Highlights:
1 Touring Bozeman on a bike.
2 Salad in Chicago.
3 Human interactions: Lena/Tim, Sky (student), Brian (ex-banker), Angelita and Carlos.
Daily Summary:
– Distance hiked: 0 km
– Starting point: Bozeman
– Ending point: Raleigh
– Weather conditions: Lightning storms
Daily Reflections (challenges, insights, musings):
Ah, Bozeman. A town where you can bike around and feel like you’re in a postcard. I started the day with a morning coffee, followed by a delicious breakfast, and then, because you can’t have too much of a good thing, another coffee at the university café. There, I met Sky, a student who loves laser measurements and mushrooms. Not your everyday combo, but hey, it takes all kinds.
After saying goodbye to Bozeman and Lena, who kindly took me to the airport, I embarked on my journey. At the Chicago airport, with only an hour layover, I scavenged for food. I found a cube of salad for $12—highway robbery—but added my stash of peanuts and olive oil to make it a gourmet meal. It felt like dining in a Michelin-star restaurant, except I was sitting in an airport terminal.
On the flight, I met Brian, a former stockbroker who traded in his suits for a more spiritual path. He gave off strong “I used to be Gordon Gekko but now I do yoga” vibes and I liked him at the get go. We exchanged book tips and interchanged contacts.
Finally, after a series of lightning storms that made me feel like I was in a disaster movie, I arrived in Raleigh two hours late. The Uber ride with a white Tesla was a surreal experience, especially when lightning struck a tree just 100 meters away, setting it ablaze. It was like nature’s way of saying, “Welcome to Raleigh.”
I arrived at Angelita and Carlos’ place, knocked on the door, and gave them a hug. Exhausted and drenched from the rain, I fell asleep almost immediately. Another day, another adventure.