Traverse City, MI

A few days of rehabilitation in a sun soaked town of Traverse City, right on the bay of lake Michigan, drinks and conversations of phone service in the outoftowner residence of Shea's parental units.

An excerpt from chapter three:
"Pulling into Williston a stop at a closed gas station and hardware store follows a brief layover at a bakery outlet's dumpster where oodles of donuts and rolls and other bread products brim the circular dumpster. At the service station they rinse their bike components and panniers, but allowing their clothes to retain mud covered memories. At the local grocer, approached by a couple- amy and charles, who offer a shower to the dirt ridden cowboys- with no backstory required. Again the beauty of humanity shines through. After marching around the large super market, bulging with summer sausage and energy bars, bulk foods and beef- they saunter to an apartment building and up smoke stained stairs to a modestly decorated homestead where internet access is provided, a shower with waterss raining from heaven, purified water and a bowl of ice cream complete with artificial chocolate topping. A ninety year old living by herself driving into town, trips to indonesia in the near future and work in group homes. Refreshed relishing on the appeasing nature of the canadian hosts. Of to set up camp in the city park which seems to be a bustling center of town.

Mealtime shared- ground beef and beans, a real cowboy roadhouse chili made on the spot. Sips of whisky flask and wine sips from rolled appendages. Life is real and now, happening and unfolding before Estes's once unsure psyche. Glittering skylines vast above uneasy households, begging for more of what makes the world go round, while others bask in the excess of americana.

A deep sleep in cacoon spreading and stretching to the light of new days. Fuel to be seeked out, but not before youthful boys extend endless curiosity of the journey. Estes plays the banjo for the young chaps. They want more. More answers, more entertainment, more life, more art. All on in the same a sampling of purity neglected from drab simple caring lives of western North Dakota. They ride on small bmxs through the concrete park that accompanies lush green lawn, ampitheatre, and locked bathrooms. Estes is forced to the ajacent corner store for his morning movement, where he is given a cup of cheap watery coffee for free. The boys heckle Estes and he evenually must blow them off and head out and exit the welcoming town. To stay on highway two or to extend to 1408. The first is decided on with the intent of camp fuel and free cook pot from walmart. Everything goes off without a hitch, exiting through the garedn section, leaving his previous mealtime whoas behind."