Still in Columbus. The band I was planning to leave with couldnt get their veggie van fixed. There's a festival this weekend (ComFest, which is seriously some kind of big deal), & I plan to be leaving on wednesday (there's a going away party on tuesday at Cora's). This trip is so awesome so far, everything feels so natural & normal & good. I've made lots of friends. I've fallen under a rockslide of love. I do not need help.

Miss you, Cleveland!

I'm in Columbus right now, at the Legion of Doom house. I'm having a fucking blast! I'll try to recollect the previous days for you.

After waking up drenched in whiskey sweat, breakfast at Global Dish Deli with Michelle & Shawn. Michelle rode with me to the end of Parma, & then I set out alone.
I've always thought cars & motorists were my enemies, but it turns out...no. LOGGING TRUCKS. In the Ohio Valley this GIANT logging truck blows by me at a billion miles an hour within like a foot of my body. terrifying.
Riding was easy till I got on rt 3, then it was just nothing but hills. I set up camp at like 8:30 pm on friday in the pouring rain after getting a flat. Everything I owned was soaked & my sleeping bag was sticking to me in a disgusting humid suffocating way. I camped too close to the road, got very little sleep. 50 miles for friday.

I woke up at 6:30 am on Saturday & climbed hills for 13 hours.
Like, GIANT ones. See those cars there, waaaaay at the top? Yeah. It'd take me like 20 minutes walk them. & it was just one after another. They NEVER stopped. it rained more in the morning, when I got to mohican national park I walked half way up an enormous hill then laid myself & my belongings in the sun to dry. Even though I only made 50 miles in 13 hours, it was a good day for experience. I'd feel so proud of myself after getting to the top of a hill that looked too big to climb, & I learned to let myself rest whenever I need to, even if its literally every 5 minutes.
I also went to funk street. (at the base of this huge hill)





Saturday was so hard, & when I rolled into Mt. Vernon at about 7:30pm, I booked a cheap hotel room & passed out for 12 hours.







Sunday, though...

I think sunday was one of the best days of my whole life. It was like 50 miles of flat ground, beautiful roads & clear skies. I rolled in to Columbus at about 6:30, I met some awesome punk kids. I met a band thats traveling to the west coast tomorrow. They offered to drive me to San Fran, I told them I'd take a ride to Indianapolis. I'll probably be leaving Columbus tomorrow. I like it here! I got three awesome free meals yesterday, one huge delicious salad at a vegan restaurant, pizza & beer from used kids records, & late night pizza at a bar. There's so much free food, & kids are so cool! I'm finding it really easy to meet people & make friends. I got invited to a vegan potluck & bike ride tonight.

I have a couple questions.
One: Do you think it's macabre to take a roadkill photodiary? I've seen some really gross stuff. Would you still read my blog if I posted it here?
Two: Is it weird to collect the dead butterflies I see on the side of the road? Maybe I'll send them to you instead of postcards.

Sorry this isnt better composed, I'm kind of too busy having so much fun.
Thanks, Cleveland!

Dear Cleveland

I want to address why I'm leaving you. This may be hard for you to understand but, Cleveland, dont you think for a second that I am not helplessly in love with you. Today, for perhaps the last time in a long while, I rode through your downtown streets, looked at your boring tall buildings, cursed your unnavigable construction sites & almost cried for love of you.

When one falls in love, it is not for physical beauty. Lets face it. You are grey, old, & hideous. Even your pigeons are in crappy shape. You smell like a sewer, even in winter. & I know you're no good for me, cause I've crashed on yr streets & almost killed myself like nowhere else. But still, I feel an uncontrollable swell of love & pride when I see the night line of yr ugly buildings, yr smelly streets. This is because I love you. But I am running away from you, Cleveland. There are many things unhealthy about a relationship that stagnates on familiarity, & I cannot help but think you have no more to offer me now. I have other places to go, other people to meet. Even though I feel this will help us, both of us, grow; I cant help but feel guilty, like I'm running off with the Vapid Hot Chick. She doesnt mean anything to me, I swear. She's a momentary distraction. & when I return from my cheatin' ways, I'll show you all the dirty tricks that ho taught me. Because, Cleveland, no matter what I say, no matter how far I wander, you'll always be my home. I will always come back to you, & you'll always be as glad to see me as I am to leave you.

I love you.

Really.

Cari 

I will

put something here soon.