Last night the rain came, and it never went away. However, the tent did hold up in the rain and mild wind. In the morning, I had to take a whiz but didn't want to get out in the cold, cold rain. It was so cold, that I had to put on my socks, pants, and a sweater just to sleep in during the late morning.
Day 8 started at 12:00 am with approximately 53170 miles on the odometer (I forgot to record it and had to estimate based on what I recalled on the odometer.)
Entered Minnesota via the city of Le Roy on a cold, rainy morning. Le Roy is known for Lake Louise State Park, and nothing much else. The rain got progressively harder as I headed into northern Iowa, but calmed a little in Minnesota.
Went ahead and passed through this area and stopped in Adams, Minnesota and had a 21 piece shrimp dinner at Renee's. It wasn't too bad. (Renee's is one of two restaurant in the small city.) I chatted with the man sitting next to me, John Smits, and the waitress, who I didn't get the name of. John drives a truck into Chicago every other day. We discussed things such as work and the local community. John seems to care about what happens to the people around here. I'm glad I had the chance to meet both John and the waitress...they made my brief stay in Adams worthwhile. I gave John my homepage address before he left.
Adams is a really homestyle kind of town. People left their car engines on as they ran into the shops. And here, I put my club up even in small towns because a lot of my life is in my truck as well as the truck itselt. (The truck as my transportation, as well as home at times. Inside, I have my clothes, computer, bicycle, camping materials, tools, programming books.) Adams is located in the only county in Minnesota which didn't have a lake because the area is too flat.
Outside of Adams I stopped at a wayside reststop to sit on the toilet. The toilet paper I kept in my truck for the past year finally paid off since this rest stop didn't have any. It didn't have any water either. Dang, I've never had to sit on a toilet in 40/50 degree weather. Wow!
Passed through Rochester, Minnesota, but it seemed much larger than a town with a population of 70,000. Just the number of street lights and cars at the intersection made it feel much larger. Even on this cold, rainy day, there were plenty of cars on road in the city.
It was late, I had to rest somewhere: made it to Red Wing, Minnesota, on the Mississippi River. I stopped at at huge church area and decided to spend the night in another parking area.
And as I lay there I thought: I don't respect many people in this world, but the nice people in these small towns are very simple and down to earth. They have meager livings as farmers or working in little businesses such as a barber shop. They don't drive expensive luxury cars or wear fancy clothes. They're simple people and down to earth when I speak with them- and therefore, they have earned my repect. These people I'll probably never see again, but they will remain in a special place deep down in my heart.
While trying to sleep, I had to use the bathroom, but I couldn't take a whiz on church property- it just wasn't right. I wasn't a religous person and have left many territorial marks in every state I've driven through, but I cannot vandalize church property. If I ever find faith in God, I don't want the angels at the pearly gates to accuse me of urinating on holy property.
So I just whized in the water bottle I had...hope I don't forget and end up drinking out of that bottle. I'm partial to that water bottle because I purchased it when I was down working in Mexico last year. It's been in the back of the truck until a few days ago when I didn't have any water to drink. Oh well, I have two other undrunk bottles.
