You can't seem to trust anyone these days. We've read blog after blog about Missouri that said, "If the 20% grades don't get you, then the dogs will. If the dogs don't, the cars will just run you off the road." I admit when we passed our first cardboard window, double-wide, circa 1953, with the chained German Shephard, and the gun shots in the backyard, my first words were, "We're in the Ozarks now, Toto." But we've come to enjoy Missouri. Yesterday we walked into the 21-Up diner. Guy next to us told us he was a rancher who came here for burgers. "I'm a tofu eater myself," I told him, "but if you say the burgers are good, I'll try one. My second burger in 25 years." Djina added, "So many soy beans are grown here and not a block of tofu to buy." And the burger was good. So much for saying I'm a vegetarian anymore. Now I'm a Gatorade drinking, Dorrito eating, Budweiser drinking carnivore.
The dogs aren't really a problem. Sure they're agressive, but none have given chase in that pedal-as-fast-as-you-can-he's-got-the-pannier-in-his-mouth way. We whistle and I show him the spray. Sometimes we go "zissss" as we show the spray. They are surprising well trained.
solomon has a great imagination. He had a conversation on the back of the bike with himself about the best t.v. show vs. the best t.v. theme song. "Simpsons are the best show, then Sponge Bob Square Pants, the Fairly Odd Parents. What do you think DaddY?" We're going up a 10% grade and I'm thinking, just pedal, darnit. "Fairly odd Parents has the best theme song, then Sponge Bob Square Pants. Right, Daddy?" "Whatever." You'd think that would be the end of the conversation. But Solomon had been on the tandem for 7 hours and 30 seconds of best t.v. show/theme song is not enough. After 20 minutes (conservative figure) I told him he would have to stop or Yonah would soon be an only child.
I got to get off the machine or Yonah will kill me. We still have 27 miles to go today.
Matt
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8 comments:
Don't know if you guys have been getting our messages, but here's one more.
We miss you very much, especially Daniel of coarse, who misses Solomon, and can't wait for him to get back. He won't set a date for his birthday party until he knows you're back in town.
Your blogs are a lot of fun to read, so please keep writing.
Love
Juana
Today is Thursday..and you must be chugging away..travelling towards Friday and I hope a lovely respite for your Friday night Shabbot. Hopefully it will be a touch better than the last..which sounds like it couldn't have been much worse. I am glad that dogs are behaving and you are getting some first hand insight into parts of our great cultural diversity..from sea to shining sea. It is an amazing reflection on our differences and that is important to understand. I hope you are missing much of the news these days. Between everything that is going on, our world is really insane. Even Harry Potter caused some hot incidences where it was released and reviewed before the midnight hour..but the rumor has it that there may well be an 8th book. It goes on............
So travel well..we are waiting and listening, reading and hoping the knees hold up and the hills grow flatter..but of course you will be going through Kentucky right? Indiana? that should be flatter and that would be first..so some respite..unless my geography is off. As the journey continues and it seems forever--I think you will find when you are safely and happily back in Davis, you will think this whole journey was just a whisper in time. I am telling you. It's like that. Love to you. Aunt Vette
Matteo, I'm surprised that you didn't challenge Soly's opinions on best TV themes... Why not counteract his SpongeBob and Simpsons themes with a few of your own... like the Jetsons, Brady Bunch, or Dream of Genie? You gotta fight fire with fire, right?
So excellent to once again read of your wild and wonderful adventures!!!! You are all so amazing and inspiring!!! I'm in the countdown scramble for India prep... leaving in about 2.5 weeks. A bit insane, but it will all be good once the plane leaves the ground....
Hope the luggage Burley is rolling smooth... and light! Did Karen give you those "helium inserts" that I promised? They counteract at least 20 pounds of weight... I never ride without them!
LOVE to you all! Paulo RS
Curious. Is the guy with the website (knicksgr0917 someone you actually know, or did s/he bust into this blog..
A curious mind wants to know.
Skeptical, Yvette
hey there,
We're still tracking your progress with our large carport map, and the colorful band of tacks steadily streams across this great land of ours... It's just amazing to see the distance you have covered! (Our last tack is placed in Fair Grove, MO, so if you get a chance, please bring us up to date with the names of towns you have since visited.)
Harry Potter is a fun summer read, but those of us in the know have been immersing ourselves in your blog for the most amazing adventure story of the summer! Thanks for sharing your experiences along the way. We look forward to hearing more when you get back!
Love, kelschclan
We've been reading and loving your adventures--I feel like we are getting to know the family so much better and are so appreciative of your wit and wisdom.
Anyway, just wanted to say hi and give you a link to something you might be interested in reading--
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/294466.html
It was in the paper this morning (Friday 7/27), front page. Making an impact, but get a load of those comments--I guess it looks like we have lots of those well-educated librarians around...
And this from Chenoa as another TV-starved Davis kid: Hi Solomon. My favorite part of staying in a motel is the TV too!
Oh, and we love the Volde-Mart moniker--that's all we say now--or the-store-that-must-not-be-named! Keep up the spirit and we'll see you all soon!
Pam and Chenoa
someone please tell Juana how to read our comments! We have gotten all of them! Pam, I love the "store that must not be named"!
Paulo Rainbowshlong, the trailer is great and Karen DID give me the left-handed smoke shifter! Thanks. Actually, we think about you all the time and can't imagine how you survived your ride across New Zealand when it rained everyday. That would just bust us!
Laura, updates on the way!
Anty Vett, that person is no one I know and I wouldn't go to that site. I'll say that in the blog as soon as I get on.
I love you all.
Djina
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