Alaska 2012
 
 

Day 18

July 22

 
  
 
 
 Due to the heat, I've given up on my early morning walks. Now it's just up to get breakfast, get the bikes packed and hit the road. We were able to park the bikes right outside our room window on the sidewalk last night. It's a pretty good little step down, but we both manage to make it off with no drama. 
  
 This will be another day of close to six hundred miles. It's slab all day today from one Super 8 to another Super 8. At least the monotony is sometimes broken by the scenery.  
  
 I am still fascinated by the power generating windmills wherever I see them. I just wish they weren't such an interruption to the landscape. 
  
 Even though we are in Minnesota, the heat is starting to rise. We find ourselves taking breaks more and more frequent. 
  
 As we move along, I can't figure out if this field is canola flowers or wild flowers. It's a pretty color at any rate. 
  
 Traffic really picks up as we get near the Twin Cities ... 
  
 and so do the construction zones. 
  
 

When it's time for another gas stop, there is none easy to be seen. I get off and start looking cause it is hotter than blazes. I figure all these cars around here have to be getting gas somewhere. Finally I spot a station, and head for it. Once we pull in, Alain tells me -

"You almost got taken out back there. You moved quick and a driver didn't even see you."

Well, I'd rather have a close call than a solid hit so for that I am thankful.

 
  
 When we hit the road again, the traffic continues to build up as we pass through more construction zones. 
  
 And the temps just keep coming up so we take more frequent breaks. 
  
 This rest stop in Wisconsin has some interesting placards. This one talks about the 'invisible industry' of Wisconsin - Sphagnum Moss. 
  
 Another one talks about the Winnebago Indians.  
  
 

But I am glad when we finally arrive in Madison as the Super 8. Once we get to the motel and get unloaded, I tell Alain -

"Now I remember this place. I stayed at another motel and that restaurant closest to us is pretty lousy. There's Texas Roadhouse over across the road which does a pretty good job with steaks. I'd suggest we go there for super."

We do, and though it is a bit of a walk, it is good as usual. The young lady serving us asks us where we are from and finds it hard to believe I am from Nashville and Alain is from Quebec. When we tell her we're on our way back from Alaska she is dumbfounded -

"I've never even been out of the state" she exclaims.

"Well, there's a trip you've probably thought about. Just start putting back your money and then pull the trigger. It just takes a little planning."

I can see her wheels turning and I hope I've encouraged her to put feet to her dreams.

 
  
 

I've got enough food in front of me to feed two people, so I get a to go box. I figure a nice piece of ribeye and some warmed up tater will do nicely for breakfast. On the way back to our rooms, we pass this beautiful trike. We go in for closer look and it is a very nice rig. I tell Alain -

"I may have to be on three wheels one of these days, so I like to see what's out there. I'm still sort of leaning toward a sidecar though when the time comes."

 
  
 It's a pleasant walk back and with my full stomach I can feel the skin over my eyes starting to be pulled down as the skin over my stomach stretches. I figure the slack has to come from some where. If I can just get some government funding for a study, I bet I can prove it. One thing's for sure, I'd have no shortage of volunteers to participate in the study. It's not long before I am no longer in the land of the woke up.