Day 34

56 Miles
I attempted to repatch my tire when I woke up. I knew it wouldn't hold. I made a poor choice of patches for this trip. Quick patches are most definitely not the way to go for long journeys. I enjoyed a quiet morning watching chipmunks and gophers run around the campsite. I ate what little bit was left of my food and filled up on water. It was Sunday morning. I knew I would need to get some more food soon.
There were people everywhere on the roads. I passed beautiful lakes and the tourists that enjoyed them. The roads were almost crowded. People everywhere seemed quite happy. The sun was shining and there was no reason not to be smiling I suppose. Except of course that small town shops aren't always open on Sundays. I missed two such shops as a result of this.
I didn't mind this until I was fighting wind and hills and was low on energy. The humidity was climbing and I was drinking down my water like it was nothing. There just seemed to be more and more hills. I was becoming exhausted. I finished my water about two thirds into my day. I knew the next town was still 10 miles away. I sat on the side of the road and just tried to gather energy. This was not easy. I found a random Fruit Rollup stuffed in a random pannier and devoured it. I pushed on with the little energy it provided.
I passed a Catholic church that had a sign outside letting people know that next week would be the Outdoor Polka Mass. I enjoyed the thought and wished I could be around to witness that cultural treat.
The tire had to be pumped every 15 or so miles. It wasn't flat at this mark, but low enough that I didn't want to be riding on it.
Eventually I happened upon a Dairy Queen and consumed a fairly large meal and a huge amount of beverage. I really enjoyed a nice Coca Cola towards the end of my day. It was truly refreshing.
The same friend who had previously found me places to stay found me another place to stay this night. The rough day closed with a super cheap campsite ($5), a shower, and a million dollar view. My tent was pitched right on Lake Ida. The owners of the campground were very friendly with their very thick Minnesotan accents. I couldn't ask for anything more perfect than the stars reflecting on the lake as I drifted to sleep. The worst days always seem to end so beautifully.