Today,  our country is celebrating our Independence Day. For me, the celebratory nature  of today seems so removed from the reality of what I am going through.

With a big push tomorrow, I need to be completely ready today. As a result, I have gone through every single item that I have carried, and that Karen sent, and have pared it down.

I started out with four panniers, two large, and two medium sized. Ideally, I would be able to to reduce the gear, and get the remaining equipment into the medium sized panniers. Next the choice of tossing the tent and air mattress, or not? I decided to keep them. However the air mattress was in a special container attached to one of the large panniers. I would need to get a waterproof sack, and, lo and behold, there is an REI within 5 miles of Jack's apartment. 

The sack was a bit large, so large, in fact, that it gave me an idea. I removed the waterproof sack from the tent, and it fit perfectly into the sack with the air mattress!

Now, there are two issues coming up. The first is tomorow's ride. Since I was asked to speak to residents at 10 AM, my start will be late in the morning. Humidity is shooting up, temperatures expected to rise to 89 degrees, a 10 mph headwind, and a reasonable chance of rain and thunderstorms.  

Secondly, as I went through my itinerary again, I discovered that I had omitted a stop in Winona, Minnesota. Therefore, all my motel reservations were a day off, and, already, in getting back to them, at least one has no vacancies on the next date. Sigh.

Well, Lord, what do you have for me this week? As always, I will find out soon enough.

Have a wonderful 4th of July.