Today was a good day and sort of a return to my standard routine, which does not neccisarily mean boring, but is a bit easier. I did 71 miles (I'd estimated it to be 85), 5 hours on bike, and arrived at 3:15 pm. This means I could have gone farther, but getting done by 3:15 is nice. The ride was kind of hard too: headwindy and hilly, so I was ready to be done. The 95 miles yesterday was a similar level of difficulty because I did the last 45 flatish and with a slight tailwind.
I'm in a park in Stephenson by the main road, and about five young persons (20's?) are playing horseshoes with cute but barky dogs. (Edit, after writing this I got a chance to mee them and they are super nice and might be bringing me pancakes tonight. Crazy! I love this town.)
I met a few other people in this park already. Around 6:30 a grandma came by with her grandkids (7th grade and a few a bit younger) and I juggled for them and taught two of the more enthusiasic ones the basics of juggling. Later I chatted with another couple about 1/2 hour ago (8pm) who were on a walk. This is a popular park. I also haven't found anyone to ask about staying here, but I think I'll be ok.
Last night I wasn't hassled at all by cops like I thought might be possible, but I did meet some local kids (19ish) around 10pm when they rolled through on custom welded chopper bikes that they made themselves. Luckily I still speak 19-year-old hoodlum so we got along OK. The first thing they did after noticing me was ask me if I had any smokes which was code for "I wonder if I can get this guy to buy me beer?" and I responded "nah, I can't smoke every day and still ride a bike, sorry." which with the right body language is code for "I'm not buying you beer but I won't narc you out so don't screw with me while I'm sleeping please." That sizing up out of the way we chatted about the bikes he made and then they went on their way, likely looking for some not-too-bad trouble to cause somewhere else.
Stephenson is a cool town, and my first town in Michigan. I got across Wisconsin diagonally in 5 riding day and 415 miles, and I'm 2,865 miles from home. This town's downtown is divided by train tracks and other cool stuff and I like it here. Even though I set my alarm wrong and over slept by an hour to 6:30 I still got in earlish today which is nice. Those days where I was getting in at 7pm were killing me. My new goal, no matter how far I'm going, is 65 miles by 3pm.
We'll see, adventure has a way of getting in the way. :) ILYI
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