Today we crossed Saskatchewan, which may not sound like much except we took nearly the shortest route, and it still took 470 miles and several (that is, about 10) hours. We hit a couple of construction zones (including the one where a rock kicked up from the road and cracked my gopro lens- bummer!), and passed two HUGE cylindrical things on trucks. By huge, I mean the truck was straddling the edge of the road, and we still had to move all the way to the left to get around them.
I also learned today about canola. We saw canola fields yesterday in North Dakota, but I didn't know what they were. The fields are brilliant yellow - like, brighter than a yellow crayon - and huge. Today, some of the fields stretched from one horizon to the other. I took a bunch of photos, but they just don't do the color justice. Canola is a fast-growing crop that works well in the short growing season they have up here, and because it's "heart-healthy," the oil is very popular in the food-service industry. It boggles my mind to realize how many thousands of bushels we've ridden by, and there is still more demand than supply for the oil.
Yes, that's the kind of thing that I think about when I'm riding through the no-data zone (and have no music because no data = no Spotify).
I also thought a lot about how I got started with the Ride - an anonymous ride-along on the trip in from Macon, riding out to Montgomery one year, then chatting with Scott about whether I could go. Scott's a pretty amazing guy: there are several of us on the Ride who he didn't know at all before we joined the cause. And now, because of a shared passion for kids and motorcycles, we're a family (as cliche as that sounds).
I heard tonight about Ronnie's first trip. You'd never know it now, but I'm told Ronnie was a very timid rider, especially in the corners. Now, he's one of the leaders (from the back of the pack), and shares his earned wisdom freely with us whenever the need arises.
It's just one more way we improve with every ride ...
James
ps: I learned yesterday not to announce to this crowd when my boss is watching (and listening to) the live feed at lunch. As far as I know, I still have a job, but lesson learned.