"I see consciousness as a projection of the universe and when I'm just gliding along across the world, I see the land as a reflection of my own mind."

Today was an especially magical day. 

Josh and I woke up to the rustling of two Australians in the park. We met Ken and Julianne Fox yesterday; a couple that was traveling through the United States for the umpteenth time. It seemed they knew more about places to see in the US than we did. They'd been cycling for three months. They slept in the city park of Hazelton with me, Josh, and our old friend Matt. 

They were gone by 7am and I hurried to follow. We weren't paying for camping (the Aussie influence) and had to be out fast. The picnic tables beneath the shelter provided pretty comfortable mattresses for us. Getting up wasn't easy... it never is. But nonetheless, I was out by 9:30.

Fourteen miles down the distant rolling hills of North Dakota, I encountered a strange looking bicycle that could only be holding one man: Joff.

Joff built his own homemade penny-farthing: those bicycles from the 19th century with the big front wheel. Born in London, England, he's on his third trip around the world on his bicycle. He's gone up the Himalayas, through Africa, and now he's tackling North and South America. His story was pretty inspiring.

"Yeah, I've only had trouble stealth camping one time," the Brit recounted.

"Where was that?" I asked.

"One night in Turkey, the Turkish Army woke me up at midnight. They weren't being mean or anything, they were just worried for my safety; thought the Kurdish separatists would try to murder me in the night. But the Kurdish separatists were nice guys."

He had many surreal stories from all over the world. I rode with him into Bismarck, the state capital of North Dakota, and we have plans to meet up at the local museum in the morning.

The real magic happened after all of this. Joel Novick, a good friend of mine, just so happened to be driving across the country to California for his post-grad plans around LA. He drove off-route north with his mom, just to see us. Not only did we catch up on old times but the Novick's were kind enough to treat us for dinner and hangout in the hotel with them. It's been a whirlwind of a day and I can't thank Joel and Mrs. Novick enough. 

Life is only as good as the people you meet along the way.