"Hey there... ummm... this is gonna sound kinda weird so I'll just ask," the EMT was just staring at me with this confused but somewhat sympathetic look on his face. I suppose he was just trying to figure me out as I hadn't really given him much info up to this point so I spit it out, "Myself and these dudes, well... we're looking for a place to stay tonight. We'd spoke to someone in the neighborhood that recommended we stop here and ask about setting up shop here for the night. All we have is two tents. The only thing we'd need to figure out is where to go to the bathroom".
"So let me get this straight, you're bicycling somewhere... where are you going by the way?"
"Maine to Miami" we all chimed in
"Maine to Miami... you've got a ways to go" he rebutted
(golly gee, ya don't say)
He continued, "well I don't think it'd be a problem, we do have plenty of space out there. I do have to clear this with chief LaHaye though. I'll see if I can get ahold of him; be right back".
I turned around to Steve and Adam and gave 'em the "holy crap can you believe this?! this is awesome I hope this works out I just wanna crash and call it a day" face.
"You're good to go". We learned our new EMT friend's name was Mark and shortly thereafter Roger emerged from the building. I solicited them for a photograph and had them walk me around the corner and show me where to plop shop with the tents for the evening. Then they led us inside the station to relieve ourselves and fill up our bottles with water.
But within those 10 minutes spent indoors, it was nearly pitch black; I'm not really sure if it was a lack of daylight or whether it was the pit of mosquitos swarming us. I started digging for the Deet haphazardly, Steve started setting up the tents, and Adam called his mom to let her know where we were staying so she could drop off our second trailer before she and grandma retired to their comfy cozy motel room for the evening.
She arrived seconds later as she was only around the corner (and cars are faster than bikes). "I seriously can't believe you guys! This is great!" cheered Margo. I agreed.
The dudes were pretty stoked too. However, the hills had gotten our best that day and we were wiped. Steve and Adam each ate a cold Hungry Man Beef Stew that night for dinner and I slathered a chocolate coated chocolate chip granola bar with peanut butter. I quickly washed my face (soap and all) with the icey cold water from my water bottle... just one more realization what "we were really doing this, huh?". I jumped into my most expensive piece of equipment, my sleeping bag, and scribbled down some notes about the day... really really terrible scribbles:
1. Woke up sick
2. Did not go to ^catholic church (even with Adam)
3. Rode to Cadilac sports the wrong way on a 1-way and fell over while strapped in (lost balance)
...
....
There was nothing left, not even enough to beat Adam in a game of his uncle "Tim's Game" of cards... Sleep good tonight!
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