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tour mapIn the summer of 2004, I sold or gave away most of my possessions from my apartment in Minneapolis and hit the road on my bicycle for a year, pulling a trailer full of gear behind me. The idea was to go south through the midwest, spend the winter along the gulf coast, go north along the east coast with the spring, and return to Minnesota via Canada in the summer. Because the movie Winged Migration was popular at the time, I called the Yahoo! Group that I used to communicate with my friends and family during the trip "Wheeled Migration." Below are the messages I sent to that group, in reverse chronological order, but you can find them in chronological order in the menu that will appear at left, or click a pin on the map above.

to Owasso, OK

By Ben |

It felt good to hit the road again! Mom made a wonderful breakfast of teriyaki fried eggs and fresh-baked breadsticks.

I took Bison Road out of town, which meant Dad and I crossed paths on my way out of town and his way to work. From there I rode on Highway 75 for a few miles and then took "Old 75" all the way into Owasso. Outside Ramona I stopped to stretch my legs and wound up picking up pecans for half an hour!

Wheeled Migration

Tallgrass Prairie Preserve

By Ben |

This morning I biked to Jo Allyn Lowe Park to see the new Pathfinder tunnel to Colonial Estates, then to Albertson's to get groceries.

Mom and I drove to Pawhuska for lunch and then listened to a guided-tour CD that led us to the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. We spent so much time (and money!) at the gift shop that we didn't get to do any hiking! Mom says the prairie is more interesting to look at in the summer -- another reason to visit here in warmer weather!

Wheeled Migration

Boy Scouts

By Ben |

Today I basically hung around the house and worked on the computer. I did get out in the afternoon to walk to the post office, and on the way back I picked up a bunch of pecans from the street. Yum!

After a pizza dinner, Dad and I gave a presentation to a local Boy Scout troop. Dad had invited himself to talk about his electric car, and he brought me along to talk about my bike trip. The scouts and leaders were an appreciative audience.

Wheeled Migration

Nov 3: Gear

By Ben |

You may be wondering what exactly one might bring on a long-distance, solo bicycle trip. Enough people have expressed interest that I figured I should take some photos of what I'm carrying and describe what goes where and why.

Wheeled Migration

Election Day

By Ben |

Uncle Bud and Aunt Margaret swung by late this morning on their way to Arkansas to visit relatives. Bud showed me around the inside of their camper, which is no bigger than a full-size van but has two beds, a kitchen, and a bathroom with shower.

After lunch, Dad and I voted; Mom had done so on Saturday. We went to a watch party thrown by a church member for church members, and we were glad we hadn't gone to the Washington County Democrats' party, because all our candidates lost and all the referenda we opposed were passed. But we had a good time at the party.

Wheeled Migration

Of Which We Are a Part

By Ben |

This morning I gave the Sunday service at church. It went over very well. Attendance was way up. The minister, Kathryn Reese, and her family came over for dinner, along with Donna and Wally May. Kathryn's husband and two daughters suddenly found themselves hosting an exchange student from Bulgaria, who had gotten dumped unexpectedly by her previous host family. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving feast -- on Halloween -- and must have confused the poor girl, but she took it well.

Wheeled Migration

Demo Breakfast

By Ben |

This morning we attended a free breakfast at the West Side Community Center, intended to lure voters in for a rousing speech and then a parade to the courthouse for early voting. It looked to me like the event was attended mostly by volunteers with only a few disenfranchised voters, but we had a good time, and it was standing room only, so we could scarcely have handled more people.

Wheeled Migration

Canvassing

By Ben |

I joined Dad and some of his friends for lunch today at Golden Corral. Mom calls this group the ROMEOs after a group of Grandpa's, the Retired Old Men Eating Out. Basically they have lunch every Friday at a different buffet.

Wheeled Migration
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