Peru, Indiana

Wary of writing another posting right now since my last one was way too whiney, but I think we have gained some perspective as we begin our last weeks of the trip. No matter how hard this can be, it is better than real life, going to the office, studying for exams, applying for jobs.... Our main problems are raccoons, pinched nerves, and flat tires, none of which are so bad by comparison.

We just had a really wonderful time visiting family this past week and now are feeling refreshed. As we were leaving Lafayette yesterday, we stopped by the bike shop and there we met a French cyclist who is going from Washington D.C. to Portland, Oregon in only 40 days! Every summer he does a tour in a different country. He has even gone to countries in Asia and next he wants to do northern Africa! The shop gave us a really nice route on back roads yesterday. We saw a lot of beautiful wildflowers as we rode along the Wabash River. Near the end we tried to speed up (hindered, as usual, by a flat tire) because we wanted to get to Peru in time to see Batman! And we did! And it was totally awesome! Then we picked up a pizza at around 9:30 and started toward our campsite. As we passed by a trailer park, Sarah suddenly disappeared off the back. Cate and I were very scared. I thought she might have been eaten by one of those mountain lions that catches straggler cyclists, and when I saw her headlight was on the ground I really got scared. Serial killer! We are not usually jittered so easily, but then again, we do not usually ride after dark. As we turned around and rode toward her, we saw her walking, unharmed, and holding a little kitten. Her explanation: it was chasing me! I had to stop and pick it up! And then she asked if she could bungee it. No! Kittens are not good for bungeeing! She was heartbroken to leave it, and heartbroken this morning when we rode by and there was no kitten in sight. I think she thought it would be waiting for her and jump on the back of her bike and they would be together forever. Sorry, Sarah.

We still have not left town because the raccoons ate our breakfast so we had to stop, and then Sarah had a flat and also decomposing tire and had to buy a new one. Once we hit the road we will be heading toward Monroeville, Indiana, and then into Ohio and up to Lake Erie! We are especially looking forward to our parents coming and riding and camping with us.

-Liz