I was plugging along on US Route 12 when I was about halfway through my day, stopped on the side of the road, considering whether or not to turn into a town for lunch. I was trying to gauge if it was a big enough town to support a restaurant when my buddy MATT who I have known for YEARS back in SEATTLE pulled up in his car.

He and his sister and brother-in-law were Road Trippin' to South Dakota (their origin) for an annual family reunion. Matt had told them about me and my endeavor, and so as they were driving, Matt's sister, Jolie said--"Hey! is that your friend over there??" seeing me parked on the highway shoulder. "Uh.. yes that is my friend," says Matt. They pull up and ask me: "Would you like a ride??" I said I would not say no to that and Jolie saw the relief in my eyes. We disassembled and loaded my bike into the back, helping me cruise through what I later realized would be the most barren and deserted stretch of my entire trip, "West River" South Dakota (a racially charged term).

I thoroughly enjoyed being the resident non-family member at their family reunion. I was given an originally gruff greeting by Matt's war vet old man due to a failed joke and miscommunication--he thought I was literally a vagrant found on the road, not an old friend. After the confusion, I was given a spot at the table and enjoyed spending time with the extended family of a friend of mine. A truly weird and treasured experience.

I enjoyed hanging out with Mike, the brother-in-law and fellow outsider. He set me up with a place to stay in Milwaukee for which I was so grateful.