July 18 Drive to Bemidji

After a less than enthusiastic send off from home, we pulled out of the driveway promptly at 9:00 AM.  I had planned on leaving yesterday for this adventure but Monday afternoon I received a phone call from Gwen’s sister, Stacey.  Gwen had told Stacey I was in need of a volunteer to ride up to Minnesota with me and drive my mini-van back to Missouri.  Stacey said she would be my volunteer if she and her charming daughter Alaya could take a couple days driving home as she would like to visit a good friend in Minneapolis.  “Fantastic” I replied.  Otherwise without a volunteer I was planning on leaving my van in Bemidji for the duration of this adventure, then ride the Amtrac train from St. Louis to Minneapolis, catch a bus to Bemidji and then drive home.  That would have been a complicated and time consuming plan.  Didn’t like it but that was the best I could come up with until Stacey volunteered.  Thank you Stacey you took a lot of stress off me and I don’t need anymore stress in my life given the situation at home and in my business.  Hard to admit I can no longer handle stress.

14 hours and 874 miles later we arrived in Bemidji, MN our stop over town for the night.  I had contacted a Warm Showers Host to stay at her place but upon arriving in Bemidji that plan didn’t work out.  Thus, at 11:00 PM we had to go in search of a motel to stay.  By the time we found a room, it was past midnight before getting to bed a very tired and worn out crew.

For this adventure I have decided to keep a running account of total expenses for my own use and to help others be able to calculate what it costs to create and achieve a bicycle adventure.  Today’s total cost which includes the expense of having Stacey drive my vehicle back to Missouri $498.66.

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