"I don't have my papers so I'm crawling over the Tibetan border at three in the morning. The soldier is five feet away from me, passed out with his gun in his lap. And I don't wanna wake him because if I'm in his shoes, I'd shoot me."

I couldn't get outta the dang bed. Josh and the Novicks made it downstairs for breakfast as I wasted another thirty minutes with my eyes closed. Down in the lobby, Sandra (Joel's mom), was chatting it up with the CEO of the company Bobcat. He'd sold his business to some investors in South Korea. However, his wife provided the colorful commentary, talking with Sandra about recent floods, travel, and life in general. I attempted to wake up with multiple cups of coffee.

"So that's what all the police and guys with earphones were for!" exclaimed Sandra. "I thought something was going on!"

House Speaker John Boehner had stayed in the hotel the night before. We delegated about what we would tell him.

"We are members of the Ice Cream Party," laughed Josh. "We want to ensure that our great people of this great nation are never without ice cream!"

We decided we would be a party opposing the Tea Party and that we would likely be seen as a terrorist organization. Unbeknownst to us, the entire time, Speaker of the House, John Boehner sat behind us in the lobby, quietly surrounded by men with earplugs. We had no idea.

An hour or so later, we hugged and said our goodbyes to the Novicks. Ugh, it was sad to see them go but wonderful to have been able to meet up with them out here in Bismarck, North Dakota.

The hotel lobbyist, Vicki, hit it off with Sandra and she was kind enough to let us hang out in our room (the Novicks) until 1:00. Downstairs, when the rain outside finally subsided for a bit, I prepared to go and get a needle and thread from a local shop to repair my front handlebar bag. Sure enough, Vicki had a kit from the hotel. I'm incredibly proud to say I repaired the bag myself.

We headed straight over to the Heritage Center where North Dakota was celebrating its 125th anniversary of becoming a state. Well, the actual signature was on November 2, 1889 but it differs depending on who you ask.

We met up with the Aussies and Joff at the museum.

We conversed, laughed and embraced the foreigners, talking about where to go next and all that. They were staying in Bismarck at a small park in a quiet section of the city. So, Josh and I thought what the hell and have met up with them here now. But not before learning about the Native American tribes that inhabited the Dakotas before we annihilated them. It was enlightening to see the history of North Dakota being completely and totally all about the Native Americans...and as always, a bit depressing. Nonetheless, we learned much.

We spent the rest of the day hunting for this campground, sitting in a McDonalds, and talking with the locals. Alas, we're together again along with a raucous group of people celebrating a friend's 50th birthday. Everyone is hilariously inebriated. Poor Joff has to explain what in God's name he's doing with his bicycle to everyone... and they still can't believe him. Oh, we're a funny lot.

Cheers.

Just got this message before going to sleep as well. Joel and Sandra made it ro Mt. Rushmore!