Day 1 - Minneapolis - Another Adventure Begins

Today's Miles: 18
Total: 18

Today I begin the adventure. My good friend Lyle got up at 3:30am to take me to the airport. Carey had a meeting at work, so Lyle came to my rescue.  We left Burley at 4 and arrived in Boise with plenty of time.  I wanted to arrive early due to having to check on my bicycle. I must say I love the Boise airport.  Everything just went smoothly and fast.

It is a wonderful thing to see that the bike made it.

This particular trip has been something that I have been looking forward to since I finished the Atlantic Coast trip in 2011. Nancy,Tim and I have been somewhat planning this trip since we rode last year and around March, plans began to be made. Even though it has been something that I have truly wanted to do, I think I have had some real anxiety in the last few weeks about leaving. I think since I know what it is like to be gone for six weeks, I have some trepidation in leaving and committing myself to that once again. I do have a great blessing in my life, however. That is my wife Carey.  She just encourages me on.

Everything arrived in Minneapolis in  great shape and I did something that I have always wanted to do. I just put the bicycle together at the airport and rode away. I had about a nine mile ride out Warmshowers hosts house. However, does it ever happen without problems? I planned on riding through a military cemetery and exit the other side and when I got there, the gates were closed and had to go back the way I came.  The roads were very busy and I got lost a few times. I did finally get to the host about 5:30.

Putting the bike together in the airport.

It really was a humbling cemetery and big.  So grateful for what they did, so I can do what I'm doing.

Our hosts are absolutely wonderful.  They are Jon & Jenny and have had some great bike touring experiences of their own  In 2012, they actually took their two girls and lived and cycled in Argentina for a year.  It was just fun to talk all night. They cooked us a great dinner of chili, tortillas and a delicious tomato salad.  It turns out that Jenny does this food counseling for better health for work.