hotel around 10pm. We unloaded the bikes and by the time everything was done it had gotten late.

It was a tough day, and we were definitely feeling it after the long cold day it turned out to be. I'm starting to wonder if this schedule is just too aggressive. Today? Fine. But how would I feel tomorrow? The day after?

I write in my journal but my eyes are having a hard time focusing. I close them and continue to write, but now only in gibberish. I can't distinguish if I am having a hard time writing or just seeing what I'm writing. A long day today, I'm sure of that much at least.

I put my head to the pillow and close my eyes. I think I'm still wearing all of my clothes but don't bother to change.