Day 27

35 Miles
I woke up refreshed. I ate a good breakfast. I headed out into the rain toward Minneapolis.
My route was almost entirely bike trails.  It was a nice easy ride and the rain only lasted the first 30 or so minutes. The trails were busy. Runners, cyclists, walkers all seemed to be enjoying the weekend morning. I chatted with one cyclist for a mile or so about my trip. I enjoyed the dialogue. I was making good time and  I was aiming to meet a friend for lunch around noon. This proved rather difficult. St. Paul was easy to navigate through but as I ventured into Minneapolis my maps began to fail me. They were sending me up roads that didn't exist and I became very frustrated. At one point I was standing at a crosswalk with my map in one hand and my phone opened to Google maps in the other. I must've looked terribly lost. A gentleman riding his bike with his son stopped and asked where I was trying to go. I told him and he told me to follow him as he darted off. I pushed my heavy loaded bike after him. He darted along the bike paths and made sure I was still on his trail. We reached a fork and he stopped. He told me to follow the midtown Greenway until I reached my exit. I was still a bit confused but thanked him and we all went on our way.
The Midtown Greenway is a walking and bicycling trail cutting through the city. It proved very useful and quick. I still got lost briefly again but eventually found my designated meeting spot. I met Christine, a long time Internet friend at the Bad Waitress. Christine was with two friends. We had never actually met, but have been chatting online and the phone for years. I felt as though I was seeing an old friend, and I suppose I was. The conversation was pleasant and filled with laughter. It was great to put a face to the voice. I ate a delicious three cheese grilled cheese sandwich compliments of Christine. I didn't get to visit as long as I would have liked because getting lost had made me almost two hours late. I hugged Christine and her friends goodbye and set off to find my host for the night.
It took me awhile to get hold of Marta as she was busy with work. But I did find a really great park to just hang out in for awhile. Even though I had just had social interaction that I had so desperately needed I felt a huge pang for home. I was so tired of waking, packing, eating, pedaling, eating, setting up camp, sleeping and repeating it all over again. I didn't imagine that my biggest challenge would be to just keep doing it.  I sat in the park filled with emotion. I watched people laughing and walking along. I missed my friends. I knew they were all spending time with other loved ones, swimming, hiking, drinking, eating. I was alone with strangers day after day. Some days the only people I spoke with were the cashiers who rang up my chocolate milk. I love meeting people, I do. But I pined for familiarity. I pined for physical contact. I pined for shared laughter. If there was a good time to go home, now would be it. The airport was easily accessed and bike-friendly Minneapolis had plenty of shops to pack up my bike for me.
While sitting in the park I was hit with an intense rainstorm. It only lasted maybe five minutes before the sun came back out. There was a giant rainbow stretching across the sky. It lightened my mind, but I still wasn't sure I wanted to carry on.
I finally met up with Marta.She was a friend of one my friends. Her house was actually right off the park where I had been relaxing.  Marta welcomed me graciously. I relaxed and pet Bentley, her very handsome dog. We chatted lightly. After awhile she, Bentley and I went to pick up her boyfriend, Jesse. They showed me a little bit of the city and we headed to Lake Calhoun. We walked along the water and the told me about the city and the lake and the people. They were very kind and bought me dinner there too. I was beautiful talking and eating along the water at sunset. I came out of my shell with them a little and really relaxed and talked. I told them all about my trip, my gimpy hands (which I was barely noticing anymore, despite their getting worse). I told them about Kelly and her Boy Scouts. They encouraged me to contact her and ride with her. I was still turning it over. While sitting enjoying the atmosphere I saw a gentleman ride by where we were eating. He was riding with his son. It had been the man who had helped me earlier. I smiled. I approached him. I told him I had met him earlier and thanked him again. For the first time in a week I felt better. I was where I was supposed to be. What are the odds really? The man seemed just as surprised as me. It was warm smiles.
Marta, Jesse and I headed back to Marta's. We watched TV and ate cookies. I was quickly ready for bed though.
The bed was so comfortable. I was smiling when I went to bed. Bentley jumped up onto the bed and curled up near me. The warmth and the breathing was soothing. I drifted off to a wonderful sleep.