Nobody woke me up last night. Although I didn't sleep soundly, expecting to be woken up...
Michigan is humid. All of my gear stays perpetually damp, and after letting everything air-out in the sun for an hour, it was still damp.
I might need a new strategy to keep my tent, tarp and bags dry.
By the time I hit the road around 9:30am, the heat was nearly unbearable. And it really isn't that hot, I've just never experienced humidity like this.
About fifteen miles into the ride, I encountered some road construction. Michigan roads are awful, so I am glad they're performing maintenance, but I don't like riding through it.
In the past, I've run across flaggers stopping traffic through one-way construction zones. The short sections are fine. Anything over a mile is a little sketchy, since the flagger on the other end usually sends traffic against me before I can clear the one-way section.
I can only imagine the what the crew thinks when their co-worker says over the radio, um, there is a guy on a bike here.
That's fine, send him through.
No, I mean a bicycle.
Can he go around?
I shake my head furiously.
Nope.
Okay, just tell him to watch out for the backhoes.
That was the exchange I had in the sawtooth mountains. This was totally different.
Meet Mark.
He is living in Michigan temporarily while he helps out his mother with her declining health. Originally from California (in fact, the San Diego area!), Mark picked up the job to pay the bills while away from home.
The moment I started talking with Mark, I noticed something was different. His delivery, story, style - all resonated with me.
Turns out he's been on quite a few adventures, and encourages his son to do the same.
His son is in a relationship with a woman that recently got a hydrology job in South Africa. He is going to join her and ride his motorcycle around the continent. Together they'll start a new life in a foreign country, explore the land and live a life of adventure.
The least I can do is wish them the safest of travels, and embrace their adventurous courage as motivation for my travels.
If you read this, have the greatest adventure in Africa. Safe travels.
But wait, there is more.
Mark traveled around the United States on his motorcycle. His journey is based on a diary he inherited from his Grandfather (or great Grandfather, I was too engaged in the story to take notes...).
His grandfather was a Lutheran pastor, traveling around the country to preach, diligently recording everything in his diary.
In Swedish.
Mark had the diary translated and rode his motorcycle to every town mentioned. He wanted to retrace his grandfather's footsteps.
I spent over an hour, standing on the side of the road, chatting with Mark. The whole time he was listening to the radio in his ear, occasionally interjecting, sending sections of traffic through the construction zone. Eventually, I needed to pass through.
Mark held up traffic for a couple minutes on his end to ensure I had a decent head start. Despite the massive, two mile long one lane road, I didn't encounter any head on traffic.
Thank you Mark.
You are incredible and will leave a lasting impression on me. Your compassion to a complete stranger is something that will influence me for the rest of my life.
Thank you for sharing your stories, your life, and your friendship.
Other things happened that day, but it is not important.
Joe