Mid-Western Hospitality

Over the last week I have enjoyed mid-western hospitality to its fullest, as my bulging belly will testify. I have spent a great time recuperating and getting ready for the next leg of my journey.
At Kim and Bob's I was given provisions for the journey and lots of advice about how not to be knocked dead by hail or picked up by a tornado. I spent alot of time playing with Carina (Marla's youngest sister) and being introduced to her toy cats (for example Pokey-nose).
The country fair I went to was fun, had a corn dog and got to watch a cow competition, (kids sell cows they've raised after they've been judged).

At Mike's I got introduced to the game of kickball and had a great game of monopoly, although i'm not quite sure if my tactics were right, and was going to end up practising some of that 'supply and demand' I learnt in economics. The impromptu massage was a great suprise and I managed to do a good 94 mile day, the following day, with close to no pain!!

The only thing I need to do is get some new cycling shorts, mine have got two holes in them!!

My odometer now reads over 2k miles and it will soon surpass my daily calorific expenditure. Amongst trying to figure out routes and using maps given to me by gas station attendents (who blew off the dust first!) I have been attempting to apply for some jobs in Vancouver, some look promising, I just hope I look good on paper.

In aid of my trip out west, I have shaved myself a cowboy moustache in the hope that the cowboys will take me for one of their own!
Within the week I will leave Minnesota and have pressed on through South Dakota to Rapid City where I will see Mount Rushmore, among other things.